The heartbeat of the veterinary profession. Join us as we talk with veterinary colleagues about critical topics from student debt to mental health. And share stories, stories connect us… as humans, as animals, as a veterinary community.
Episodes
Friday Oct 08, 2021
Friday Oct 08, 2021
*TRIGGER WARNING* some of the content in this episode may include triggers for topics including: Adverse Childhood Events also known as ACEs, animal abuse, and interpersonal violence, including child abuse and domestic violence. As a reminder, if you are a veterinary student or veterinarian, the VIN Foundation’s confidential peer-to-peer support group vets4vets® is here for you, at no cost, please know, you are not alone. Call (530) 794-8094 or visit the website to schedule a session: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/vets4vets/
Listen in as VIN Foundation Executive Director Jordan benShea has a conversation with Vets4Vets® team member Dr. Susan Cohen about suicide risks in the veterinary profession, how adverse childhood events play a role, and the impact of perfectionism. This episode kicks off the Veterinary Pulse’s Inhale, Exhale Series on mental wellness in the veterinary profession. Learn the warning signs of mental distress, what to do if you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, and where to go for help.
GUEST BIOS:
Dr. Susan P. Cohen
Susan has been called a pioneer in the fields of pet loss, human-animal interaction, and the human side of veterinary practice. Since 1982 Dr. Cohen has helped pet lovers make decisions about the illness of their pets. She developed the first-ever Pet Loss Support Group and began an animal assisted activity program that took the then-unusual form of having volunteers work with their own pets. She originated many training programs for workers in the veterinary and social service fields, and she has been a field instructor for several schools of social work. She has written several book chapters and scholarly articles on social work, veterinary practice, and the human-animal bond. Her most recent book chapter, “Loss, Grief, and Bereavement in the Context of Human-Animal Relationships” (Susan Cohen, DSW; and Adam Clark, LSW, AASW) was published in 2019. She is currently working on a chapter on pet loss for Routledge's International Handbook on Human-Animal Interaction.
These days she consults with veterinary groups on client and professional communication, compassion fatigue, and how to make practice fun again. She facilitates online support groups for veterinarians, animal welfare workers, managers, and those grieving the loss of a pet. She teaches online workshops and lectures widely to veterinary colleges and conferences, colleges of social work, veterinary technician programs, and human health groups on communication, pet loss and bereavement, human-animal interaction, client relations, compassion fatigue, and career development. She is Vice Chairperson of SWAHAB (Social Workers Advancing the Human-Animal Bond), the first such committee of the National Association of Social Workers. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and Smithsonian Magazine. In addition, she has made numerous television and radio addresses nationwide, including “The Today Show,” "20-20," and "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
- Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255 https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/how-we-can-all-prevent-suicide/
- VIN Foundation Vets4Vets® and Support4Support:: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/vets4vets/
- Book a session with Vets4Vets®: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/vets4vets-appointments/
- Dr. Susan Cohen Veterinary Pulse Episode 104: https://vinfoundation.org/are-you-caring-too-much-red-shoe-syndrome-susan-cohen/
- Adverse Childhood Events: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html
- Borderline personality disorder: https://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.org
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
Join VIN Foundation Board Members Dr. Matt Holland and Dr. Tony Bartels in a discussion with new veterinary graduate and practicing veterinarian Dr. Shiloh Landskov about strategies in paying off student loan debt. Is it best to pay it off as fast as possible? Is there value in choosing an income-driven repayment plan? Is a budget really necessary? How does student loan debt compare to credit card debt when it comes to repayment? Listen in to learn about veterinary student loans from three different perspectives, and advice on best strategies based on your situation.
