VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhy relief work is the vet equivalent of a rideshare driverFebruary 18, 2026By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBASince the pandemic, in fact, some of us have seen more relief workers come and go than in the entirety of our pre-pandemic careers. Perhaps you’ve been relief-curious, wondering why taking on temporary work assignments seems so attractive. Maybe you’re even considering becoming a lone wolf yourself.
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Hell hath no fury like a vet with 'senioritis'February 5, 2026"To some extent, this version of volunteerism, what I’m alternatively calling “veterinary senioritis,” is possibly why so many veterinarians have turned to relief medicine. The power to say “no” is a tremendous antidote to what ails many in our profession."
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveWhat do you tell clients who complain about prices?December 16, 2025By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBASure, it’s complex, multifactorial, and not any one individual’s doing. I get this, but I absolutely believe it will be our profession’s undoing. Moreover, it’ll happen partly because we as veterinary professionals have all been at least a little guilty of willingly participating in the process.
VPN Plus+ Exclusive'How' (not 'will') AI replaces veterinariansNovember 12, 2025By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAMuch virtual ink has been spilled on the subject of AI’s threat to our professions. Whether we’re discussing computer engineering, accounting, or the allied medical professions, the promise of change is upon us. Artificial intelligence has substantially changed us already. The question is: Will it merely alter our job descriptions…or pull the rug out from under us altogether?
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveFrom Marlboro Men to Barbie pink: the gender flip in vet medSeptember 17, 2025By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAWe all know it’s true: Some clients won’t take advice from women the same way they would from men. Within the profession, gender balance might even help alleviate burnout: With more diverse problem-solving approaches, team dynamics improve, and everyone’s burden gets lifted.
How to handle the very 'worst' days in practiceSeptember 3, 2025"If you are even in need of a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on, help is to be had. Never forgo the help of a colleague, friend, family member or professional ... Nothing is ever so bad it can’t be managed."
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.
Alcoholism and addiction in vet med: 6 myths on substance abuse in veterinariansMay 21, 2025Dr. Patty Khuly offers some helpful info on the 'pervasive' problem of alcoholism and addiction in the industry, including a brief list of myths regarding the average drug- and alcohol-addicted veterinarian.
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 …
