I was recently reading a fantastic autobiography by legendary basketball coach George Raveling, and in it he said that the majority of young people he works with did not have a single person give them an affirming word most days. I found this idea heartbreaking. Imagine no one saying anything positive to you for days… Read More
Team Culture
The State of Teaching and Learning in Vet Schools
Clair Sauer, CVT, joins Dr. Andy Roark to explore how we’re teaching (and could be teaching better) in vet med. In this episode of the Cone of Shame Podcast, they dig into Clair’s unique path from science teacher to veterinary technician educator at the University of Pennsylvania. With a passion for learning theory and hands-on… Read More
Real Tools for Tough Conversations
In this crossover episode of the Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast and VetFolio Voice, Dr. Andy Roark, Stephanie Goss and Dr. Cassandra Fleming dive into conflict management in veterinary practices. They discuss how to reframe conflict as an opportunity for growth rather than something to avoid. Stephanie and Andy break down the importance of building… Read More
Mentoring Spectrum of Care
Dr. Kate Boatright joins The Cone of Shame Podcast to discuss how new veterinary graduates can sometimes be perceived as money-hungry, not because they are, but because they lack confidence in case management and lean heavily on full diagnostic workups. She and Dr. Andy Roark explore how vet school training, imposter syndrome, and communication challenges contribute to… Read More
Why Do You Want to be AVMA President?
Dr. Jen Quammen joins The Cone of Shame Podcast to discuss her candidacy for AVMA President-Elect and why she’s stepping up to lead the profession. In this episode, she and Dr. Andy Roark explore what it takes to run for AVMA leadership, the changes she hopes to bring—like expanding membership to include credentialed veterinary technicians—and… Read More
Your Team is Never Finished
This is a letter for anyone who has made a scary career change Last week I wrote about how I think it’s misguided to put a lot of value in the job titles we hold. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about what job retention actually means to both the people being retained and… Read More