Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast
Weekly podcast tackling the toughest topics in veterinary medicine. Hosted by veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor, RVT. The show features candid, irreverent, provocative, educational, and occasionally funny conversations about issues impacting the veterinary profession. It has been running weekly since 2016.
Episodes
Same Pet, Different Calorie Needs: Feeding After Spay or Neuter to Prevent Pet Obesity
October is World Pet Obesity Month! We need your help in collecting pet obesity prevalence data - and you can earn $50 for your team! Visit https://www.petobesityprevention.org/2026-veterinary-clinic-pet-obesity-prevalence-survey
Speaking of obesity in dogs and cats: spaying and neutering may be routine surgical procedures for most veterinary professionals and pet parents, but the nutritional shi
We Help Clients Grieve. Who Helps the Vet Team?
The sympathy card goes out. The next appointment comes in. But when a patient dies, who checks on the people who cared for them?
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, turn the conversation about euthanasia toward the veterinary team. They explore why some losses hit harder, from saying goodbye to a longtime patient to losing an animal everyone worked to save, and why being experie
Fear Sells: Is Vet Med Marketing Making Problems Feel Bigger?
A missed call becomes a potential ER visit. An overwhelmed team becomes a business risk. And suddenly, an everyday practice challenge can feel a lot more urgent than it did five minutes ago.
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, take a closer look at fear-based marketing in veterinary medicine and how the way a problem is framed can shape how veterinary teams respond to it.
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The New Vet Med Job Isn’t What They Promised. Now What?
You accepted the new job, gave notice, and walked into what you thought was a better opportunity. Then, within days, the red flags start piling up. The workload isn’t what you were promised. Training is almost nonexistent. The team feels unwelcoming. Now what?
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk about what happens when a new veterinary job doesn’t match the one you intervi
Clickbait, Mistrust, and the Veterinary Team Divide
A headline can do more than earn a click. It can change how veterinary professionals see one another.
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, examine how clickbait and rage-bait framing can deepen mistrust across veterinary teams. Using a provocative article about employee theft as a starting point, they explore what happens when practical business guidance is presented in terms of
Mini Cows, Backyard Chickens, and the Veterinary Care Gap
Backyard chickens, miniature cows, goats, pigs, and other unconventional pets are showing up in suburban homes and on social feeds faster than veterinary care can keep pace.
In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, examine what happens when owners expect a small animal clinic to help with a species the team isn’t trained, equipped, or comfortable treating.
They discuss the r
Ghosted by a Vet Practice? There’s a Website for That.
Veterinary employers have long complained about applicants disappearing during the hiring process. Now, candidates who are ghosted after an interview have websites where they can publicly report the employer.
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, explore what these anonymous reporting sites reveal about hiring culture in the U.S., and perhaps in veterinary medicine.
Beckie exp
Boundaries Aren’t Selfish—They Keep You in Vet Med
Why can taking PTO, stepping away during the holidays, leaving on time, or protecting even one hour for yourself feel like letting down your team or the people you love?
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack the guilt veterinary professionals often carry when they step away from the clinic. Their message is simple: feeling guilty is not the same as being selfish, and disco
Beckie Asked Vet Techs What Makes Them Stay—Here’s What She Heard
Keeping skilled veterinary team members isn’t simply about letting them perform more tasks. In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, explore Beckie’s early University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill doctoral research into what helps credentialed veterinary technicians feel valued, utilized, and more likely to stay.
The findings challenge a familiar assumption in veterinary me
What Vet Teams Need to Know About Compounding with Wedgewood Pharmacy
Getting medications into pets sounds simple—until the patient refuses the tablet, the dose doesn’t fit, the flavor is a disaster, or the client physically can’t make the plan work.
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk with Dr. Rae Hutchins and Dr. Jennifer Merlo from Wedgewood Pharmacy about how veterinary compounding can support better patient care when commercially avail
When Clients Ask AI Before They Ask You
More pet owners are asking an AI agent before they call the clinic.
They’re walking into the exam room with AI-generated ideas, possible causes, treatment questions, and sometimes a pretty strong opinion about what should happen next.
So how should veterinary teams respond?
In this 501st weekly episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk about what happ
500 Consecutive Weeks: The Veterinary Viewfinder Reaches a Rare Podcast Milestone
For 500 consecutive weeks, The Veterinary Viewfinder has shown up for the conversations veterinary medicine needs, from team dynamics and credentialed technician advocacy to urgent care, leadership, burnout, workplace culture, and the profession’s toughest debates.
