VIN Foundation: Veterinary Pulse – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Listen in as we talk with VIN Foundation board member, Dr. Sean Gadson as he takes us through his veterinary career journey. From Sean’s passion for diversity, equity and inclusion, to his mom’s advice and the importance of mentors, to his ongoing effort to impress his 7 year-old self, his recommendations for pre-veterinary students, and the trends he sees in the profession. Sean’s story and honesty is enriching and provides helpful guidance and insight for colleagues at all stages of their careers.

As always, we want to hear from YOU. Please share your thoughts by sending an email or joining the conversation.  

GUEST BIO:

Sean Gadson, DVM, MS

Sean Gadson has enjoyed a long career working in veterinary medicine starting as an assistant when he was fourteen. He would continue working in various clinics and veterinary organizations while pursuing his undergraduate and master’s degrees. After completing a research project and writing a thesis on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in people, he applied to UC Davis for vet school and graduated in 2021. During his time as a student Dr. Gadson served as president of the UC Davis SAVMA chapter, and Vice- President of their VBMA chapter. After graduation, he completed an intensive rotating small animal specialty internship where he cultivated a passion for emergency medicine. He now works as an emergency veterinarian in Colorado with his wife Mollie who is a surgeon, and their dog Ahri. His interests include supporting other early career veterinarians, mentoring pre-vet students, practice ownership, traveling and speaking to students currently in vet school, and advocating for more minority representation in the veterinary industry.

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

• Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA): https://www.avma.org/membership/SAVMA
• Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA): https://vbma.biz/
• VIN Foundation Vets4Vets® confidential wellness support: https://vinfoundation.org/v4v
• Mike Dunn, DVM Veterinary Student Scholarship created by Becky Godchaux: https://vinfoundation.org/scholarship
• Veterinary Information Network (VIN): https://www.vin.com/vin/
• Mentor - Dr. James Clark: https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/james-clark
• Mentor - Dr. Paul D. Pion: https://www.vin.com/vin/default.aspx?pid=130&meta=13137&id=8108348
• Ask Jeeves: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ask.com
• Kajukenbo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kajukenbo
• Dr. Sean Gadson on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sean-gadson and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gadustoedvm/

If you enjoy these stories, please consider donating to the VIN Foundation to help us continue this work. https://vinfoundation.org/give

Have a story you want to share with our podcast audience? Reach out to share your interest: https://share.hsforms.com/1e6QkQvg2RI-wpDv59Byqkwcos60

Get updates to stay tuned for the VIN Foundation webinars on student debt. 

You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. 

Listen in as we talk with VIN Foundation board member Dr. Trae Cutchin as he shares his story of ongoing perseverance. Trae shares his personal experience coming out of the closet as a gay man with the fear of legal implications, to finding himself dealing with an unexpected addiction and the road to recovery, to the trials and tribulations of owning a veterinary practice and coming out the other side of a cancer diagnosis. Trae’s story will touch your heart and highlight the common threads we experience as humans, working on ourselves and trying to be better in all the roles in our lives. 

*Trigger warning* a quick heads up, some of the content in today’s episode may include a trigger as it relates to substance abuse disorder.

As always, we want to hear from YOU. Please share your thoughts by sending an email or join the conversation.  

GUEST BIO:

Trae Cutchin, DVM

Trae Cutchin, DVM, is a 1988 graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, is originally from Alabama. He has worked as a regular veterinary associate in full services hospitals, in a feline only practice for four years, and as an emergency room clinician for three years. For several years he operated his own relief service in the metro Atlanta area, and then opened his own full service practice in Flowery Branch, a bedroom community just north of metro Atlanta in 2006. He is married to his partner of twenty-five years and has two step kids and three step grandchildren. He has two dogs, Turbo and Shelley, and three cats, Mightie, Tessa, and Sushi. When he isn't working as a veterinarian, he spends a lot of time working in his lawn and gardens. He is involved with the Veterinary Information Network as a VIN Representative and as a mentor in the VIN Virtual Veterinary Internship program as a mentor.

