Veterinary Today Podcast

Whether you are a veterinary technician student gearing up for the VTNE, a practice owner mentoring a vet tech hopeful, or a CVT who has been putting off licensure, this episode is for you. Channing Benson, Program Manager of the Exams Department at the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), joins the Veterinary Today Podcast to pull back the curtain on everything VTNE-related.Channing oversees the VTNE from creation to administration and brings a clear, candid perspective to a process that can feel overwhelming. In this conversation, she walks through who is eligible to sit for the exam, how Illinois candidates in particular should approach the application process, what to expect on test day whether you choose live remote proctoring or a testing center, how scores are reported, and what resources the AAVSB offers to help candidates prepare and succeed. If you have questions about the VTNE, this episode answers them.--SHOW NOTESIn this episode:What the VTNE is, who is eligible to take it, and how the application process works, including Illinois-specific eligibility requirementsThe two testing options available to candidates: live remote proctoring at home and in-person testing centers, and what each experience actually looks likeHow the AAVSB's exam content outline serves as a blueprint for the entire test, including domain breakdowns, task statements, and question distributionCost, exam length, test day logistics, and what to do if your name does not match your applicationWhat happens after you submit: how pass/fail results are delivered, how long scores are available in your portal, and what the 31-day retake policy looks likeResources mentioned:AAVSB website: https://aavsb.org VTNE study page and exam content outline: https://aavsb.org (navigate to the VTNE section, then Study Resources) AAVSB Practice Advance: available through the AAVSB website Celebrating Diversity Award (exam voucher opportunity): https://aavsb.org ISVMA VTNE Masterclass Series: available on demand through ISVMA Connect with Channing and the AAVSB:Website: https://aavsb.org Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Veterinary Today, we’re joined by Dr. Mark Acierno, Associate Dean at Midwestern University's College of Veterinary Medicine. With a career that spans across academia, clinical practice, and business, Dr. Acierno discusses his unconventional path from finance to veterinary medicine, his groundbreaking work in veterinary nephrology, and how he's shaping the future of veterinary education. Learn about new trends in curriculum design, the integration of technology like AI in veterinary practices, and the hands-on experiences that prepare students for real-world challenges in veterinary medicine.

In this episode, Dr. Sally Foote dives deep into the world of low-stress veterinary care, sharing techniques that reduce animal aggression and staff injury. As a leader in veterinary behavioral medicine, Dr. Foote offers invaluable advice on creating safe, stress-free environments for both pets and the veterinary team. Don’t miss this insightful conversation about making veterinary practices safer, more efficient, and more compassionate.

Join us for a thoughtful conversation with Alyssa Brown, a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) and Registered Laboratory Animal Technician (RLATg), as they explore the importance of neurodiversity in veterinary teams. In this episode, Alyssa shares their experiences as a neurodivergent professional and offers practical strategies for fostering a more inclusive, supportive environment in veterinary medicine. Whether you're neurodivergent or work alongside someone who is, Alyssa’s insights provide valuable guidance on improving communication, recognizing strengths, and creating a harmonious team dynamic.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Coretta Patterson, an esteemed veterinarian with a passion for teaching and curriculum development. Dr. Patterson walks us through her diverse career journey, from her veterinary education at the University of Illinois to her role in building the future of veterinary education at Midwestern University. We dive into her experiences as an educator, her approach to fostering supportive environments for students, and her vision for the future of veterinary programs.

In this episode of Veterinary Today, Dr. Addie Reinhardt, Founder and CEO of MentorVet, discusses the evolving role of mentorship in veterinary care. She shares her personal journey of overcoming burnout, the importance of structured mentorship programs, and the innovative strategies MentorVet is using to support veterinary professionals at every stage of their careers. Dr. Reinhardt also highlights the significance of peer mentorship and how expanding our networks can provide the emotional and professional support every veterinary professional needs.

Join Dr. Shannon Greeley and Dr. Allyson Harris as they discuss the incredible impact of community outreach programs designed to engage high school students in veterinary medicine. From the 4th Annual Veterinary Career Exploration Day to personal experiences with mentorship and career development, these leaders in veterinary medicine share insights and tips on how we can inspire the next generation of veterinarians.

