The CVO’s Podcast

Picture this: A client asks for a written prescription to have filled at a pharmacy instead of the clinic. Someone who isn’t a client presents a prescription from another veterinarian and asks you to fill it. What are your obligations?

Join veterinarians Dr. Meaghan Bell and Dr. Susan Sabatini, the College’s Practice Advisors, as they discuss common prescribing scenarios and help clarify veterinarians’ obligations.

Discussion includes:

• Written prescriptions, including when they must be provided and whether a fee can be charged
• Requirements for prescribing through telemedicine
• Responsibilities when prescribing or dispensing drugs for patients outside your established VCPR

Join us for another episode of Elevating the Veterinary Team, where Dr. Steven Roche interviews Dr. Brendon Laing, co-founder and Chief Veterinary Officer of Novel, and his perspectives on the future of veterinary medicine and the role of team based care. Brendon is a 2013 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, a second generation veterinarian, and has served as President of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association in 2024, and was awarded the 2023 World Small Animal Veterinary Association Future Leader Award. This series is brought to you by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, Ontario Veterinary College, and the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association.

Some highlights of this conversation:

• 00:00 Welcome to Elevating the Veterinary Team + Meet Dr. Brendan Lang
• 02:10 Brendan’s Origin Story: Second-Gen Vet Meets a Love of Tech
• 05:12 Is Vet Med Really Resistant to Change? Tech Adoption & Consolidation
• 10:35 Inside Novel: RVT-Centered, Team-Based Care to Expand Access
• 16:56 The Secret Sauce for Change: Start Small, Stack Wins, Build Culture
• 21:33 Holding the Line When It’s Scary: Turning Away Clients & Staying True
• 26:49 Building the Right Team: Hiring, Pay, Upskilling, and Letting Go
• 32:36 How to Get (and Use) Great Feedback—From Clients and Your Team
• 40:32 What Keeps Brendan Up at Night: New Ontario Legislation, Pharmacy & Safety
• 46:10 Wrap-Up, Open-Door Invitation, and Final Thanks

The Elevating the Veterinary Team podcast series is jointly sponsored by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, and the Ontario Veterinary College.

Join us for another installment of Elevating the Veterinary Team, where Dr. Steven Roche interviews Dr. Amanda MacDonald of RVT Integrations about her experiences leaving practice ownership and entering a new career supporting RVT presence in wellness appointment workflows. She is joined by Dr. Jackie Day, who has implemented this strategy at her practice, and RVT Heather Fledderus who performs wellness appointments.

Some highlights of this conversation:

• 0:00 Introduction to Elevating the Veterinary Team
  00:27 Meet Dr. Amanda McDonald
  00:55 Introducing Dr. Jackie Day and RVT Heather Flatterers
  01:45 Amanda's Journey in Veterinary Medicine
  03:21 Jackie's Path to Veterinary Medicine
  04:52 Heather's Role and Experience
  05:30 The Shift to Team-Based Care
  06:05 Defining Team-Based Medicine
  08:30 Challenges and Opportunities in Expanding RVT Scope
  13:24 Utilizing RVTs for Better Patient Outcomes
  17:58 Heather's Perspective on Team-Based Care
  24:54 Overcoming Hesitations and Embracing Change
  28:54 Reframing Veterinary Practice for Sustainability
  29:33 Overcoming Hesitations and Embracing Team-Based Care
  30:53 Elevating Technicians: Training and Trust
  32:42 Supporting RVTs: Confidence and Communication
  34:53 Launch Day: Turning Skeptics into Believers
  37:30 Training and Communication Techniques
  39:10 Getting Started with Team-Based Care
  39:52 Resources and Training for RVTs
  51:43 Building Trust and Vision in Veterinary Teams
  53:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Elevating the Veterinary Team podcast series is jointly sponsored by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, and the Ontario Veterinary College.

For veterinarians, the ability to provide effective care relies not only on medical expertise, but also on understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds of clients, colleagues and team members. Cultural humility invites you to adopt a mindset of continuous learning and self-reflection in interactions with diverse cultures.

In this podcast, Emily Ewles, the College's Principal for Quality Assurance and Improvement, and Krithika Jeyaraman, the College's Community Engagement Strategist, welcome veterinarians Dr. Lynn Henderson and Dr. Jennifer Ogeer, who provide guidance on cultural humility in veterinary medicine. 

The discussion includes:

• impact of cultural humility on overall care and trust with clients
• working with diverse and marginalized populations
• ensuring veterinary care is accessible and inclusive for all communities
• influence of cultural humility during sensitive times
• tips for veterinary colleagues to embrace cultural humility

An informative conversation exploring key innovations and trends in profession-based regulation over the past 30 years. Tune in as Jan Robinson, College Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, chats with Harry Cayton, an internationally recognized advisor on professional regulation and governance. The session is moderated by the College's Deputy Registrar, Shilo Tooze.

