April 2023

Marcum Barkin’

By Dr. Todd Marcum

Bob Dylan has spent a lifetime writing and championing freedom. It is not lost on him that with freedom comes great responsibility. He missed on the gender of his quote, it should read His or Hers….but the philosophy is spot on. We talk a lot about the Freedom to Choose but do we talk about the Responsibility that goes with that Freedom enough?

When we talk about The Freedom to Choose, it means different things to different people. For most of us, it means choosing to own our own hospital and share in those benefits together. In some situations, it may mean the ability to choose what drug you want to prescribe, whereas in other companies, that was restricted. It may mean you can pursue additional continuing education to learn a new skill or become certified in a specific area. It might mean you have a distinct say in the hiring process or the ability to truly practice Fear Free. It might mean all those things.

What Responsibility comes with this Freedom? First and foremost, we must run a good business. WE are all responsible for making good business choices. One example might be that you have the freedom to buy whatever drug you want, but if it’s going to go out of date before you use it all, then is that a responsible decision? You have the freedom to hire team members, but if you are overstaffed, then is that good for the business?

For every “great idea” there will be negative unintended consequences. Being responsible is thinking through all the positives and negatives of your decisions and then seeing them through to add to our business partnerships, not detract from them.

Be the Hero for your hospital that Bob Dylan talks about. Use your freedom to make responsible decisions that help pets, pet parents, team members, your business partners, and the profession of veterinary medicine. We all have a stake in your freedom to choose. Each and every one of us want The Freedom to Choose. It's each of our jobs to Choose Responsibly.

Referral Program Success Stories

By, Dr. Thom Carlisle

In September, PetVet365 introduced a program to reward team members who referred qualified candidates for open positions. The program has been a big success! Today I profile two doctors who earned extra money while helping their friends and colleagues find work they love.

Sarah Hilliard had experienced the nightmare of burnout as a veterinarian. When she discovered PetVet365, she saw that veterinary medicine could again be the dream she envisioned at the beginning of her career. "PetVet365 is doing things differently, and veterinarians deserve to know that there is another way to experience veterinary medicine, one that includes financial freedom and emotional wealth." Meghan Fincher agrees, "PetVet365 is the best place to be, all around! It affords doctors ownership with support and a great work-life balance. Staff is happy because their docs are happy, and the clients are elated! And the pets, don't forget the PETS! PetVet365 gives them the care they deserve; physical and mental being are equally important."

Since these doctors are enjoying their dream roles, it comes naturally for them to share the fun they are having with Fear Free and PetVet365 any time they interact or hang out with their peers. Sometimes those interactions are through social media, and sometimes they are during a VetConnect event. In fact, Sarah likes to start a conversation with the question, "What is your dream job?". She says, "The answers almost always naturally lead back to what we are doing and WHY we are doing it!"

Both Sarah and Meghan were helped financially by receiving the Referral Reward. For Sarah, the extra money went towards savings, and for Meghan, it helped fund a two-week family vacation to Spain and Morocco. Check out the photos of Meghan and her 12-year-old son Rowan at The Rock of Gibraltar and the Real Madrid Stadium. Meghan and Sarah point out that it's not just about the money but the satisfaction of helping someone they care about find a job they love. Meghan says it best: "feeling lucky all around"

Thank you, Meghan Fincher and Sarah Hilliard for sharing your experiences. And for the rest of us, let's remember that sharing what we love about our work may be just what one of our peers needs to hear for them to make their own dreams come true. And then let's start dreaming about enhancing life with a cool $5K!

Head to Tails with Dr. Silvana Giardini

Name: Silvana Giardini

Role: Partner DVM - Cranberry Twp, Pa

Best Thing about PetVet365: The entire fear-free experience, work-life balance, and the ability to make my hospital my own.

What do you do daily that brings you joy: Spend time with my daughter, and drink coffee!

Favorite indulgence: Chocolate

What do you want people to know about you: I am always willing to learn more and help others, especially those new to the veterinary field.

Something you would like to give to others: I want to give people a sense of comfort and reliability, whether a client or a colleague.

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Head to Tails with Dr. Sarah Hilliard

Name: Sarah Hilliard

Role: Pod Owner, North Denver

Best Thing about PetVet365: Bringing joy back into veterinary medicine for teams, clients, and pets.

What do you do daily that brings you joy: I am currently recruiting my first team, and in doing so, I love telling my story authentically. It helps me heal and helps others understand WHY I chose to partner with PetVet365. It feels good to finally tell the truth rather than hide behind shame.

Favorite indulgence: India Pale Ales and reality TV!

What do you want people to know about you: I am passionate, creative, competitive, and driven. I love karaoke and storytelling. I often doubt myself but am always working on building inner confidence. I have an active, anxious brain, oscillating between left and right brain activities to stay intellectually satisfied. I advocate for ending the stigma attached to mental health discussions and believe that when we have the strength to show our vulnerability, we can truly lead.

Something you would like to give to others: Confidence to grow beyond expectations and self-imposed limitations, real mentorship, and unconditional love.

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Fear Free Tip of the Month

According to Dr. Marty Becker, there’s nothing quite like Canned Shrimp and Braunshweiger as tasty Fear Free treats!

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Quote of the Month