My Veterinary Life

Paul Garrard, a student loan debt management expert, returns to the podcast this week because this time of year is especially important if student debt is part of your veterinary life.  As the class of 2026 prepares to enter repayment and practicing veterinarians approach annual deadlines, student loan repayment decisions are top of mind. Paul breaks down repayment plan options, annual income recertification for income-driven plans, and how recent federal student loan changes could impact your strategy. From choosing an affordable monthly payment to understanding the implications of consolidation, Paul shares practical advice to help veterinarians navigate repayment with confidence and flexibility.For more student loan resources, visit the AVMA's My Veterinary Life® site and the VIN Foundation's Student Debt Center.Thank you to our podcast partner Hill’s Pet Nutrition! You can find more information about Hill’s Pet Nutrition at https://www.hillspet.com/ and https://www.hillsvet.com/. 

Holly Heim, a first-year student at Lincoln Memorial University’s Harrogate campus and local SAVMA chapter president-elect, is our guest this week. Holly's path to veterinary school was anything but traditional, from working as a kennel technician and bridal stylist to discovering her passion for veterinary medicine at a spay/neuter clinic. Now a veterinary student, Holly shares how her interests have evolved, the challenges of balancing school with family life, and the unexpected opportunities that have shaped her journey. She also reflects on her experience in SAVMA leadership and the lessons she’s learned about setting boundaries, empowering others, and embracing new possibilities.Thank you to our podcast partner Hill’s Pet Nutrition! You can find more information about Hill’s Pet Nutrition at https://www.hillspet.com/ and https://www.hillsvet.com/. 

Dr. Kristin Haas, who served as the state veterinarian of Vermont for 17 years, is an avid contributor to organized veterinary medicine, and has a background in equine medicine, is our guest this week. Dr. Haas shares how her career evolved from treating individual animals in equine practice for 13 years to shaping animal health policy, responding to disease outbreaks, and collaborating with professionals across the country to protect animal and public health in Vermont. Dr. Haas reflects on the unexpected rewards of public service, the value of staying engaged in organized veterinary medicine, and why veterinarians may be better prepared for careers outside clinical practice than they realize.Thank you to our podcast partner Hill’s Pet Nutrition! You can find more information about Hill’s Pet Nutrition at https://www.hillspet.com/ and https://www.hillsvet.com/. 

Juan Bendaña, the author of Confident by Choice and the keynote speaker for the 2027 AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference, hosted by VLC Presenting Partner, Zoetis, is our guest this week. Confidence plays an important role in our veterinary lives, from navigating difficult decisions and adapting to change to building trust with clients and colleagues. In this episode, we asked Juan about some common confidence challenges that guests have shared previously on the podcast. Juan explores why self-doubt doesn't have to hold us back and how taking action before feeling fully prepared can create opportunities for personal and professional growth. He leaves us with practical strategies for embracing uncertainty, making small but meaningful improvements, and building confidence in ourselves and the people we work with.We would love for you to join us and hear more from Juan at the 2027 AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference, January 7-9 in downtown Chicago-- registration is now open!Thank you to our podcast partner Hill’s Pet Nutrition! You can find more information about Hill’s Pet Nutrition at https://www.hillspet.com/ and https://www.hillsvet.com/. 

Dr. Broc Mauch, a mixed animal associate veterinarian and the immediate past president of the South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association, is our guest on this week's episode. He shares why he values the variety of working with everything from “bison to bunnies,” the importance of local community, and how saying yes to organized veterinary medicine and volunteerism has created meaningful relationships and leadership opportunities in his life. He also reflects on finding the right balance between serving others and making time for the people and experiences that fill your own cup.Thank you to our podcast partner Hill’s Pet Nutrition! You can find more information about Hill’s Pet Nutrition at https://www.hillspet.com/ and https://www.hillsvet.com/. 

Dr. Kate Bailey, vice president of medical excellence and education at MedVet and a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist, is our guest this week. From plans to pursue equine surgery to discovering a passion for anesthesiology, teaching, and medical quality, Dr. Bailey reflects on how mentorship, new experiences, and an openness to changing direction shaped each step of her career. She also shares why we shouldn’t feel pressured to find the “perfect” job right away and how focusing on what matters most to you can open the door to opportunities you never knew existed.Thank you to our podcast partner Hill’s Pet Nutrition! You can find more information about Hill’s Pet Nutrition at https://www.hillspet.com/ and https://www.hillsvet.com/. 

Dr. Jane Sykes, the director of the Center of Continuing Professional Education, a small animal medicine professor at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Ask A Vet columnist for the Washington Post, is this week's guest. Dr. Sykes shares her career journey from infectious disease research in Australia to an internal medicine residency and ultimately to a faculty position at UC Davis. She reflects on how an academic career gradually expanded into infection control, hospital leadership, postgraduate education, and additional training through an MBA and MPH, with each step opening doors she hadn’t necessarily anticipated. She also shares how saying yes to media interviews, despite initially finding them intimidating, eventually led to another unexpected chapter: writing a veterinary advice column for The Washington Post.Thank you to our podcast partner, NVA General Practice. NVA helps great vets become even greater with multiple paths to build a career that’s uniquely yours. Wherever you want to go next, NVA has a path to help you get there. Visit Careers.NVA.com to find your next role.

Dr. Miki Mannino, a canine rehabilitation therapist and owner of K-9 Kinetics Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy, is our guest on this week's episode. Dr. Mannino entered veterinary medicine with a clear vision for her future as a mixed animal practitioner, but a serious health challenge led her away from large animal practice and into canine rehabilitation. She built a new career and a practice around what she could do rather than what she had expected to do, and she shares what this experience taught her about letting go of a carefully planned career path, staying open to unexpected opportunities, and trusting yourself through periods of change and uncertainty.Thank you to our podcast partner, NVA General Practice. NVA helps great vets become even greater with multiple paths to build a career that’s uniquely yours. Wherever you want to go next, NVA has a path to help you get there. Visit Careers.NVA.com to find your next role.

Dr. Rachel Stading, a small animal associate veterinarian with special interests in dentistry and leadership development, is our guest on this week's episode. Dr. Stading reflects on how mentorship, curiosity, and different practice experiences helped her better understand what she needed to thrive as she navigated an early interest in wildlife and aquatic animal medicine to discovering an unexpected passion for veterinary dentistry. She also shares how her growing interest in leadership and mentoring came full circle through the Veterinary Leadership Institute, reinforcing the value of understanding yourself, supporting others, and being willing to take the first step.Thank you to our podcast partner, NVA General Practice. NVA helps great vets become even greater with multiple paths to build a career that’s uniquely yours. Wherever you want to go next, NVA has a path to help you get there. Visit Careers.NVA.com to find your next role.

Charlotte Weir, the vice president of partnerships for Roo, an online veterinary staffing and careers platform, the founder and co-owner of a small animal hospital, and the winner of the 2026 AVMA Unsung Hero Award, is this week's guest. Char's career has taken her from veterinary technician to practice manager, entrepreneur, and leader, with each step deepening her interest in the people behind veterinary medicine. She shares how her hands-on experiences in practice inspired her to tackle bigger challenges around staffing, career growth, and creating a more sustainable profession. Along the way, Char shares practical advice for us from her leadership philosophy centered on trust, communication, and working shoulder to shoulder with the people around her.Thank you to our podcast partner, NVA General Practice. NVA helps great vets become even greater with multiple paths to build a career that’s uniquely yours. Wherever you want to go next, NVA has a path to help you get there. Visit Careers.NVA.com to find your next role.