In this milestone episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, reflect on nearly a decade of weekly podcasting without missin
Why “Love Languages” Aren’t a Workplace Strategy
When was the last time you felt truly appreciated at work?
This week on the Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, are joined by Josh “Mexico Joe” Vaisman, MAPPCP (PgD), CCFP, Lead Positive Change Agent, author of Lead to Thrive: The Science of Crafting a Positive Veterinary Culture, and founder of the Flourish Academy.
Together, they ask whether veterinary medicine t
Pride Month Is a Start. Allyship Is Year-Round.
Pride Month gives veterinary teams a chance to celebrate LGBTQ+ colleagues and clients, but real allyship has to continue long after June. This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk with Stephanie Goss, CEO of PrideVMC, about how veterinary practices can move beyond rainbow stickers and build support into everyday clinic culture.
Stephanie shares her path to and through veterinar
America’s 250th Means More Booms, More Noise, and More Vet Med Prep
America’s 250th birthday is not shaping up to be a typical one-night July 4th celebration. With fireworks and community events expected to stretch across July 3, 4, and 5 (and expect some noise even earlier), Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, are urging veterinary teams to prepare now for an extra-long, extra-loud holiday weekend.
This episode focuses on what clinics can do before the b
Does Veterinary Medicine Have an Identity Crisis?
What does it mean to be a veterinarian, a credentialed veterinary technician, an assistant, or a new role entering the clinical space?
In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, dig into veterinary medicine’s identity problem: how comparisons to human medicine, unclear titles, internal hierarchies, and emerging roles like Colorado’s veterinary professional associate (VPA) can s
The Veterinary Urgent Care Gap We Can’t Ignore
After-hours and urgent care have changed dramatically in veterinary medicine, but the system still has serious gaps. In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, look at what happens when pet owners need help after hours, and there’s nowhere realistic to send them.
The conversation starts with the old model of pagers, late-night calls, and general practices carrying emergency resp
The Mobile Vet Tech: Building a Career Beyond the Clinic
This week on the Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk with Michelle Crew, a credentialed LVT and the entrepreneur behind The Mobile Vet Tech, about building a career outside the traditional clinic setting.
After losing what she thought was her “unicorn job” during COVID, Michelle began offering in-home services such as nail trims and anal gland expression, and
Hantavirus, Hype, and the Future of Client Trust
In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, use the current Hantavirus conversation as a jumping-off point for a bigger issue affecting every veterinary team: public trust in science.
This is not a panic episode, and it is not about predicting another COVID. Instead, it is a practical conversation about science skepticism, vaccine hesitancy, misinfor
Missed Charges: Who Pays When the Clinic Gets It Wrong?
Missed charges happen in every veterinary practice, but what happens next says a lot about clinic culture.
In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, take on the uncomfortable reality of billing mistakes: forgotten charges, wrong invoice items, inventory mix-ups, and the dreaded follow-up call to a client.
They discuss why missed charges often turn into blame, especially for t
More Voices, Less Turf War in Vet Med
Veterinary medicine is full of passionate people, but sometimes that passion turns into camps, loyalty tests, and turf wars.
In this episode of the Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, discuss why veterinary professionals can feel pressured to support only one organization, cause, or point of view, and why that mindset may be holding the profession back.
From veter
Veterinary Receptionist Week: The Team That Keeps Your Day on Track
This week on Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, focus on Veterinary Receptionist Week (April 19–25, 2026) and the people who hold the entire clinic together from the front desk.
They break down what veterinary receptionists actually do day to day, from triaging calls and managing the schedule to handling emotional clients and keeping patient flow on track. It’s a r
Vet Tech Advocacy Evolves: Inside the AACVT Movement
In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward talks with co-host Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, about the launch of the American Association of Credentialed Veterinary Technicians (AACVT.org), a new organization she co-founded with Ryan Frazier, LVT, BS, MBA. Their goal is not to replace or compete with existing veterinary groups, but to strengthen the profession by filling gaps that many credentialed technicians sti
Clocked In Isn’t Ready: The Morning Mistake Hurting Your Team
What does “starting at 8 a.m.” actually mean in a veterinary clinic? This episode tackles a small detail that quietly creates big tension across teams.
Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, break down the difference between being “on time” and being truly ready to work. From employees easing into the day to clinics that aren’t operational at opening, they unpack how unclear expectations lead to
Beckie Mossor, RVT: 24 Seconds That Changed Everything - In Her Own Words
This week’s episode is one of the most difficult and important conversations we’ve had. Beckie Mossor shares the reality of a devastating house fire that took a friend, three pets, and everything she owned, and what those 24 seconds revealed.
For veterinary professionals, this isn’t just a personal story. It’s a wake-up call. From how quickly fires actually spread to the gaps in what we think we
Help Beckie Mossor After The Fire
This week, we share difficult news about one of our own. On March 15, Beckie Mossor suffered a devastating house fire that claimed her home, all of her belongings, three beloved pets, and a close friend. There are no words that fully capture the weight of that loss.
Beckie has long been a steady, compassionate voice in our profession. She has shown up for others time and again, offering support,
When Vacation Time Runs Out But You Still Need a Break
Summer is coming, and with it comes one of the most tension-filled conversations in veterinary practice: what happens when a team member runs out of PTO but still wants time off? In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, dig into a social media post that sparked a lot of opinions, and even more questions!
They explore both sides of this hot topic honestly: the employee who feel
Bitten, Scratched, and Told to Suck It Up
Getting injured at work is part of life in a veterinary clinic, but what happens next matters more than most practices want to admit. In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, dig into a troubling pattern showing up across vet med social media: team members who speak up after a bite, scratch, or potential zoonotic exposure and end up facing dismissal, passive-aggressive pushback
Is Veterinary Medicine More Neurodivergent Than We Think?
Neurodiversity is part of veterinary medicine, whether we talk about it or not.
In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, sit down with Ron Sosa, veterinary team coach and founder of Syn-APT Leadership Coaching, to explore what neurodiversity really looks like in our profession. From Ron’s late diagnoses of ADHD and autism to high masking, imposter syndrome, and burnout, this c
Online Complaints and Zero Tolerance: Have We Swung Too Far?
Bad online reviews aren’t new in veterinary medicine. What’s changing is how quickly we respond, and how quickly we sometimes end the relationship by “firing” the client who posted something critical.
In the 482nd episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, explore the real question behind legitimate negative reviews: when does a complaint justify firing a cl
We Closed the Clinic and Took the Entire Team to VMX: Here’s What Happened
Continuing education is required for veterinary professionals’ licensure, but finding time for CE often feels impossible. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, speak with Dr. Andrea Freeman about a bold decision: closing her small animal practice and taking her entire team to VMX for continuing education.
Instead of sending one or two team membe
Ask the Dog First: Why Most Dog Bites Are Preventable
Dog bites are more common than most people realize, and nearly all of them are preventable. This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, welcome back longtime friend and Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, Steve Dale, to talk about his new children’s book, Ask the Dog, and why it may be one of the most important dog bite prevention tools veterinarians can s
Ranked, Rejected, or Hired: How AI Is Quietly Reshaping Careers
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in veterinary hiring. It is already here, quietly screening resumes, ranking candidates, and influencing who gets interviewed, hired, or never hears back at all. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Becky Mosser, MPA, RVT, unpack how AI-driven hiring tools are changing the employment landscape across all industries,
VMX 2026: Big Energy, Bigger Questions
VMX 2026 is in the books, and this week on Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Becky Mosser, MPA, RVT, share their observations from one of the biggest veterinary conferences ever, VMX in Orlando, Florida, USA.
Our hosts reflect on record-breaking attendance, the growing presence of veterinary technicians and support staff, the rise of booth-based CE, and how AI continues to weave itself in
Absentee Guilt: When Time Off Still Feels Like Work
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
Why Vaccine Hesitancy Feels Harder Than Ever (and What to Do About It)
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 g
Shedding Old Skins: Rethinking Vet Organizations in a New Year
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
From AI to Affordability: Vet Med Trends Shaping 2026
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, a
T’was the Night Before Christmas: Veterinary Edition
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
The No-Show Appointment Crisis: Why Vet Clinics Are Getting Ghosted
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 s
Are Veterinary Clients Meaner in 2025? Why Holiday Stress Is Hitting Teams Hard
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
Holiday Weight Gain in Pets: Veterinary Strategies with Dr. Martha Cline
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 chall
Beyond Pizza Parties: Real Appreciation Strategies for Veterinary Teams
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, slow down the holiday rush to talk about something deceptively simple and surprisingly powerful: gratitude.