As one of the oldest regulated professions in the province, the veterinary profession has been entrusted with regulating the medical care of animals since 1877. Harry and Jan reflect on the history of profession-based regulation and recognize milestones and moments which serve as the College's foundation. They also look at the future of profession-based regulation as the College evolves into the College of Veterinary Professionals of Ontario.

Discussion includes:

• Why are professions regulated in the first place?
• What are some of the key, perhaps most impactful, innovations we've seen in profession-based regulation over the past 30 years?
• Emerging trends
• Magnitude of the evolution to the College of Veterinary Professionals of Ontario

Join us for another installment of Elevating the Veterinary Team, where Dr. Steven Roche talks to Dr. Lance Males, of Temiskaming Veterinary Services, about his experiences growing his rural northern practice. Lance is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, a professor of veterinary science at Northern College since 2004, and a member of the ProVet Alliance.

 

Some highlights of this Conversation:

• 00:00 Introduction to Elevating the Veterinary Team
• 00:38 Meet Dr. Lance Males: Transforming a Rural Practice
• 02:26 Team-Based Care: A Collaborative Approach
• 03:11 Pro Vet Alliance: Sharing Knowledge and Resources
• 06:02 Innovative Training and Mentorship Programs
• 12:13 Challenges and Solutions in Rural Veterinary Practice
• 29:12 Pilot Projects and Future Directions
• 42:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Elevating the Veterinary Team podcast series is jointly sponsored by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, and the Ontario Veterinary College.

In this episode, Dr. Steven Roche talks to Dr. David Bessler (founder of the Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)) about the priorities and vision that sets VEG apart from other consolidated or corporate veterinary hospitals. 

 

Some highlights in this conversation:

• 00:00 Introduction to Elevating the Veterinary Team
• 00:30 Meet Dr. David Bessler and VEG
• 02:24 The Importance of Team-Based Care
• 02:55 Enhancing Client and Patient Experience
• 10:45 Creating a Rewarding Work Environment
• 22:43 Innovative Approaches and Challenges
• 30:00 Future Directions and Expansion
• 37:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Elevating the Veterinary Team podcast series is jointly sponsored by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, and the Ontario Veterinary College.

Learn more about the Ontario Collaborative for Well-being in Veterinary Medicine, its mandate, and TeamCheck, the awareness campaign focused on the theme of prevention.

Shilo Tooze, Deputy Registrar at the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, moderates the session with guests: Terra Shastri, Chief Experience Officer (Ontario Veterinary Medical Association), Andria Jones, Professor, Department of Population Medicine (Ontario Veterinary College), Shana Westrop, Member Services & Communications Coordinator (Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians), Kim Lambert, Associate Registrar, Regulatory Programs (College of Veterinarians of Ontario). 

In this episode, Dr. Steven Roche and Dr. Mike Pownall (co-founder of McKee-Pownall Equine Services) as they explore some of the unique features of equine medicine and innovative ways to improve employee retention and quality of life for staff. 

Some highlights in this conversation:

• 00:00 Introduction to Elevating the Veterinary Team
• 00:40 Meet Dr. Mike Pownall
• 01:40 Dr. Pownall's Journey in Veterinary Medicine
• 04:09 Building a Team-Based Practice
• 08:11 Core Values and Culture at McKee-Pownall Equine Services
• 14:13 Innovative Approaches and Future Challenges
• 24:51 Supporting Mental Health and Employee Well-being
• 29:48 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
• 33:56 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

The Elevating the Veterinary Team podcast series is jointly sponsored by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, and the Ontario Veterinary College.

Join Dr. Steven Roche and Dr. Enid Stiles (Owner of Sherwood Park Animal Hospital) as they discuss the keys to staff retention and buy-in, the benefits of leveraging technology in clinic workflows, and the importance of having a team-based approach to human resources.

Some highlights in this conversation:

• 00:00 Introduction to Elevating the Veterinary Team
• 01:39 Meet Dr. Enid Stiles: A Journey in Veterinary Medicine
• 04:40 Defining Team-Based Care in Veterinary Practice
• 07:21 Implementing Trust and Communication in the Clinic
• 10:21 Adapting to Change: Technology and COVID-19
• 22:37 AI and Future Innovations in Veterinary Care
• 28:08 Leadership and Team Dynamics
• 36:05 Final Thoughts and Advice for Veterinary Teams
• 38:32 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

The Elevating the Veterinary Team podcast series is jointly sponsored by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, and the Ontario Veterinary College.