Let’s be honest: Making memories is often a pain in the rear. It snowed in Greenville last Friday. The vet clinic shut down and the kids were home from school as the flakes began to pile up. I was working through a pile of important projects and had told everyone I would be unavailable until… Read More
About Andy Roark DVM MS
New Guidelines Aim to Improve Employee Well-Being
In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark welcomes Dr. Phil Richmond, founder of Flourishing Phoenix, to dive into the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health in the Workplace. They discuss how veterinary practices can address psychosocial hazards, implement effective risk assessments, and foster a culture of wellbeing that supports teams without creating unnecessary stress. You’ll… Read More
Conflict Management
Three reasons vet teams are so bad when it comes to drama and conflict… and a brief plug for my new conflict management certificate I once heard someone say “Veterinary practices are the most dysfunctional workplaces I’ve ever seen, and I used to manage restaurants.” The statement made me laugh, but it also really bothered… Read More
Leveling Up Fear Free
Ever wondered what the next level of Fear Free handling really looks like? Dr. Andy Roark sits down with Dr. Megan Bauer and Jessica Osborne of Latah Creek Animal Hospital in Spokane, Washington, to explore their transformative journey into Fear Free practice. From navigating staff and client turnover to implementing innovative low-stress handling techniques, this… Read More
Why Weight Can’t Wait
Dr. Ernie Ward joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss the challenges of discussing pet obesity with clients and practical strategies for creating urgency and motivating pet owners to take action. This episode of the Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast dives deep into the psychology of weight loss conversations, emphasizing the importance of permission, framing the discussion… Read More
Taking Down the Holiday Lights
How do you feel as you disassemble the holiday season? Is it even possible to be as optimistic taking down strands of flashing lights as putting them up? For most of my adult life, I didn’t think so. I would always try to draw inspiration from the Dr. Seuss quote “Don’t cry because it’s over,… Read More