GUEST BIOS:
Dr. Tony Bartels
Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA graduated in 2012 from the Colorado State University combined MBA/DVM program and is a VIN Foundation Board Member and Student Debt Expert, and an employee of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). He and his wife, a small-animal internal medicine specialist practicing in Denver, have more than $400,000 in veterinary-school debt that they manage using federal income-driven repayment plans. By necessity (and now obsession), his professional activities include researching and speaking on veterinary-student debt, providing guidance to colleagues on loan-repayment strategies and contributing to VIN Foundation resources. Beyond debt, his professional interests include small- and exotic-animal practice. When he’s not staring holes into his colleagues’ student-loan data, Tony enjoys fly fishing, ice hockey, camping and exploring Colorado with his wife, Audra, and their two rescued canines, Addi and Maggie.
Dr. Shiloh Landskov
Dr. Shiloh Landskov is a new graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2020. She is a Minnesota native, and currently works in general practice and emergency medicine. Her interests include emergency medicine, surgery, and leadership within veterinary medicine. She currently lives with her husband and 6 pets in central Minnesota.
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
- VIN Foundation Student Debt Center: https://vinfoundation.org/studentdebtcenter
- VIN Foundation WikiDebt: https://vinfoundation.org/wikidebt
- VIN Foundation Webinars: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/webinars/
- Student Aid: https://studentaid.gov/
- Stay up to date with VIN Foundation updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/
- Personalized Assistance available via the special Student Debt Message Board areas:
- VIN member (including veterinary students)
- Non-VIN member (veterinarians and pre-veterinary students)
Email VIN Foundation: studentdebt@vinfoundation.org
Get updates to stay tuned for the VIN Foundation webinars on student debt.
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
Listen in as Executive Director Jordan Benshea chats with VIN News Director Edie Lau about life as a veterinary journalist and her hope for the profession.
GUEST BIO:
Edie is the VIN News Service director and has been reporting and editing for VIN News since 2008. Before that, she covered science, energy, the environment, education and whatever else needed doing at newspapers in Sacramento, California; Portland, Maine; Binghamton, New York; and Stockton, California. Edie has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley. She lives near Seattle with her husband, daughter and two canine associates.
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!
Wednesday Sep 01, 2021
Wednesday Sep 01, 2021
Join VIN Foundation Executive Director Jordan Benshea as she chats with 4th year Auburn veterinary student Indya Woods about the importance of not listening on defense, coming to a conversation with an open heart, and the willingness to be vulnerable to connect with colleagues.
GUEST BIO:
Indya Woods
Indya Woods is currently a 4th year veterinary student at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Indya grew up in Mobile, AL, and knew she loved animals from a very young age. Indya began pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian while in college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During her time at UAB, Indya completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. While in college, Indya also developed a love for servant leadership, mentorship, and community service- which influenced her extracurricular involvement in veterinary school.
At Auburn, Indya currently serves as Vice President of the Class of 2022. Indya has also served as 2019-2020 National Vice President of Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment (VOICE) and 2020-2021 National Co-President of VOICE. Indya’s time with VOICE showed her that she has a true commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity within the veterinary profession, and hopes to continue to use her career to educate her peers on DEI within vet med.
After graduating in May 2022, Indya hopes to move to South Florida to become a small animal and exotics veterinarian. She also hopes to volunteer in aquatic animal rescue and rehabilitation.
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
- Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine: https://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/
- VOICE: https://vetvoicenational.org/
- VIN Foundation Vets4Vets®: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/vets4vets/
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!
Saturday Aug 28, 2021
Saturday Aug 28, 2021
Listen in as Executive Director Jordan benShea chats with Board Member and student debt expert Dr. Tony Bartels in this next installment of our Student Debt Series. In this episode, we’re discussing the latest news about the latest Student Loan Repayment Extension, who it impacts, advice for what to do with this forbearance time, and how to prepare for restarting your loan payments when the extension ends.