As Thanksgiving arrives, many practice owners and managers are asking the same question: What do I do for my staff this year? Yet the podcast reveals a deeper conversation about why traditional gestures, pi
When Mistakes Happen in Vet Med: How Great Teams Recover, Rebuild, and Learn
Mistakes happen in veterinary practice, but what defines a great team is how they respond to them.
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle one of the toughest and most universal realities in veterinary medicine: what to do when something goes wrong.
From small slip-ups to serious medical errors, Ernie and Beckie explore the importance of mindse
When Home Isn’t Safe: What Every Veterinary Professional Should Know About Domestic Violence
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor sit down with Elizabeth Watson and Jane Allen Wilson from the North Carolina Victim Assistance Network for one of the most important conversations in veterinary medicine. Domestic violence affects far more veterinary professionals than most realize, yet it remains one of the least discussed workplace safety issues.
Research shows that an estimated 1 in
U.S. Pets Are Being Exposed to Pepper Spray: A Conversation with Steve Dale
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, are joined by Chicago-based journalist and certified animal behavior consultant Steve Dale to discuss a surprising and underreported issue: pets incidentally exposed to pepper spray and tear gas in U.S. cities.
While these cases are rare, they present serious challenges for veterinarians and pet owners alike. The
Veterinary Transparency Isn’t Terrifying: What the U.K. CMA Report Means for Clinics and Clients
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, examine the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) 2024 report—a document shaking up global veterinary medicine. The CMA’s findings on pricing, ownership disclosure, and consumer trust have sparked heated debates across the profession.
Ernie and Beckie explain how the CMA found clients often don’t kn
Rethinking the 90-Day Rule: Building Trust, Not Probation, in Veterinary Teams
What does your clinic call the first 90 days of employment? A probationary period, onboarding, or something else? This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, challenge one of the most ingrained (and, according to our hosts, outdated) terms and concepts in veterinary employment: the “90-day probation.”
Dr. Ward and Beckie unpack the emotional, legal, and psy
Celebrating Veterinary Technicians: Purpose, Pathways, and the Power of Giving Back
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, celebrate National Veterinary Technician Week and the fifth anniversary of the Veterinary Giving Tree, a grassroots initiative helping veterinary professionals in need. But beyond celebration, this conversation digs into what meaningful recognition really looks like, and how the profession can sustain it.
Be
When Your Clinic Gets Bought: Navigating Culture Shifts, Contracts, and Control
What really happens when your veterinary clinic is sold? In this week’s episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack the messy realities behind acquisitions, whether by large corporate groups or independent buyers.
They explore what practice owners, associates, and staff need to know before the ink dries on a deal. For veterinarians, the shift often mea
October Vet Playbook: WSAVA Takeaways, World Pet Obesity Week Tools, and Vet Tech Appreciation
October is stacked for veterinary teams. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, share a rapid “what to do now” briefing after returning from the annual WSAVA conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. You’ll hear global perspectives on credentialing and utilization of veterinary nurses/technicians, why international collaboration matters, and how organ
Beyond Annual Reviews: Building a Culture of Continuous Feedback in Veterinary Medicine
Performance evaluations are one of the most misunderstood and often dreaded processes in veterinary medicine. Many clinics either skip them entirely or treat them as a once-a-year formality tied closely to raises. This creates stress for team members and fails to deliver meaningful guidance for improvement.
In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT,
Should You Fire That Client? The Veterinary Debate Over Client Bad Behavior
Every veterinary team has faced it: a client gets angry, raises their voice, and everyone wonders whether or not we should fire them.
In this week’s episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack one of the most difficult decisions veterinary professionals face: when to dismiss a client and when to repair the relationship.
Using a real-life scenario, ou
The Veterinary General Practice Shift: Managing the Surge of Sick and Urgent Care Visits
Veterinary general practice is undergoing a dramatic transformation. What used to be a steady stream of wellness check-ups and minor issues has shifted into a relentless wave of sick pets, urgent care needs, and same-day emergencies. Across the country, clinics are feeling the pressure, and many teams are struggling to keep up.
In this week’s episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward a
Feedback, Gossip, or Tattletale? Managing Toxic Reporting and Team Morale in Veterinary Practice
Many veterinary teams have one: the colleague who runs to management about every minor mistake or late trash bag. But when does necessary reporting turn into destructive tattling?
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack one of the profession’s most frustrating dynamics: coworkers who undermine team culture by excessive fault-finding.
Hosts Dr.