Dr. Jennifer Quammen, DVM, MPH, AVMA President-Elect (2025–2026) joins Veterinary Today from the ISVMA Annual Conference to talk about leadership that strengthens you and your team. Dr. Quammen shares her path from credentialed veterinary technician to practicing veterinarian, entrepreneur, and chief veterinary officer of Otto, plus how organized veterinary medicine shaped her leadership journey from the Kentucky VMA to AVMA.This conversation matters for veterinarians because leadership is not limited to titles. It shows up in how you manage your energy, make decisions, and create healthy team culture inside your practice. If you want to grow as a leader without losing yourself in the process, this episode offers grounded, practice-relevant takeaways.

In this special episode of Veterinary Today, we sit down with Dr. Matt Bussan, the outgoing president of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA), and Dr. Kate Brucker, the incoming president, as they discuss their journey in veterinary leadership, the importance of organized veterinary medicine, and the challenges facing the profession today. Dr. Bussan reflects on his tenure, sharing insights from legislative work at the state and national levels, including the introduction of key bills like CBT title protection. Dr. Brucker shares her excitement about taking on the presidential role, focusing on her vision for strengthening connections with students and continuing the work on vital legislative issues. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about leadership, advocacy, and community in the veterinary field.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to impact animal health across the U.S.—and Illinois veterinarians play a critical role in early detection, prevention, and education.In this episode of Veterinary Today, we’re joined by Staci Slager, DVM, Assistant State Veterinarian and Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Dr. Slager provides a clear, timely update on the current HPAI landscape in Illinois, including recent backyard flock detections, seasonal migration risks, and what veterinarians should be watching for in both poultry and companion animals.We also explore emerging concerns beyond birds, including HPAI detections in dairy cattle and serious neurologic disease in cats—highlighting why small animal and mixed-animal veterinarians should keep HPAI on their differential list.Whether you work with poultry, livestock, pets, or backyard flocks, this episode offers practical insights, surveillance updates, and actionable guidance to help protect animal health statewide.

One Health is a global, collaborative goal that seeks to understand how everything in our world is connected to each other.One Health as a multi-sectoral and trans-disciplinary approach of achieving optimal health amongst all living things on earth – that the health of people is closely related to the health of animals and plants, and how we share our environment and ecosystems. It’s about co-dependency and a study of how all of these systems are all dependent upon each other and how one affects another.Will Sander, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, Assistant Professor for Preventative Medicine and Public Health, and Director of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public Health Joint Degree program at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine - Urbana, is interviewed by Debbie Lakamp, CAE, ISVMA’s Executive Director.Dr. Sander has been involved with the One Health initiative for years and is working on Illinois state-wide and federal levels in promoting dialogue and study about this movement. He works closely with other veterinary and human public health colleagues to increase the core principles of One Health, along with the challenges and future perspectives in which it faces.Dr. Sander serves on the ISVMA Board of Directors as the Alternate American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Delegate.

Tune in and learn about key issues that affect the veterinary profession in Illinois and, in turn, you and your practice!Dr. Sandra Faeh, President, AVMA, discusses how a bill passed in Colorado in November 2024 now allows the existence of a mid-level veterinary practitioner in clinics and hospitals in that state. It is a position that the AVMA, ISVMA and other veterinary-related organizations had opposed prior to a vote in Colorado. At this time, the creation of such a position is not being pursued in Illinois.This episode also reviews member approval of two new ISVMA membership categories, one of which allowing veterinary practice managers to now join the association. The second membership category, practice membership, goes live mid-2025.Hear how the ISVMA is on sound financial footing, a review of key legislation the profession in Illinois faced in 2024, as well as proposals that are continuing into 2025. A review of educational opportunities and member benefits rounds out this episode.Audio in this episode was recorded live at the ISVMA's 142nd Annual Convention's membership meeting presentation, held in November 2024.