GUEST BIO:
Dr. Tony Bartels
Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA graduated in 2012 from the Colorado State University combined MBA/DVM program and is a VIN Foundation Board Member and Student Debt Expert, and an employee of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). He and his wife, a small-animal internal medicine specialist practicing in Denver, have more than $400,000 in veterinary-school debt that they manage using federal income-driven repayment plans. By necessity (and now obsession), his professional activities include researching and speaking on veterinary-student debt, providing guidance to colleagues on loan-repayment strategies and contributing to VIN Foundation resources. Beyond debt, his professional interests include small- and exotic-animal practice. When he’s not staring holes into his colleagues’ student-loan data, Tony enjoys fly fishing, ice hockey, camping and exploring Colorado with his wife, Audra, and their two rescued canines, Addi and Maggie.
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
- VIN Foundation Student Debt Center: https://vinfoundation.org/studentdebtcenter
- Check your current student loan servicers and other loan details -- VIN Foundation My Student Loans tool: http://www.vinfoundation.org/mystudentloans
- VIN Foundation WikiDebt: https://vinfoundation.org/wikidebt
- VIN Foundation Webinars: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/webinars/
- VIN Foundation Blog post: https://vinfoundation.org/fedloan-servicing-quits/
- FedLoan Servicing: https://myfedloan.org/
- StudentAid.gov: https://studentaid.gov/
- Federal Student Loan Servicers: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers
- StudentAid PSLF: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
- New Graduate Student Loan Playbook: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-new-grad-student-loan-repayment-playbook/
- Stay up to date with VIN Foundation updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/
- Personalized assistance is available via the special Student Debt Message Board areas. If you do not have an active VIN username and password, you may gain access through the VIN Foundation access application: https://www.vin.com/apputil/project/defaultadv1.aspx?id=9593830
- Email VIN Foundation: studentdebt@vinfoundation.org
- Get updates to stay tuned for the VIN Foundation webinars on student debt.
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!
Friday Aug 27, 2021
Friday Aug 27, 2021
Listen in as Executive Director Jordan Benshea chats with Dr. Rachel Mar about the importance of having compassion for yourself, her path to creating Vitality Vet, and how Batman (yes Batman!) plays a role in her life.
GUEST BIO:
Dr. Rachel Mar
Dr. Rachel Mar completed her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with a minor in photography at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She worked in high school ministry for one year then moved to Dublin, Ireland to obtain her degree in Veterinary Medicine from University College Dublin. Now she is an integrative veterinarian working in Santa Barbara, California. She is a Fear Free certified veterinarian and will complete her Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture (CVA) through Chi University at the end of Summer 2021. Dr. Mar is currently enrolled in the Certified Canine Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP) course through the University of Tennessee. She has a blog dedicated to improving the wellbeing of both pet parents and their pets, and also offers virtual veterinary teleadvice consults via her website www.thevitalityvet.com. Dr. Mar can also be found on Facebook and Instagram (@thevitalityvet).
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
- Cal Poly: https://www.calpoly.edu/
- Veterinary Medicine at University College Dublin: https://www.ucd.ie/vetmed/
- Vitality Vet on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevitalityvet/
- Vitality Vet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevitalityvet/?hl=en
- VIN Foundation Vets4Vets®: https://vinfoundation.org/v4v
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Listen in as VIN Foundation Executive Director Jordan Benshea chats with Dr. Andrew Moffatt about his veterinary career journey from his early dreams of being a fish doctor to the CEO of VetnCare. Andrew shares lessons learned on his path and how his motivation is driven by a passion to help future colleagues be their best selves.
GUEST BIO:
Dr. Andrew Moffatt
Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Andrew Moffatt, DVM, MBA, at the age of five, told his mother, with a firm commitment, that he wanted to be an "animal doctor". Some 20 years later Dr. Moffatt graduated with a degree in Veterinary Science from Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand in 2006.
He started his veterinary career at Cliffe Veterinary Group in East Sussex, England, then made the move to London and took on the role of Clinical Director at Chadwell Heath Veterinary Practice. Dr. Moffatt then joined The Village Veterinary Group (CVS) as Clinical Director, managing four busy hospitals and 55 staff. Whilst living in London, he completed an Executive MBA at Cass Business School.
In between these permanent positions Dr. Moffatt worked in another 20 hospitals for varying lengths of time, and made the move to California in the fall of 2011 and lives in San Francisco with his black and white cat Monstey. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, fly-fishing, cycling, and diving.
