Tackling the toughest topics in veterinary medicine
The Veterinary
Viewfinder
Candid conversations on the issues shaping veterinary medicine.
Hosted by Dr. Ernie Ward, DVM & Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT
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Two perspectives, one profession
Dr. Ernie Ward, DVM
Dr. Ernie Ward is a veterinarian, author, and longtime advocate for pets and the veterinary profession. Based in coastal North Carolina, he founded the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention in 2005 and the World Pet Obesity Association in 2023, pairing public education for pet owners with clinical standards for veterinary teams. He is Chief Veterinary Officer of VetFamily US.
An author and a familiar voice across national media, Ernie is known for putting the profession’s hardest conversations front and center. Since 2016, he and Beckie have co-hosted the Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast, a weekly show that digs into the toughest and most controversial topics in veterinary medicine, features leading voices in the field, and looks for practical answers to the challenges veterinary teams face.
Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT
Beckie is a Credentialed Veterinary Technician from Southport, NC, and founding director of the American Association of Credentialed Veterinary Technicians, where she has shaped national conversations on technician utilization, representation on veterinary medical boards, and equity in veterinary organizational structures.
Her work has been published in professional outlets, and she presents internationally on the intersections of veterinary medicine, leadership, and advocacy. She is proud to be the first credentialed veterinary technician to serve on the WSAVA Professional Wellness Committee.
Beckie also co-founded the Veterinary Industry Giving Tree, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterinary professionals through financial hardship, and has co-hosted the Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast for nearly a decade — bringing candid, often provocative conversations and fierce advocacy to the profession.
Why We Volunteer: Taking on Vet Med’s Shared Problems at WSAVA Warsaw
This week on the Veterinary Viewfinder, veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and credentialed veterinary technician Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, join you from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Congress in Warsaw, Poland, to share why they volunteer and what they’ve learned along the way.
Conversations with colleagues from around the world reveal familiar concerns: client communication, workplace bullying, decision fatigue, and work-life balance. Ernie and Beckie discuss how getting involved gives veterinary teams a way to work on these shared problems and learn from each other.
Beckie explains why veterinary technicians need a stronger voice in professional organizations. Ernie reflects on how volunteering has shaped his career and taught him to listen, compromise, and work across cultures.
They also discuss the work behind speaking opportunities and why a different perspective is a reason to participate.
For clinic employees, technicians, managers, and veterinarians wondering where to start, they offer practical starting points: join an association, attend a local meeting, or find a volunteer role that fits your interests and available time.
The conversations behind the care
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