Continuing education is required for veterinary professionals’ licensure, but finding time for CE often feels impossible. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, speak with Dr. Andrea Freeman about a bold decision: closing her small animal practice and taking her entire team to VMX for continuing education.

Instead of sending one or two team members at a time, Dr. Freeman invited everyone. Doctors, technicians, CSRs, and part-time staff all attended. The result was more than CE credits. It strengthened communication, boosted morale, improved retention, and energized the entire practice.

Even more surprising? Dr. Freeman says her clients were supportive. With clear communication and advanced planning, she states her clinic did not lose business or trust.

If you have ever wondered whether shutting down for CE is realistic, this episode offers a practical, real-world example of how it can work and why it might be worth it.

Many veterinary professionals struggle with a quiet but exhausting problem: absentee guilt. Whether it’s calling out sick, taking a vacation, or stepping away for personal time, being “off” rarely feels fully off. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and  Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, dig into why stepping away from the clinic can feel so uncomfortable—and why that discomfort matters.

They unpack how guilt becomes normalized in veterinary culture, how leadership behaviors shape expectations around availability, and why clinics that rely too heavily on a single person are setting everyone up for stress. 

The conversation covers sick days, establishing (and maintaining) personal boundaries while on vacation, handling unexpected after-hours texts, and the long-term risks of building practice systems that break down when a certain team member is absent.

This episode offers a practical perspective for veterinarians, technicians, managers, and owners who want healthier boundaries without sacrificing patient care or team trust. The takeaway is clear: protecting time off isn’t selfish, it’s necessary for sustainability, safety, and staying in the profession long term.

Veterinary medicine is changing fast, and 2026 is already taking shape. In this episode of the Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor step back and take an honest look at the trends that are most likely to impact veterinary teams in the year ahead.

They examine how artificial intelligence is moving from novelty to a background tool, quietly reshaping documentation, diagnostics, and client communication. Telemedicine continues to evolve, not just as video visits but as flexible, everyday touchpoints that can help practices improve access and continuity of care. The conversation also explores the return of wearables and continuous monitoring, particularly how improved data could impact pain detection, obesity management, and chronic disease management.

As always, this episode does not shy away from the hard stuff. Workforce burnout, shifting practice models, climate-driven disease patterns, and growing affordability pressures are all front and center. Rather than offering quick fixes, Ernie and Beckie focus on what veterinary professionals can anticipate, question, and influence now.

If you want a grounded, practical discussion about where veterinary medicine is headed and how to stay adaptable without losing your footing, this episode is for you.

The holiday season brings joy, family, and—unfortunately—extra calories for many of our patients. This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor sit down with board-certified veterinary nutritionist Dr. Martha Cline to unpack why holiday weight gain happens and how veterinary teams can help pet owners set healthier habits for the year ahead. From multi-pet household challenges to emotional feeding and environmental barriers, Dr. Cline shares practical, real-world insights that resonate with both clinicians and technicians.

Veterinarians are encouraged to take and share with their clients and teams the 2025 Pet Obesity & Nutrition Opinion Survey, now open at:
👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2025PetObesity

Your input helps shape national understanding of nutrition trends and pet owner behaviors.

This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor sit down with Elizabeth Watson and Jane Allen Wilson from the North Carolina Victim Assistance Network for one of the most important conversations in veterinary medicine. Domestic violence affects far more veterinary professionals than most realize, yet it remains one of the least discussed workplace safety issues.

Research shows that an estimated 1 in 5 women will experience some form of violence by a partner in their lifetime; chances are, someone listening is facing it right now. 

Through candid discussion, the guests explain how to recognize warning signs in colleagues, clients, and even animal patients. They describe how abusers often isolate victims and use pets as tools of control, why victims hesitate to seek help, and what veterinarians and managers can do when they suspect abuse. The episode explores the practical and legal steps clinics can take, from safety planning to protective orders, to safeguard team members and their clients.

This episode challenges the profession to view domestic violence as both a personal and a workplace concern, urging listeners to foster safer and more supportive veterinary environments.

In this week’s episode of “The Veterinary Viewfinder,” hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mosser, MPA, RVT, shine a spotlight on a vital yet often overlooked part of veterinary teams—sales representatives. From pharmaceutical, lab, and food reps to distributors and specialty companies, these professionals play a key role in keeping veterinary clinics running smoothly and efficiently. As the end of the year approaches and fresh off National Veterinary Technician Week, many clinics rely on their reps more than ever—often without recognizing their efforts.

Dr. Ward and Beckie discuss the unspoken challenges reps face, including feeling undervalued or being taken for granted, especially during busy seasons when clinics call on them for help with events and celebrations. This episode explores the sometimes tricky relationship between clinics and reps, highlighting how veterinarians and staff can become better partners.

Tune in to learn how your clinic can foster healthier, more respectful interactions with sales reps and why these unsung heroes deserve more appreciation. Whether you're a clinic owner, technician, or vet, this episode is packed with insights to help strengthen these essential relationships.