Episodios

  • Absentee Guilt: When Time Off Still Feels Like Work

    Absentee Guilt: When Time Off Still Feels Like Work
    Jan 21 2026
    Many veterinary professionals struggle with a quiet but exhausting problem: absentee guilt. Whether it’s calling out sick, taking a vacation, or stepping away for personal time, being “off” rarely feels fully off. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, dig into why stepping away from the clinic can feel so uncomfortable—and why that discomfort matters. They unpack how guilt becomes normalized in veterinary culture, how leadership behaviors shape expectations around availability, and why clinics that rely too heavily on a single person are setting everyone up for stress. The conversation covers sick days, establishing (and maintaining) personal boundaries while on vacation, handling unexpected after-hours texts, and the long-term risks of building practice systems that break down when a certain team member is absent. This episode offers a practical perspective for veterinarians, technicians, managers, and owners who want healthier boundaries without sacrificing patient care or team trust. The takeaway is clear: protecting time off isn’t selfish, it’s necessary for sustainability, safety, and staying in the profession long term #VeterinaryViewfinder #VetMedLife #VetTeamWellbeing #VeterinaryBurnout #ClinicCulture
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    26 m
  • Why Vaccine Hesitancy Feels Harder Than Ever (and What to Do About It)

    Why Vaccine Hesitancy Feels Harder Than Ever (and What to Do About It)
    Jan 14 2026
    Vaccine hesitancy is no longer just about cost or convenience. In this episode of Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor dig into why vaccine skepticism has become more emotional, more entrenched, and harder to navigate in today’s exam room. They move past talking points and focus on what actually helps veterinary teams in real-world conversations. You’ll hear practical guidance on leading with empathy without endorsing misinformation, staying grounded in evidence, and recognizing when a debate is not a debate at all. The discussion also covers why consistency across the entire clinic matters, from CSRs to technicians to doctors, and how gaps in vaccine education within the team can quietly undermine trust. This episode is especially relevant for clinics seeing more frequent vaccine refusals, rising concerns about rabies and zoonotic risk, and growing emotional fatigue around these discussions. You’ll walk away with mindset shifts, communication strategies, and concrete tools that protect patients, teams, and the profession without escalating conflict. #VeterinaryViewfinder #VetMed #VaccineHesitancy #VetTeamCommunication #PublicHealthVeterinary
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    32 m
  • Shedding Old Skins: Rethinking Vet Organizations in a New Year

    Shedding Old Skins: Rethinking Vet Organizations in a New Year
    Jan 7 2026
    As the veterinary profession heads into 2026, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, take on a topic many veterinary professionals think about but rarely discuss out loud: whether organized veterinary medicine is still serving the people it represents. This episode is an honest, thoughtful conversation about governance, leadership, and what happens when questioning the status quo is labeled as “disruption.” Beckie shares her recent decision to step away from national leadership, what led to it, and why dissent is often mistaken for disloyalty. Together, Ernie and Beckie unpack why transparency, inclusion, and listening matter more than ever as veterinary medicine grows more complex. You’ll hear why ignoring new ideas risks irrelevance, how veterinary technicians continue to fight for meaningful representation, and what other organizations are getting right when it comes to listening and adapting. This episode is not about burning things down. It’s about caring enough to make them better. If you’ve ever felt unheard, frustrated, or unsure where you fit in the profession, this conversation will resonate. #VeterinaryViewfinder #VetMedLeadership #VetTechVoice #OrganizedVetMed #VeterinaryMedicine #VetLife #VetTeam #VetMed2026
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    31 m
  • From AI to Affordability: Vet Med Trends Shaping 2026

    From AI to Affordability: Vet Med Trends Shaping 2026
    Dec 31 2025
    Veterinary medicine is changing fast, and 2026 is already taking shape. In this episode of the Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor step back and take an honest look at the trends that are most likely to impact veterinary teams in the year ahead. They examine how artificial intelligence is moving from novelty to a background tool, quietly reshaping documentation, diagnostics, and client communication. Telemedicine continues to evolve, not just as video visits but as flexible, everyday touchpoints that can help practices improve access and continuity of care. The conversation also explores the return of wearables and continuous monitoring, particularly how improved data could impact pain detection, obesity management, and chronic disease management. As always, this episode does not shy away from the hard stuff. Workforce burnout, shifting practice models, climate-driven disease patterns, and growing affordability pressures are all front and center. Rather than offering quick fixes, Ernie and Beckie focus on what veterinary professionals can anticipate, question, and influence now. If you want a grounded, practical discussion about where veterinary medicine is headed and how to stay adaptable without losing your footing, this episode is for you.
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    28 m
  • T’was the Night Before Christmas: Veterinary Edition

