VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTech Talk: Why 'veterinary technician' deserves protection—now more than everJuly 23, 2025By Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVTNAVTA President on why "veterinary technician" title protection is not a superficial concern: Title misuse impacts patient safety, public trust, professional retention, and ultimately, the sustainability of veterinary healthcare teams. If we, those who hold the credential do not protect, respect, and correctly use our own title within veterinary culture, how can we expect pet owners, legislators, or even our peers in human healthcare to understand its meaning and importance?
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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWe don't like mutts, and I cannot lieJuly 10, 2025By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAYou know this is true: The purebred bias is our profession’s dirty little secret. We love our purebreds for lots of reasons, but if we are honest, we know it is because they make our profession what it is today—lucrative, for sure, but also challenging and exciting. Nothing satisfies my inner nerd like a Norwegian Forest cat from the Ukraine with all his IBD, cardiomyopathy, and LPLs.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTop 10 life hacks for veterinarians courtesy of an AI botMay 29, 2025By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBANo tool has afforded me so many insta-hacks as ChatGPT. This and other AI bot-based tools are every industry’s most conspicuous work hacks, but they’re still undoubtedly under-leveraged—especially in red med. In fact, I can promise if you are not using it every day you are definitely missing out.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTech Talk: NAVTA surveys say some things change, some stay the sameMay 22, 2025By Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVTThe National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) 2024 Demographic Survey provides an opportunity to better understand the current veterinary technician landscape and a valuable opportunity to compare the profession’s evolution since the 2022 survey.
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 …
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe importance of One Health to the veterinary teamApril 2, 2025By Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVTNAVTA president on how vet team members contribute to One Health partnerships by developing early warning systems that help detect disease outbreaks in animals and humans, and the four ways they add to their own skillsets.
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+ ExclusiveTech Talk: Unionization in the veterinary industryFebruary 27, 2025By Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVTUnionization in the veterinary industry is not a new concept, but it has gained increased attention in recent years. A few pioneering practices have successfully unionized, marking a shift in how the veterinary community views worker advocacy.
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.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTech Talk: 44 increased skills/volunteer opportunities you can achieve and exploreJanuary 29, 2025By Jamie Rauscher, LVTVolunteering in leadership roles within the field of veterinary medicine is a profoundly rewarding endeavour that offers many benefits both for the individual and the profession at large. The advantages of stepping into a leadership role are extensive, from enhancing professional skills and career opportunities to fostering personal growth and contributing to the community. This article will delve into how volunteering in such capacities can shape your career, enrich your personal life, and drive the advancement of veterinary medicine.