Midwestern University in Downers Grove will be the home of Illinois’ proposed second college of veterinary medicine and teaching hospital.Not since the installation of the University of Illinois’ College of Veterinary Medicine in Champaign-Urbana in 1944 has there been a similar collegiate offering for doctor of veterinary medicine students in the state.Coretta Patterson, DVM, DACVIM-SA, is the new dean of this college. In this Veterinary Today Podcast, Dr. Patterson outlines the steps currently being taken to establish this college, the expected timeline for approval and, when approved, when the first class of students may be expected to enroll.Dr. Patterson also discusses the importance of Midwestern University’s proposed DVM teaching hospital and how having this facility is important to the success of its future graduates.Dr. Patterson was recently interviewed by ISVMA’s Veterinary Today Podcast host, Dr. Joanne Carlson, Loving Care Animal Clinic, Palatine, about this exciting development.

“You just can’t make this stuff up!”Kevin Fitzgerald, DVM, DABVP, PhD, brings a light-hearted veterinary stand-up comedy Keynote presentation at the 142nd ISVMA Annual Convention this November!Dr. Fitzgerald is a renowned veterinarian and, like many fellow veterinary professionals, has encountered some amusing situations involving pets and their human caretakers over his career that Annual Convention attendees will relate with and enjoy in his comedic story telling!Dr. Fitzgerald also has a long-running career in television, having starred in the popular Animal Planet television series Emergency Vets for 11 seasons. He has also opened and worked with legendary comedic performers such as Joan Rivers and Bob Hope.Bringing his veterinary skills to work on a global scale, Dr. Fitzgerald has assisted in 10 animal expeditions, from Antarctica to Mongolia to Manitoba, focusing on the conservation of endangered species. He is an author, having published more than 150 scientific journal articles and 41 veterinary textbook chapters.Dr. Fitzgerald will also be presenting five different Small Animal track courses during Saturday’s agenda at the Annual Convention. Topics range from marijuana intoxication in dogs to everything you ever wanted to know about turtles!Tune in to find out more about Dr. Fitzgerald and his amazing career in veterinary medicine and as an entertainer. Plan to attend the 142nd ISVMA Annual Convention in November!

Emerging developments surrounding the spread of avian influenza (H5N1) into our nation’s dairy supply are ongoing and ever-changing.Meanwhile, Illinois has a new invasive species of tick, the Asian longhorned tick, confirmed by entomologists at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory. The species is capable of carrying tick-borne diseases, first identified in beef cattle.Advisories on each of these topics were recently issued by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The most recent podcast of Veterinary Today addresses the background of each subject and current practices in monitoring and handling cases of both H5N1 and Asian longhorned ticks that may develop.Mark Ernst, DVM, State Veterinarian, Illinois Department of Agriculture, joins Debbie Lakamp, CAE, ISVMA Executive Director, in a factual conversation about each development, their current status (as of podcast issue date) and how Illinois veterinarians can manage cases if they are encountered.

When you consider wildlife … specifically wildlife medicine and research … that’s a world as big as all of the outdoors!Dr. Matthew Allender, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine’s (UI-CVM’s) Diagnostic Lab, Director at the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab at the UI-CVM’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, and Clinical Veterinarian at the Chicago Zoological Society-Brookfield Zoo joins Veterinary Today Podcast host Dr. Joanne Carlson to discuss his intriguing field research with Illinois’ wild turtle population. Land turtles are Dr. Allender’s personal and professional passion, and he discusses how he conducts this research with the aid of specially trained dogs!He also addresses the critically important work regarding zoonotic disease spread, his career in zoo medicine and his role at the Brookfield Zoo.

An innovative veterinary pharmaceutical clinical trials program has been operating at a central Illinois pet clinic for more than 10 years, allowing pet owners to enroll their dogs and cats in breakthrough drug treatment research.Pets benefit from potential life-changing and life-saving medicines being developed, treating such conditions as flea infestations and osteoarthritis afflictions, in addition to a wide range of other medical conditions. In the meantime, a pet owner can benefit from free-of-charge attentive medical care for their pet when options for treatment for a medical condition may be non-existent.Veterinary Today Podcast host, Joanne Carlson, DVM, talks with Larry Baker, DVM, DAVDC, FAVD, owner/operator of Northgate Pet Clinic in Decatur, about the clinical trials program that partners with both pharmaceutical companies and pet owners. 

