In this episode of the Vet'Ed Podcast, Steven Hermann sits down with Kelly Cronin, a veteran of the veterinary space with 33 years of experience. Kelly shares her career journey, starting as a volunteer and advancing through roles like multi-site manager and VP of Operations, before her current position supporting practices with virtual veterinary assistance at Teem. They discuss the value of veterinary continuing education (CE) cruises, which Kelly helps organize to provide technicians with unique educational and personal growth opportunities, including seeing the ocean or leaving their state for the first time.

The conversation shifts to Teem, a service that provides virtual veterinary assistants to help private practices with administrative tasks. Kelly explains how these assistants, who are college graduates from US colleges in South America, can handle a variety of duties, from medical record scribing and appointment setting to managing medication refills and social media. This frees up on-site staff, like technicians and veterinarians, to focus on patient care and improves their work-life balance. Kelly emphasizes that Team's goal is not to replace in-person staff but to serve as a tool that enhances a practice's efficiency and helps everyone thrive. They conclude by highlighting the importance of private practices and the role of services like Team in helping them succeed.

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen McLaughry, the owner of Vetbadger, to discuss his journey from a software engineer to a leader in veterinary technology. Stephen shares how his wife, a private practice veterinarian, faced frustrations with outdated software. This inspired him to create Vetbadger, a comprehensive practice management system designed to solve a core problem: communication.

Discover how Stephen's background as a world-champion bicycle racer and his belief in community shape his business philosophy. Learn why a "James Herriot experience"—building strong, personal relationships with clients and your team—is the key to success for private practices. Stephen explains how Vetbadger's integrated system, with features like internal team chat, telemedicine, and a centralized hub for all communication, simplifies workflows and strengthens bonds between a clinic and its clients.

Find out how Vetbadger is creating the technology that supports independent business and helps private practices thrive.

Join host Steven Hermann as he sits down with the legendary Dr. Jim Schuessler for an insightful conversation about the transformative power of communication in veterinary medicine. Dr. Schuessler shares incredible stories, from the life-changing advice that shaped his career ("I try to carry myself each and every day so that my kids want to be veterinarians" ) to the practical strategies that built a highly successful practice at Kirkwood Animal Hospital. Discover how consistent staff meetings, role-playing, and a "work-life harmony" philosophy revolutionized patient care and client relationships. This episode is packed with invaluable lessons for veterinarians, practice owners, and anyone passionate about building stronger connections in their professional and personal life.