369 - Building a Veterinary Career That Truly Fits You

Dr. Kara Amstutz, DVM, CVPP, CCRT, CVA, joins Dr. Andy Roark for a one-of-a-kind conversation about balancing a thriving veterinary career with raising a world-famous daughter, musician Chappell Roan. From starting her own practice to becoming boarded in veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Kara shares how she rebuilt her love for vet med through pain management, teaching, and lifelong learning. Andy and Kara talk about burnout, resilience, and what it’s like when fame suddenly lands in your family’s lap. You’ll hear how her clinic team and clients reacted, how she juggled motherhood and management, and why she believes the best part of her daughter’s fame isn’t the spotlight at all. This is a heartfelt, funny, and inspiring episode about rediscovering joy in veterinary medicine and life. Gang, let’s get into this episode!Canine Rehabilitation Institute https://www.caninerehabinstitute.comMomentum Veterinary Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation https://www.momentumvsmr.comDr. Know-It-All Card GameDr. Andy Roark Exam Room Communication CourseDr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training CourseDr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shopAll Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoarkDr. Kara Amstutz earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in 2000 and founded Hometown Veterinary Hospital in 2002. In 2013, she became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, followed by her certification as a Veterinary Pain Practitioner in 2014, and as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist in 2019. These credentials enabled her to transition from general veterinary practice to focusin on rehabilitation and pain management. In 2022, she left full-time clinical practice to become the owner, CEO, and lead clinical instructor at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI), which offers postgraduate certifications in rehabilitation and acupuncture, along with various continuing education opportunities. In 2023, Dr. Amstutz earned Diplomate status of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. In 2024, she returned to practice ownership and founded Momentum Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Springfield, Missouri. Additionally, Dr. Amstutz lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to canine rehabilitation and is the immediate past president of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians.Mentioned in this episode:On Demand Team Training BundleGreat medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic.Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here!Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShopOwning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now!Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here!Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy RoarkInside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges.Register for Office Hours here!Learn more about Simparica Trio here!