VPN Plus+ ExclusiveBig vet energy, fading fastApril 24, 2025By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAThe only photo I have on my desk at work is one a classmate snapped during my field service rotation 30 years ago last month. Dinosaur that I am, it was one of those pictures you print at the drugstore photo lab in doubles to give away to your new colleagues at graduation. In it, I'm cradling a Pygmy goat kid…and I'm beaming. It exudes "big vet energy" in the best way possible. Everyone has a picture like that—one that captures their veterinary essence in peak bloom. It represents the moment you first recognized yourself as a real veterinarian. It says, "This is what I am. This is what I do. I was made for this." If your version of this picture isn't already on your desk, it probably should be. It will keep you grounded and inspired, humbled yet exultant. When things go wrong, it'll soothe you to recall why you made the choices you did. When everything's just as you think it should be, it will boost your mood all the more. Ironically, though, it is this photo that made me realize I was ready to end my career as I knew it. Sitting at my desk, crunching …
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Ditching the 'don't want list' for the 'want list'April 22, 2025Columnist, Rebecca Rose, RVT, CCC, CPEP, gives a glimpse of how veterinary professionals can shift their mindset from what they don’t want in their careers to clearly defining and pursuing what they do want.
Bad news bearers: Delivering tough conversations in the practiceApril 21, 2025Learn how to tackle difficult conversations with clarity, empathy, and a little bear-sized bravery in Dr. Greg Bishop’s latest take on veterinary communication.
Veterinarians as salespersons: It's retail medicine to be proud ofMarch 27, 2025In her column this month, Dr. Khuly explores the fine line between a 'hands-off' leadership and revenue-driven management in veterinary practices.
VPN Plus+ Exclusive10 lessons veterinary medicine can learn from human healthcare's biggest challengesMarch 27, 2025By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAHuman healthcare has a lot to teach us, especially since its challenges tend to precede ours. The industry serves as a reliable sentinel for up-and-coming concerns we are likely to confront in the near future, which is what this post is all about. Although these scary prospects don’t yet keep us up all night, they are well worth contemplating as we head into the second half of the decade.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe fight between generalists vs. specialistsFebruary 12, 2025By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAWho does the heavy lifting in veterinary medicine? I argue it’s the generalists vs. specialists who do the bulk of the work and make the biggest difference in the lives of animals. They treat more than just the tippy top of the iceberg of patients who enjoy the great luck of belonging to those who can fork over $10,000 for a TPLO or $20,000 for spinal surgery.
10 'old vet' tips for fledgling veterinariansFebruary 6, 2025This month, Dr. Patty Khuly offers guidance to help new vets navigate the transition from life as a student to that of a doctor.
Always paying it forward with kindnessJanuary 22, 2025Dr. Marty Becker shares personal musings on the "preventive care for health and happiness and a treatment plan for the world’s ails."
When is the right time to retire?January 2, 2025Will you ever truly know when to hang up your stethoscope for the very last time? In her latest column, Dr. Patty Khuly shares her take on the 'ideal' retirement age, giving up clinical duties, and acquiring skills for the 'new chapter' in your life.
How to find (and keep) love in the vet professionDecember 20, 2024Veterinarians have unique sensibilities and lifestyles that may impact your personal relationships. In her latest column, Dr. Patty Khuly shares some tips on how you can make it in the romance department.