    T’was the Night Before Christmas: Veterinary Edition
    Dec 24 2025
    This week, the Veterinary Viewfinder keeps a beloved tradition alive with a festive gift for the profession. Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, share a brand-new veterinary rendition of T’was the Night Before Christmas, written for every veterinarian, technician, assistant, CSR, kennel team member, and manager working through the holidays. The poem walks listeners through a Christmas Eve shift full of familiar chaos, unexpected cases, and the kind of humor that only happens in a clinic on a busy night. You’ll hear nods to the species you treat, the equipment that never seems to cooperate, and the teamwork that holds the whole place together. Most importantly, the episode offers a moment of gratitude for everyone who shows up for patients and families during a season that can be joyful and exhausting at the same time. If your clinic is open this week, or if you’ve ever spent a holiday in scrubs, this episode is meant to bring a smile, a sense of recognition, and a little warmth at the end of a long year. Merry Christmas from the Viewfinder family to yours. #VeterinaryViewfinder #VetMed #VetTechLife #VeterinaryPodcast #HolidayShift #ChristmasInVetMed #VetClinicLife #SantaPaws #TwasTheNightBeforeChristmas #VetTeamStrong
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    5 m
  • The No-Show Appointment Crisis: Why Vet Clinics Are Getting Ghosted

    The No-Show Appointment Crisis: Why Vet Clinics Are Getting Ghosted
    Dec 17 2025
    Veterinary teams everywhere are feeling the strain of rising no-show appointments, especially during the hectic holiday season. This episode examines why veterinary clients are ghosting more frequently and what that means for clinic schedules, revenue, and staff morale. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Becky Mossor, MPA, RVT, walk through the real drivers behind no-show appointments, including financial stress, price shopping, long wait times, and the comfort some clients feel in canceling silently rather than calling the clinic. What makes this conversation useful is its practicality. The episode covers the pros and cons of appointment deposits, how to identify chronic no-show patterns, and when to adjust scheduling habits. You’ll also hear how technology can reduce missed appointments, from “safe exit” text confirmations to automated pre-visit questionnaires, and why these small tools often change client behavior in a meaningful way. For teams balancing compassion with realistic clinic operations, this episode offers a grounded look at how to protect time, maintain revenue, and reduce frustration without creating unnecessary barriers for clients. It’s an honest, solutions-focused discussion aimed at helping veterinary professionals manage one of the industry’s quieter but most persistent challenges. #veterinaryviewfinder #veterinarypodcast #vetmed #vetteam #vetlife #veterinarian #vettech #vetclinic #veterinarypractice #clientcommunication #noappointment #noshowrate #veterinarymanagement #clinicworkflow #holidayseasonvet #vetstaffsupport #veterinarybusiness #practiceowner #petcareprofessionals #veterinaryissues #ghostingclients #appointmentmanagement #vetreceptionists #veterinaryleaders #vettechlife
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    25 m
  • Are Veterinary Clients Meaner in 2025? Why Holiday Stress Is Hitting Teams Hard

    Are Veterinary Clients Meaner in 2025? Why Holiday Stress Is Hitting Teams Hard
    Dec 10 2025
    This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, ask a timely question many teams are quietly wondering: Are veterinary clients meaner this year? As the 2025 holiday rush collides with rising costs, canceled insurance policies, and shifting social norms, many clinics are experiencing increased client frustration and emotional volatility. From Dr. Ward fielding complaints about the weather-soaked Calabash Christmas Parade to everyday price-related outbursts in vet clinics, across the country, Ernie and Beckie explore why tensions feel higher and what veterinary teams can do to stay grounded. The hosts break down the layered pressures behind client behavior: inflation hitting veterinary services harder than many other sectors, pet owners stretched thin by holiday-season spending, and a rise in sticker-shock rage. They discuss how front-desk teams absorb the brunt of accumulated hostility, why “just apologize” may be an outdated client service model, and how social media culture has made some clients eager to catch veterinary teams “messing up” on camera. Most importantly, Ernie and Beckie outline practical strategies clinics can use now, before the holiday surge peaks, to reduce conflict, empower staff, and protect well-being. From setting boundaries to validating emotions without absorbing them, this episode helps veterinary professionals enter the season with clarity, confidence, and compassion. #VeterinaryViewfinder #VetPodcast #VetMed #VeterinaryProfession #VetLife #VetProblems #ClientCommunication #VetTeam #AnimalCare #CompassionFatigue #WorkplaceWellbeing #VeterinaryCommunity #PracticeManagement #FrontDeskLife #MeanClients #ToughConversations #VeterinarySupport #VetTechLife #VetClinicLife #VeterinaryStaff #VetMedicine #PetCareProfessionals #VetTalk #BehindTheClinic #VeterinaryViewfinderPodcast
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    29 m
  • Holiday Weight Gain in Pets: Veterinary Strategies with Dr. Martha Cline

    Holiday Weight Gain in Pets: Veterinary Strategies with Dr. Martha Cline
    Dec 3 2025
    The holiday season brings joy, family, and—unfortunately—extra calories for many of our patients. This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor sit down with board-certified veterinary nutritionist Dr. Martha Cline to unpack why holiday weight gain happens and how veterinary teams can help pet owners set healthier habits for the year ahead. From multi-pet household challenges to emotional feeding and environmental barriers, Dr. Cline shares practical, real-world insights that resonate with both clinicians and technicians. Veterinarians are encouraged to take and share with their clients and teams the 2025 Pet Obesity & Nutrition Opinion Survey, now open at:👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2025PetObesity Your input helps shape national understanding of nutrition trends and pet owner behaviors. In a lighter moment (pun intended), Dr. Cline also gives a behind-the-scenes look at her unexpected appearance as a toy soldier in the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, fulfilling one of Beckie’s lifelong dreams and offering a fun window into the diverse lives of veterinary professionals. Resources mentioned:https://www.dailynutritionmatters.com/
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    35 m