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 2024, pairing public education for pet owners with clinical standards for veterinary teams.
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.
Quiet Quitting in Vet Med: You Are Not Defined by How Many Hours You Work
“Quiet quitting” has gone viral. This week we examine what “quiet quitting” really means, how it’s actually been around for a long time (thank you, Gen Xers), and how you can learn from this workplace trend.
In our 300th consecutive weekly episode (!), hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the latest Gen Z TikTok trend of “quiet quitting.” The pair explain how this applies to veterinary professionals, and why this may be a healthy movement.
Dr. Ward reminds the Viewfinders that, “You are not defined by how many hours you work.” He shares why establishing healthy boundaries between work and personal life are essential for a long - and satisfying - career in veterinary medicine. (And he’s been doing this for over 30 years.)
Beckie examines the workplace pressures many veterinary professionals feel if they “take time for themselves” and how many clinics may be reinforcing toxic relationships with work by “texting you at 2 a.m. to ask about work" and then getting upset if you don't respond immediately. Someone needed to hear that...
Viewfinders, thank you for allowing us to get to 300 podcasts! Back in 2016 when we started, we could not imagine how much we’d grow and how much fun we’d be having!
Share this podcast with a colleague who needs to hear it and don’t forget to head over to Apple Podcasts and give us a 5-star review so we can reach more veterinary professionals!
Is Vet Med’s Reputation Risking Our Future?
Burnout. Debt. Suicide. These are some of the topics closely associated with the veterinary profession in 2021. But are these negative narratives hurting our appeal to the next generation of veterinary professionals? This week we discuss the current public perceptions of veterinary medicine and how we can change them for the better.
Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the topic of how an onslaught of negative news about veterinary professionals may be influencing - and perhaps curtailing - the future of our profession.
The pair discuss burnout, student debt, suicide and depression, title protection, (dis)organized veterinary medicine, and a whole lot more during this episode.
Viewfinders, this is another wide-ranging conversation about a topic we think deserves more attention and action from our colleagues. Share your thoughts with us online or email us at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com
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Suggestions, questions, and guest pitches are always welcome. The fastest way to reach the show is by email.