Social media is a free marketing tool in which any veterinary clinic or hospital can easily use! Instantaneous outreach and promotion are important to any business, and engaging in social media as part of your hospital's overall marketing strategy is essential to keep in touch with clients and the community. There are also challenges with social media engagement, including what and when to post, the need to continuously maintain your hospital's public image and dealing with potential negative comments from the public.Dr. Caitlin DeWilde is a practicing veterinarian who is also the owner of The Social DVM, a company that assists veterinary clinics and hospitals across the country with their social media marketing strategies.In this episode, she talks with podcast host, Dr. Joanne Carlson, about the "ins and outs" of understanding and planning a social media marketing strategy, and how to deal with negative situations if they should arise.

Work/Life balance, and how we handle stress in both personal and professional worlds is always present and, for some, can be a constant challenge.In the veterinary profession, overcoming personal struggles combined with the pressures related to providing animal health care can reach critical levels of anxiety, depression and burn out.Renowned veterinarian and traveler, Brad Ryan, MSc, DVM, MPH, shares an inspiring message of his mental health journey in veterinary medicine … recovery … and resilience through intergenerational support systems.Dr. Ryan has gained world-wide attention for his message of healing, and who has also taken his 94-year-old grandmother, Joy, on a years-long trek to visit every U.S. National Park, part of the recovery process. In fact, both he and Grandma Joy are still traveling, blazing the trail for others to realize what is important in life.Tune in to ISVMA’s Veterinary Today Podcast’s latest episode to learn more about Dr. Ryan’s healing journey and how his message may resonate with your life.

Illinois veterinarians have a significant role as mandated by state regulation in reporting suspected rabies cases in pets and humans.Reported rabies exposure cases have been on the increase in the state over the past several months, specifically involving exposure from the native brown bat.That is why Dr. Connie Austin, Illinois Department of Public Health’s State Veterinarian, shares her knowledge and expertise as she explains the risks of exposure, proper reporting procedures, and how animal’s suspected of rabies are to be managed by animal lab personnel.Listen today to ISVMA’s Veterinary Today Podcast latest episode and get caught up on what to do when, and how.

The use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine is prevalent in teaching hospitals, general veterinary practices, field operations and emergency referral clinics every day.Dr. Alexandria Gochenauer, Clinical Staff Pharmacist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital in Urbana, explains the reasons behind antimicrobial stewardship and why it’s important to have protocols in place. She also reviews how hospital owners/operators can establish and maintain these procedures to ensure the safety for those who provide animal healthcare, for the animals they treat, and for their human caretakers.Dr. Joanne Carlson, ISVMA President, hosts the conversation.

The US Food and Drug Administration Guidance for Industry #263, or GFI 263, goes into effect nationally in the US in early June 2023. The new mandate changes the approved marketing status of certain antimicrobial drugs from over the counter to prescription status. Drugs that were commonly found on retail shelves and through online sources will no longer be available for purchase by the public and will only be accessible by veterinarian prescription.In this episode, Dr. Michael Costin, Associate Director in the Division of Animal and Public Health at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), explains the background and reason for GFI 263's enactment. Dr. Costin also talks about how it impacts not only the veterinary profession but also consumers who raise, breed and care for companion and large animals. Dr. Joanne Carlson, ISVMA President, hosts the conversation.

Inaugural Podcast:  The ISVMA has been working closely with the State of Illinois regarding appropriate language within the update of the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2014.Joanne Carlson, DVM, ISVMA President, Loving Care Animal Hospital, Palatine, interviews Stephen Dullard, DVM, DABVP, Ancare Veterinary Clinic, Mendota, and Ancare Veterinary Hospital in LaSalle, ISVMA's Legislative Chair and an AVMA Delegate, on specific language updates regarding the Practice Act and where it currently sits in the Illinois Senate.Drs. Carlson and Dullard also discuss HB1533, which the ISVMA is strongly opposed. HB1533 removes decisions about a cat's well-being from highly trained veterinarians charged with their care. As of podcast release, the bill is in the Illinois Senate awaiting action.