The September Veterinary Playbook: Suicide Prevention, Sustainability Wins & Kindness That Sticks
September is a busy time for veterinary teams, and this episode provides a practical roadmap. The Veterinary Viewfinder welcomes Catherine Haskins from “The Bridge Club” to spotlight three profession-wide initiatives you can activate now.
First up, Suicide Prevention Month: Haskins shares Project Sticker’s “Change That Sticks” micro-donation campaign and StickWithUs.vet, a single hub aggregating
Is Veterinary General Practice Dying? Urgent Care Boom, Burnout, and How GPs Can Adapt
Is Veterinary General Practice Dying? On this week’s Veterinary Viewfinder, veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and credentialed veterinary technician, Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, ask the question many teams are whispering. Routine wellness is slipping while urgent and ER traffic rises.
The hosts dig into what is driving the shift: cost sensitivity, weekday access barriers, and changing client expectations
Pet Doctor or Pet Owner’s Therapist? Navigating Emotional Labor in Vet Med
Being a veterinarian is about caring for animals… right? Increasingly, many vets feel their role is shifting toward being a therapist for pet owners, and it’s taking a toll. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, explore the growing emotional labor demands placed on veterinary professionals.
From helping clients navigate grief, guilt, and financi
"Don’t Do It”? The Danger of Gatekeeping the Veterinary Profession, and Why It’s Time to Stop
Too many aspiring veterinary professionals are met with a troubling response: “Don’t do it.” In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, take a hard look at how that knee-jerk negativity, often voiced by those still in the field, may be harming the future of veterinary medicine.
With decades of combined experience, Dr. Ward and Beckie reflect on their own paths and push back against t
Regulation Without Representation? Why Credentialed Vet Techs Need Seats on State Veterinary Boards
Credentialed veterinary technicians are pillars of modern veterinary care, but in most U.S. states, they’re excluded from the very boards that govern their profession. This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, break down why this lack of representation is not just outdated, it’s dangerous for workforce development, public health, and the long-term sustaina
Who’s Protecting Vet Assistants? The Push for Credentialing, and the Oversight Gap
As some states roll out veterinary assistant credentialing programs, a critical question emerges: Who’s actually overseeing these initiatives, what are their future goals, and are they helping or hurting the profession?
In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, examine the growing movement to credential veterinary assistants without consistent regu
You Talk Too Much: What Really Happens When Vet Techs Speak Up
A technician catches a medication error and speaks up, only to be told later, “You talk too much.” In this powerful episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, confront one of the most damaging cultural issues in veterinary medicine: punishing staff for doing the right thing.
The conversation goes beyond this single story to tackle the widespread discomfort a
Personal Life, Public Fallout: How Veterinary Clinics Can Prepare for Online Scandals
What if one of your employees goes viral on TikTok... for all the wrong reasons?
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, dive into a modern dilemma facing every veterinary clinic: what happens when an employee’s personal behavior triggers public outrage, and suddenly your phones are blowing up with angry calls?
Inspired by a real-world Fourth of July
Scared Dogs, Stressed Clients, and Missed Revenue: Why Clinics Still Aren’t Ready for July 4th
Fireworks. Travel. Noise. Every July 4th, veterinary teams face a predictable surge of panicked pets, frazzled clients, and last-minute sedation requests. So why are so many clinics still reacting instead of preparing?
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack how veterinary clinics can turn this annual headache into an opportunity to deliver bette
The Hidden Cost of Undervaluing Vet Techs: Burnout, Turnover, and a Profession at Risk
What happens when veterinary technicians are overworked, underpaid, and still fighting for recognition? The 2024 NAVTA Demographic Survey reveals the harsh reality, and this week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack what it all means for the future of veterinary medicine.
Despite their essential role, most vet techs still earn significantly less than co
Are Vet Techs Nurses? Why the Internet Erupted—and What the Real Debate Is About
A viral video from a popular “human nurse” influencer asking if veterinary technicians are “nurses” recently sparked a social media firestorm, but the outrage may be missing the real issue.
In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, go beyond the headlines to explore what’s truly at stake in the “vet nurse” debate: professional identity, title protec
Hey, can I get a discount? When vet clients, colleagues, and friends push the line
Should veterinary professionals, their colleagues, distributors, pharmaceutical representatives, and community heroes receive a discount? And what happens when they ask?
In this provocative episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle the emotional and financial complexities of veterinary discounts. Prompted by Beckie’s personal experience navigating an
Pet Bereavement Leave in Vet Med: Is It Too Much to Ask?