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

• Virtual Veterinary Internship: https://www.vin.com/AppUtil/Project/DefaultAdv1.aspx?pid=26071
• VIN Foundation Vets4Vets®: https://vinfoundation.org/v4v
• VIN Foundation Start Up Club: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-practice-start-up-club/
• Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy Book: https://www.amazon.com/Kirks-Current-Veterinary-Therapy-XV/dp/1437726895

If you enjoy these stories, please consider donating to the VIN Foundation to help us continue this work. https://vinfoundation.org/give

Get updates to stay tuned for the VIN Foundation webinars on student debt. 

You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!

Listen in as Dr. Rebecca Mears from the VIN Foundation Student Debt Education Team shares her unorthodox path to veterinary medicine, the trends she is seeing in her work with veterinary students and student debt. Find out how a horse jockey and dinosaur fit into her story. As she says in the beginning, this episode is a fun ride!

GUEST BIO:

Dr. Rebecca Mears

Rebecca Mears, DVM is from Lexington, KY, where she completed her BS at University of Kentucky. She is a graduate of University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Rebecca has worked as an equine general practitioner and is an active AAEP member. She has been involved in the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) since vet school and now as a co-advisor for the National VBMA. In her work with VIN and the VIN Foundation she has a primary focus on student debt education and is a member of the VIN Student Team. She is passionate about giving back to the profession and improving the lives of veterinarians, pre-vet and vet students. In her time away from veterinary medicine, she can be found hiking, baking, and hosting impromptu dance parties. 

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

• VIN Foundation Student Debt Center: https://vinfoundation.org/studentdebtcenter
• VIN Students: https://www.vin.com/students
• VBMA: https://vbma.biz/
• Vets for Pets and People: https://news.uga.edu/vets-for-pets-and-people/ 
• Check your current student loan servicers and other loan details -- VIN Foundation My Student Loans tool: http://www.vinfoundation.org/mystudentloans
• Loan Repayment Simulator: https://vinfoundation.org/loansim 
• VIN Foundation WikiDebt: https://vinfoundation.org/wikidebt
• VIN Foundation Webinars: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/webinars/
• VIN Foundation get updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/
• VIN Foundation GIVE page to support these programs & tools: https://vinfoundation.org/give

You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!

Listen in as VIN Foundation Vets4Vets® team member Dr. Susan Cohen dives deep on perfectionism. She covers how to identify it in ourselves and/or others, how it impacts veterinary teams, and helpful tools to decrease the self-torment. Learn how to move toward enjoying the good stuff, and find out what a bliss list is and how it can be motivational. Check the links below to download a copy of Susan’s Bliss List example. 

GUEST BIO:

Dr. Susan Cohen 

Susan P. Cohen, DSW, ACSW has been called a pioneer in the fields of pet loss, human-animal interaction, and the human side of veterinary practice. Since 1982 Dr. Cohen has helped pet lovers make decisions about the illness of their pets. She developed the first-ever Pet Loss Support Group and began an animal assisted activity program that took the then-unusual form of having volunteers work with their own pets. She originated many training programs for workers in the veterinary and social service fields, and she has been a field instructor for several schools of social work. She has written several book chapters and scholarly articles on social work, veterinary practice, and the human-animal bond. Her most recent book chapter, “Loss, Grief, and Bereavement in the Context of Human-Animal Relationships” (Susan Cohen, DSW; and Adam Clark, LSW, AASW) was published in 2019. She is currently working on a chapter on pet loss for Routledge’s International Handbook on Human-Animal Interaction. These days she consults with veterinary groups on client and professional communication, compassion fatigue, and how to make practice fun again. She facilitates online support groups for veterinarians, animal welfare workers, managers, and those grieving the loss of a pet. She teaches online workshops and lectures widely to veterinary colleges and conferences, colleges of social work, veterinary technician programs, and human health groups on communication, pet loss and bereavement, human-animal interaction, client relations, compassion fatigue, and career development. She is Vice Chairperson of SWAHAB (Social Workers Advancing the Human-Animal Bond), the first such committee of the National Association of Social Workers. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and Smithsonian Magazine. In addition, she has made numerous television and radio addresses nationwide, including “The Today Show,” “20-20,” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

