The relief industry's Golden AgeMarch 9, 2023Any veterinarian seeking relief work need only respond to a few ads for part- or full-time work and offer their services.
SPONSORED CONTENTHELP THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKIN.Could the key to managing the constant itching and inflammation of canine atopic dermatitis be at the bottom of a bowl? + Learn More
VPN Plus+ Exclusive'Radical transparency' in vet med: embracing a new era of closeness with clientsFebruary 15, 2023By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAInstead of becoming correspondingly friendly, open, candid, and clear, we have erected barriers to these. Artfully constructed, tech-centric walls may well suit the science, but I would argue they ill-become most modern client-patient relationships.
A lighthearted take on our traitsJanuary 24, 2023Though veterinarians often differ dramatically in their heritage and ethnicity—and culture certainly varies across specialties and subspecialties—personalities differ less so in certain areas.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveOur tacit pact with the purebred pet industryDecember 28, 2022By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAAs one of our path professors used to say, “If you want to start a successful practice, try befriending some boxer and Shar-pei breeders.” Although I date myself with this reference to currently less fashionable breeds (today we might rely more on our ĂĽber allergy-prone doodles and everything-prone Frenchies), the core truth remains: We rely on our purebreds for profitability.Â
My canine patient ate a grape—now what?December 23, 2022Despite our new suspicions, the scant, published evidence does not yet definitively identify the toxic principle, much less how many grapes or raisins it takes to get to the center of the Tootsie Pop. That means I am stuck in the unenviable position of treating every single patient/event on a worst-case basis, right?
Career clash: Should you stay or should you go?December 6, 2022They say the grass is no greener on the other side. Alas, sometimes they’re wrong. There are plenty of reasons why seeking a position elsewhere is the better option. For example, when you find yourself uninspired by your profession, dreading your days, and/or generally behaving like the disgruntled, unsatisfactory employee you know you are not meant to be.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe clash of commerce and cultureNovember 10, 2022By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAThe culture of veterinary medicine has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. While the dedication displayed by veterinary school applicants seeking entry to programs seems not to have diminished, the emerging work ethos is arguably less enthusiastic than it once was. This shift in mentality, should you subscribe to this assessment, is often explained in terms of the dueling axioms describing our younger workforce’s approach to work-life balance: “working to live” rather than “living to work.”
Get a hobby for a better work-life balanceOctober 20, 2022It seems everyone picked up some new hobbies over the pandemic. Everyone, that is, except veterinary professionals.
Boost your income without losing your mindSeptember 29, 2022As veterinary professionals, we are fortunate enough to work in an industry that currently offers plenty of opportunity for upward mobility. While getting ahead may mean significant change for some of us (a geographic move, a change in employer, new hours, or even heading back to the classroom), veterinary medicine currently remains in the spotlight as an industry with an upward trend.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveBeing down a team member doesn't have to be a recipe for disasterSeptember 15, 2022By Patty Khuly, VMD, MBAWhen faced with a similar (albeit less dramatic) associate shortage in the past, I have made do by restructuring basic operations, leaning on my team’s most experienced members to take over tasks formerly deemed “vet-only” areas. Here’s how I approached it, broadly...