Dr. Moffatt tries to offer his clients and their pets health care advice that is honest, ethical, and compassionate. His has advanced skills in surgery (both soft tissue and orthopedics), imaging (ultrasound, radiology, and endoscopy), dentistry, oncology, and exotic patient care, enjoys seeing species such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles, pigs, goats, and even fish! He is obtaining his certification as a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) with the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management and is Fear Free Certified.
Dr. Moffatt is the Founder and current CEO of VetnCare, Inc, a growing group of veterinary hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area. These days his main foci are New Graduate mentorship, Veterinarian recruitment, and clinical leadership and operations.
In 2017 Dr. Moffatt was awarded the California Veterinary Medical Association's "RVT's Outstanding DVM of the Year". This award recognizes Dr. Moffatt's hard work and dedication to his patients, clients and staff alike and rewards his focus on education, training and progressive medicine. He is an active member of the CVMA's PAC (Political Action Committee) and the Certified Veterinary Assistant Committee. He is also a past Vice President and Board Member of the Alameda County Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Moffatt is an Expert Witness for the Veterinary Medical Board providing consultation to the board as part of Disciplinary Investigations. He speaks at numerous AVMA accredited schools around the world, covering various business topics including professional happiness, debt management, veterinary business finance, entrepreneurialism, and veterinary business ownership.
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
- VetnCare: https://vetncare.com/
- VetnCare on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetncare/
- VIN Foundation Vets4Vets®: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/vets4vets/
- VIN Foundation Thrive in Five Toolkit: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/thrive-in-five-new-veterinary-graduate-toolkit/
- VIN Foundation Student Debt Center: https://vinfoundation.org/studentdebtcenter
- Maslach Burnout: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslach_Burnout_Inventory
- Contact Dr. Andrew Moffatt: amoffatt@vetncare.com
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Listen in as VIN Foundation Executive Director Jordan Benshea has a conversation with VIN Foundation Board Member and Student Debt expert Dr. Tony Bartels on the latest news about FedLoan Servicing and how it impacts student loans.
GUEST BIO:
Dr. Tony Bartels
Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA graduated in 2012 from the Colorado State University combined MBA/DVM program and is a VIN Foundation Board Member and Student Debt Expert, and an employee of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). He and his wife, a small-animal internal medicine specialist practicing in Denver, have more than $400,000 in veterinary-school debt that they manage using federal income-driven repayment plans. By necessity (and now obsession), his professional activities include researching and speaking on veterinary-student debt, providing guidance to colleagues on loan-repayment strategies and contributing to VIN Foundation resources. Beyond debt, his professional interests include small- and exotic-animal practice. When he’s not staring holes into his colleagues’ student-loan data, Tony enjoys fly fishing, ice hockey, camping and exploring Colorado with his wife, Audra, and their two rescued canines, Addi and Maggie.
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
- VIN Foundation Blog post: https://vinfoundation.org/fedloan-servicing-quits/
- FedLoan Servicing: https://myfedloan.org/
- StudentAid.gov: https://studentaid.gov/
- Federal Student Loan Servicers: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers
- StudentAid PSLF: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
- VIN Foundation Student Debt Center: https://vinfoundation.org/studentdebtcenter
- Check your current student loan servicers and other loan details -- VIN Foundation My Student Loans tool: http://www.vinfoundation.org/mystudentloans
- VIN Foundation WikiDebt: https://vinfoundation.org/wikidebt
- VIN Foundation Webinars: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/webinars/
- Stay up to date with VIN Foundation updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/
- Personalized Assistance available via the special Student Debt Message Board areas:
- VIN member (including veterinary students)
- Non-VIN member (veterinarians and pre-veterinary students)
Email VIN Foundation: studentdebt@vinfoundation.org
Get updates to stay tuned for the VIN Foundation webinars on student debt.
Recent Reports on FedLoan Servicing Exit:
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!