• VIN Foundation Vets4Vets®: https://vinfoundation.org/v4v
• Bliss list example: https://vinfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/VINFoundation-Veterinary-Pulse-Episode-157-Dr.-Susan-Cohen-on-Perfectionism-Bliss-List-example.pdf
• Red Shoes Syndrome podcast: https://vinfoundation.org/are-you-caring-too-much-red-shoe-syndrome-with-dr-susan-cohen/
• Wabi Sabi: ​​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi
• Nine Signs Your Perfectionism is Out of Control: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/telltale-signs-your-perfectionism-out-control-dr-travis-bradberry/
• 14 Signs Your Perfectionism Has Gotten Out of Control: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-perfectionism-is-ruin_n_4212069

Quotes mentioned in the episode:

• Brene Brown: “Perfectionism is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect, and act perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame.”
• Fred Astaire: “Do it big, do it right, and do it with style.”

You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you leave a review, subscribe/follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!

Listen in as student debt expert and Board Member Dr. Tony Bartels and student debt team member Dr. Rebecca Mears in this next installment of our Student Debt Series. This episode we’re going through the current hot list of student debt topics the team is hearing from colleagues and a to-do list of what borrowers need to do now. 

Hot List:

1. Did you finish vet school before 2014? - You may have privately-held FFELs.  Consolidate and benefit from the one-time forgiveness count adjustment
2. Do you have loans that have been in repayment longer than you've been using income-driven repayment? - Consolidate and benefit from the one-time forgiveness count adjustment.
3. Are you eligible for PAYE? Are you using PAYE? - Make sure you find out before PAYE is phased out!
4. Did you make any payments before the pandemic forbearance benefits began, March 13, 2020? - Request a refund before the benefits end!
5. Do you know when your income-driven repayment renewal date is? Hint - it's not until sometime after January 2024, at least. Use the My Student Loans tool to see your "Anniversary Date" and start planning your post-forbearance strategy.
6. Married? Have you been filing your taxes separately from your spouse recently because of your student debt? - You can amend recent prior year tax returns from separate to joint! We covered this in a recent Dear Dr. Debt column. Visit with your accountant to see if you can get a refund.
7. Graduating veterinary school in 2023? Congratulations! Did you miss the New Grad Student Loan Repayment Playbook webinar? - Here is a link to the playbook recording, slides, and checklist.

Honorable mentions (coming soon):

1. Most unpaid interest capitalization is going away starting July 1, 2023
2. One-time forgiveness count adjustments will be applied in 2024 (or sooner if you are due forgiveness)
3. The Supreme Court will rule on the special cancellation benefits this summer
4. Interest and payments are likely starting up later this summer, possibly after August 2023

As always, we want to hear from YOU. Please share your thoughts by sending an email or joining the conversation.  

GUEST BIOS:

Dr. Tony Bartels Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA graduated in 2012 from the Colorado State University combined MBA/DVM program and is a VIN Foundation Board Member and Student Debt Expert, and an employee of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). He and his wife, a small-animal internal medicine specialist practicing in Denver, have more than $400,000 in veterinary-school debt that they manage using federal income-driven repayment plans. By necessity (and now obsession), his professional activities include researching and speaking on veterinary-student debt, providing guidance to colleagues on loan-repayment strategies and contributing to VIN Foundation resources. Beyond debt, his professional interests include small- and exotic-animal practice. When he’s not staring holes into his colleagues’ student-loan data, Tony enjoys fly fishing, ice hockey, camping and exploring Colorado with his wife, Audra, and their two rescued canines, Addi and Maggie.

Dr. Rebecca Mears

Rebecca Mears, DVM is from Lexington, KY, where she completed her BS at University of Kentucky. She is a graduate of University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. While in vet school, she served as the National Business Certificate Director for the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) and as a board member for Vets for Pets and People. During this time she took an active role in wellbeing awareness and access within the veterinary community. Rebecca then worked as an equine general practitioner and is an active AAEP member. In her time away from veterinary medicine, she can be found hiking, baking, and hosting impromptu dance parties. She is passionate about giving back to the profession and improving the lives of veterinarians, pre-vet and vet students. 

