From Vet Tech to Diver: Natalie's Story

From ER Chaos to Fossil Diving: Natalie Pedraja’s Vet Med Journey and Mental Health Advocacy. Hosts Dr. Chelsea and vet tech Trish welcome licensed vet tech Natalie Pedraja of Virginia, who shares her 17-year path in veterinary medicine, from shadowing as a teen and vet science classes to emergency practice, tech school, and leadership roles. She recounts difficult workplaces, including being terminated for discussing wages, intense GP chaos, patient-care failures and retaliation in academia at WSU, and later conflicts in specialty practice and preclinical research, all contributing to burnout and outpatient mental health treatment supported by FMLA. Natalie describes hobbies that helped her heal, including pottery, foraging, and risky South Carolina river diving for fossils and artifacts, finding megalodon teeth and a mastodon molar. After returning to Virginia and briefly working security, she became an UrgentVet practice manager, improved clinic performance, advocated for staff wages, and built a supportive team culture. 00:00 Show Cold Open 01:27 Scuba Fears and Rivers 04:46 Reef Snorkel Stories 09:20 Early Vet Med Origins 14:23 Tech School and Undergrad 16:20 ER Burnout and Firing 17:25 GP Chaos and Cat Hoarders 24:03 Back to ER and Mentorship 29:17 ICU Culture Shock 31:55 Medical Errors in Academia 34:45 Car Wreck and Burnout 39:16 Securing Gear in Cars 40:38 Favorite Dive Spot 41:53 River Diving Dangers 43:06 Fossil Finds and Big Teeth 46:40 Artifacts and River History 49:49 Pottery and Moving West 52:49 Workplace Conflict and Reporting 55:55 FMLA and Healing Break 58:51 Mall Cop to Practice Manager 01:03:45 Building a Thriving Clinic 01:11:26 Advocacy Wages and Team Care 01:14:56 Wrap Up and Listener Call