When a veterinary professional loses a pet, should they get time off? What happens when a request for pet bereavement leave is met with an eye roll?
In this emotionally charged episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle the tough conversation around grief leave for veterinary team members mourning the loss of their own animals.
Drawing on listener q
What If the One-Star Review Was Right? Owning Up in Vet Med When You Screw Up
What if the negative review was… right?
In this brutally honest episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle one of the most difficult scenarios in veterinary medicine: how to handle legitimate complaints when your clinic or team actually did make a mistake.
With raw insight and hard-earned experience, the hosts examine how to manage everything from e
Are Vet Teams Losing Touch? What Happened to Sharing Journals and Learning Together?
Remember when veterinary break rooms were covered in highlighted journals and sticky notes that said “READ THIS”? This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor explore how our learning habits have changed and what this means for clinic culture.
Are we still learning together… or just scrolling solo?
In this thought-provoking episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, hosts
They Gave Us 1 Star… Then Came Back: Real Talk on Clients, Conflict, and Managing Criticism
What do you do when a client trashes your clinic with a negative online review, then schedules another appointment as if nothing happened? In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack the emotional and professional complexities of accepting—or refusing—returning clients who’ve publicly criticized your team.
From understanding when a bad review c
Today’s Vaccine and Surgery Hesitancy: What Veterinary Teams Need to Know
Vaccine and surgery hesitancy isn’t just a human healthcare challenge; veterinary teams are seeing it more often in exam rooms across the country. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, cohosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, take a deep dive into the rising trend of pet parent hesitancy around core vaccines and routine surgical procedures like spays, neuters, and dental cleanin
Should Veterinary Clinics Buy Now or Wait? Inflation, Tariffs, and Smart Investments
In this episode of "The Veterinary Viewfinder," hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle a timely topic that every veterinary professional should consider: how inflation, rising tariffs, and supply chain disruptions are affecting big purchasing decisions and clinic growth strategies.
As economic pressures mount, practice owners, managers, and technicians alike are asking: Should w
Corporate Pressure & Public Scrutiny: What’s the Impact on Veterinary Careers?
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle one of the most urgent and unsettling issues facing veterinary professionals: the growing instability in the profession driven by corporate layoffs, clinic closures, and public scrutiny. They discuss the recent, abrupt shutdown of My Pets Wellness clinics across multiple U.S. states, leaving veterinary
Surviving a Down Economy: Supporting Your Veterinary Team in Tough Times
In this timely and insightful episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, address one of the most pressing concerns facing veterinary professionals today: how to support your clinic team during economic uncertainty. As inflation rises, operating costs soar, and layoffs make headlines, veterinary practices—whether corporate or independent—must adapt quick
Caring for the Uncommon: Ethical Dilemmas in Exotic Animal Veterinary Care
Exotic animal pets captivate animal lovers, but their rising popularity brings complex ethical dilemmas for veterinary professionals. In this episode of "The Veterinary Viewfinder," co-hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, explore the delicate balance between the desire to own exotic animals and the professional responsibility to ensure their proper care.
Our co-hosts discuss a wide
Decoding Toxic Leadership in Vet Clinics: Is Your Boss the Problem?
In another thought-provoking episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, explore the complex topic of toxic leadership in veterinary practices.
The duo delves into what truly constitutes a toxic boss versus a demanding or challenging manager, examining behaviors that range from a lack of self-awareness and inconsistent treatment to micromanagement and
Let’s Talk about Veterinary CE: Are Influencers Diluting Quality?
In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, discuss how required continuing education (CE) content is selected for veterinary professionals. They delve into the changing landscape of vet conferences, where traditional academic excellence intersects with the modern impact of social media -- and dancing vets.
The hosts investigate how influencer cultu
Mentorship in Vet Med: How MentorVet is Transforming Careers
In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mosser, RVT, MPA, dive into the transformative world of veterinary mentorship with the inspiring founder of MentorVet, Dr. Addie Reinhard and Director of Learning and Development, Mariel Hendricks, RVTg.
MentorVet is tackling the profession’s toughest challenges—burnout, isolation, and career uncertainty—by providing eviden
Mental Health in Vet Med: Accommodations Young Veterinary Professionals Need to Know
Dive into this week’s episode of “The Veterinary Viewfinder” with hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, as they tackle a pressing topic for young veterinary professionals: mental health accommodations in practice. In this episode, the duo explores how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to veterinary settings, offering practical insights for navigating stress and anxiety
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