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

Get Student Debt Updates: https://vinfoundation.org/veterinary-student-debt-updates/

VIN Foundation Student Debt Tools:

• VIN Foundation Student Debt Center: https://vinfoundation.org/studentdebtcenter
• Check your current student loan servicers and other loan details -- VIN Foundation My Student Loans tool: http://www.vinfoundation.org/mystudentloans
• Loan Repayment Simulator: https://vinfoundation.org/loansim 
• VIN Foundation WikiDebt: https://vinfoundation.org/wikidebt

Additional links:

• Personalized student loan Help from VIN and VIN Foundation: https://vinfoundation.org/veterinary-student-loan-debt-help/ 
• Repay Wiser: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/repay-wiser-veterinary-school-debt-loan-repayment/
• Borrow Better: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/borrow-better-veterinary-school-loan-debt/ 
• New Grad Student Loan Repayment Playbook: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-new-grad-student-loan-repayment-playbook/ 
• Federal Student Aid Data, Consolidation, and Repayment Application: https://studentaid.gov/
• New Proposed Regulations Would Transform Income-Driven Repayment by Cutting Undergraduate Loan Payments in Half and Preventing Unpaid Interest Accumulation: https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/new-proposed-regulations-would-transform-income-driven-repayment-cutting-undergraduate-loan-payments-half-and-preventing-unpaid-interest-accumulation 
• Student Debt Relief Information: https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation 
• Department of Education press release (Nov 2022):  https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-continues-fight-student-debt-relief-millions-borrowers-extends-student-loan-repayment-pause 
• Department of Education press release (April 2022): https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/department-education-announces-actions-fix-longstanding-failures-student-loan-programs 
• One-time Forgiveness Count Adjustment  https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-account-adjustment
• Federal Student Loan Servicers: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
• Stay up to date with VIN Foundation updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/
• VIN Foundation GIVE page to support these programs & tools: https://vinfoundation.org/give
• Email VIN Foundation: studentdebt@vinfoundation.org

You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!

Dr. Philip Richmond vulnerably shares his journey with alcohol substance abuse, and how he takes lessons learned to help colleagues through vital peer support. He shares the importance of clear communication, the needed ongoing effort to work on ourselves, assuming good intent, and the power of positive emotions. This episode digs deep with heart touching stories and an empathic approaches to well being in the veterinary profession. As Philip shares in the podcast one of his favorite quotes: “Be curious, not judgemental” - Walt Whitman

*Trigger warning* hey all, a quick heads up that some of the content in today’s episode may include a trigger as it relates to alcohol and substance abuse disorder, childhood trauma, and suicidal ideations. As a reminder, the VIN Foundation’s confidential support group Vets4Vets® is here for you and you can find information to reach out in the episode notes. please know, you are not alone. 

GUEST BIO:

Philip Richmond, DVM, CAPP, CPHSA, CPPC, CCFP 

Dr. Richmond is the Chief Medical & Wellbeing Officer for Veterinary United and the Founder of Flourishing Phoenix Veterinary Consultants. He is an advocate for positive culture and individual, team and organizational psychological health, safety, and wellbeing in veterinary workplaces.

Dr. Richmond both leads and is involved in state, national and international projects for the advancement of workplace wellbeing and culture in veterinary medicine. He currently serves as the chair for both the Florida Veterinary Medical Association’s Outreach and Professional Wellbeing Committees and is a member/advisor for several national committees and boards for workplace suicide prevention and veterinary wellbeing, including those sponsored by the CDC/NIOSH, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, AAHA, Fear Free, MentorVet and Appalachian State University.

Dr. Richmond is a speaker and published writer, a frequent veterinary podcast guest, and holds multiple certifications in the fields of applied positive psychology, appreciative inquiry, workplace wellbeing, psychological health & safety, trauma-informed workplaces, resilience training, behavior change, and suicide prevention. He was awarded the FVMA Gold Star for service in 2019 and FVMA Veterinarian of the Year in 2021.

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

• About Dr. Philip Richmond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drphilrichmond/
• VIN Foundation Vets4Vets®: https://vinfoundation.org/v4v
• Veterinary Hope Foundation: https://veterinaryhope.org/
• Adverse Childhood Events: https://numberstory.org/
• Instead of what’s wrong with you, what happened to you? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNIJBT5q0nI
• VIN Foundation get updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/

If you enjoy listening to this podcast and want to support these efforts, please consider making a donation to the VIN Foundation: https://vinfoundation.org/give

You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!

Dr. Lance Roasa shares best practices for contract negotiations based on his almost 10 years of experience helping veterinary colleagues. He covers everything from what to look for in a colleague’s first employment contract, to advice on how to renegotiate a current contract, and what colleagues need to know who are looking to get out of a contract. Learn what BATNA means, the important aspects of knowing how to quantify your value, a helpful resource available on negotiation, and his desire to shed more light on equal pay. 

GUEST BIO:

Dr. Lance Roasa

Lance Roasa, DVM, MS, JD is a 2008 graduate of Texas A&M where he was the first student to undertake a 4th year business-track, spending the majority of his clinical training in veterinary business and industry. In 2016 He completed a law degree from the University of Nebraska and his training was centered on the law of small business, taxation and the law of veterinary medicine. 

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

• Drip.vet contract negotiation course: https://dripvet1.teachable.com/p/art-science-of-negotiation?coupon_code=STUDENT100&product_id=963735
• Labor stats: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm
• VIN Foundation Vets4Vets®: https://vinfoundation.org/v4v
• VIN Foundation Model Employment Contract: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/model-employment-contract/

You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk chats with VIN Foundation Executive Director Jordan benShea about how growing up a child of veterinarians fueled her passion for the profession. From leaving her home country of Canada to practice in the US, and her vulnerable sharing about when she knew her dream job was no longer the right fit, Dr. Holowaychuk shares her story of finding a passion for mental wellness and helping colleagues. 

*TRIGGER WARNING* Some of the content in this episode may include triggers for mental health topics. As a reminder, if you are a veterinary student or veterinarian, the VIN Foundation’s confidential peer-to-peer support group Vets4Vets® is here for you, at no cost, please know, you are not alone. Text (530) 601-2133 or visit the Vets4Vets® website to learn more at https://vinfoundation.org/v4v.

GUEST BIO:

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk is a board-certified small animal emergency and critical care specialist and passionate advocate for veterinary team wellbeing. As a yoga and meditation teacher and wellness coach, she facilitates workshops and retreats for veterinary clinics and organizations and offers individual and group coaching and online programs for veterinary team members. She recently launched a new website (www.revivingvetmed.com) containing wellness resources for veterinary professionals and is the host of the Reviving Vet Med podcast, which offers practical tools and easily applicable tips for burnout prevention and workplace wellbeing.

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

VIN Foundation Vets4Vets®: https://vinfoundation.org/v4v

Dr. Sophia Yin Memorial Fund: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/dr-sophia-yin-memorial-fund/

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk website: https://marieholowaychuk.com/

Listen in as student debt expert and Board Member Dr. Tony Bartels and the newest student debt team member Dr. Rebecca Mears chat with Executive Director Jordan benShea in this next installment of our Student Debt Series. 

In this episode we cover the following nine topics:

1. Latest announcement on Jan 10th
2. Phasing out of ICR and PAYE repayment plans
3. Is this a different way of doing things?
4. Where can a borrower see what repayment plan they are enrolled in currently?
5. A ‘new’ income driven repayment plan?
6. What is Re-REPAYE?
7. ‘New’ plan added to Student Loan Repayment Simulator
8. Are there other changes happening?
9. What should colleagues do now?

As always, we want to hear from YOU. Please share your thoughts by sending an email or joining the conversation.  

GUEST BIO:

Dr. Tony Bartels Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA graduated in 2012 from the Colorado State University combined MBA/DVM program and is a VIN Foundation Board Member and Student Debt Expert, and an employee of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). He and his wife, a small-animal internal medicine specialist practicing in Denver, have more than $400,000 in veterinary-school debt that they manage using federal income-driven repayment plans. By necessity (and now obsession), his professional activities include researching and speaking on veterinary-student debt, providing guidance to colleagues on loan-repayment strategies and contributing to VIN Foundation resources. Beyond debt, his professional interests include small- and exotic-animal practice. When he’s not staring holes into his colleagues’ student-loan data, Tony enjoys fly fishing, ice hockey, camping and exploring Colorado with his wife, Audra, and their two rescued canines, Addi and Maggie.

Dr. Rebecca Mears

Rebecca Mears, DVM is from Lexington, KY, where she completed her BS at University of Kentucky. She is a graduate of University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. While in vet school, she served as the National Business Certificate Director for the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) and as a board member for Vets for Pets and People. During this time she took an active role in wellbeing awareness and access within the veterinary community. Rebecca then worked as an equine general practitioner and is an active AAEP member. In her time away from veterinary medicine, she can be found hiking, baking, and hosting impromptu dance parties. She is passionate about giving back to the profession and improving the lives of veterinarians, pre-vet and vet students. 

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

• VIN Foundation Student Debt Center: https://vinfoundation.org/studentdebtcenter
• Check your current student loan servicers and other loan details -- VIN Foundation My Student Loans tool: http://www.vinfoundation.org/mystudentloans
• Loan Repayment Simulator: https://vinfoundation.org/loansim 
• VIN Foundation WikiDebt: https://vinfoundation.org/wikidebt
• VIN Foundation Webinars: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/webinars/
• Stay up to date with VIN Foundation updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/
• VIN Foundation GIVE page to support these programs & tools: https://vinfoundation.org/give

VIN Foundation Blog Recent Student Debt Blog posts: 

• A ‘new’ income-driven repayment plan?: https://vinfoundation.org/a-new-income-driven-repayment-plan/ 
• Common Student Loan Consolidation Questions and Answers: https://vinfoundation.org/fed-student-loan-consolidation-faqs-questions-answers-considerations/
• Class of 2020, 2021, 2022 Income-Driven Repayment Renewal Note: https://vinfoundation.org/class-2020-2021-2022-student-loan-renewal-note/ 
• Special Cancellation of Up to $20,000 of Student Debt. Are You Eligible?: https://vinfoundation.org/special-cancellation-student-debt/
• Got Federal Student Debt? You’re Now Closer to Forgiveness Than You Think: https://vinfoundation.org/got-federal-student-debt-youre-now-closer-to-forgiveness-than-you-think/
• Student Loan Forgiveness Planning: Preparing for the Tax Bill: https://vinfoundation.org/veterinary-student-loan-forgiveness-planning-preparing-for-the-tax-bill/ 
• Student Loan Interest Rates Increase for 2022-2023 Academic Year: https://vinfoundation.org/student-loan-interest-rates-for-veterinary-school/ 
• Personalized student loan Help from VIN and VIN Foundation: https://vinfoundation.org/veterinary-student-loan-debt-help/ 
• Repay Wiser: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/repay-wiser-veterinary-school-debt-loan-repayment/
• Borrow Better: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/borrow-better-veterinary-school-loan-debt/ 
• New Grad Student Loan Repayment Playbook: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-new-grad-student-loan-repayment-playbook/ 
• Federal Student Aid Data, Consolidation, and Repayment Application: https://studentaid.gov/
• New Proposed Regulations Would Transform Income-Driven Repayment by Cutting Undergraduate Loan Payments in Half and Preventing Unpaid Interest Accumulation: https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/new-proposed-regulations-would-transform-income-driven-repayment-cutting-undergraduate-loan-payments-half-and-preventing-unpaid-interest-accumulation 
• Student Debt Relief Information: https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation 
• Department of Education press release (Nov 2022):  https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-continues-fight-student-debt-relief-millions-borrowers-extends-student-loan-repayment-pause 
• Department of Education press release (April 2022): https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/department-education-announces-actions-fix-longstanding-failures-student-loan-programs 
• One-time Forgiveness Count Adjustment  https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-account-adjustment
• Federal Student Loan Servicers: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

Email VIN Foundation: studentdebt@vinfoundation.org

You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it! Reach out to podcast@vinfoundation.org.

Listen in as Executive Director Jordan benShea chats with student debt expert and Board Member Dr. Tony Bartels and the newest student debt team member Dr. Rebecca Mears in this next installment of our Student Debt Series. 

In this episode we’re covering the following six topics:

1. Latest news for current veterinary school students 
2. How to help 2023 grads prepare for repayment
3. What pandemic grads, classes 2020, 2021 and 2022 should be doing
4. Helpful information for all other borrowers
5. The latest on the Student Debt Relief before the Supreme Court
6. Recertification and the important dates to be aware of now

As always, we want to hear from YOU. Please share your thoughts by sending an email or joining the conversation.  

GUEST BIO:

Dr. Tony Bartels Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA graduated in 2012 from the Colorado State University combined MBA/DVM program and is a VIN Foundation Board Member and Student Debt Expert, and an employee of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). He and his wife, a small-animal internal medicine specialist practicing in Denver, have more than $400,000 in veterinary-school debt that they manage using federal income-driven repayment plans. By necessity (and now obsession), his professional activities include researching and speaking on veterinary-student debt, providing guidance to colleagues on loan-repayment strategies and contributing to VIN Foundation resources. Beyond debt, his professional interests include small- and exotic-animal practice. When he’s not staring holes into his colleagues’ student-loan data, Tony enjoys fly fishing, ice hockey, camping and exploring Colorado with his wife, Audra, and their two rescued canines, Addi and Maggie.

Dr. Rebecca Mears

Rebecca Mears, DVM is from Lexington, KY, where she completed her BS at University of Kentucky. She is a graduate of University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. While in vet school, she served as the National Business Certificate Director for the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) and as a board member for Vets for Pets and People. During this time she took an active role in wellbeing awareness and access within the veterinary community. Rebecca then worked as an equine general practitioner and is an active AAEP member. In her time away from veterinary medicine, she can be found hiking, baking, and hosting impromptu dance parties. She is passionate about giving back to the profession and improving the lives of veterinarians, pre-vet and vet students. 

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

• VIN Foundation Student Debt Center: https://vinfoundation.org/studentdebtcenter
• Check your current student loan servicers and other loan details -- VIN Foundation My Student Loans tool: http://www.vinfoundation.org/mystudentloans
• VIN Foundation WikiDebt: https://vinfoundation.org/wikidebt
• VIN Foundation Webinars: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/webinars/
• VIN Foundation Blog Recent Student Debt Blog posts: 
• Common Student Loan Consolidation Questions and Answers: https://vinfoundation.org/fed-student-loan-consolidation-faqs-questions-answers-considerations/
• Class of 2020, 2021, 2022 Income-Driven Repayment Renewal Note: https://vinfoundation.org/class-2020-2021-2022-student-loan-renewal-note/ 
• Special Cancellation of Up to $20,000 of Student Debt. Are You Eligible?: https://vinfoundation.org/special-cancellation-student-debt/
• Got Federal Student Debt? You’re Now Closer to Forgiveness Than You Think: https://vinfoundation.org/got-federal-student-debt-youre-now-closer-to-forgiveness-than-you-think/
• Student Loan Forgiveness Planning: Preparing for the Tax Bill: https://vinfoundation.org/veterinary-student-loan-forgiveness-planning-preparing-for-the-tax-bill/ 
• Student Loan Interest Rates Increase for 2022-2023 Academic Year: https://vinfoundation.org/student-loan-interest-rates-for-veterinary-school/ 
• Personalized student loan Help from VIN and VIN Foundation: https://vinfoundation.org/veterinary-student-loan-debt-help/ 
• Repay Wiser: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/repay-wiser-veterinary-school-debt-loan-repayment/
• Borrow Better: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/borrow-better-veterinary-school-loan-debt/ 
• New Grad Student Loan Repayment Playbook: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-new-grad-student-loan-repayment-playbook/ 
• Federal Student Aid Data, Consolidation, and Repayment Application: https://studentaid.gov/
• Student Debt Relief Information: https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation 
• Department of Education press release (Nov 2022):  https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-continues-fight-student-debt-relief-millions-borrowers-extends-student-loan-repayment-pause 
• Department of Education press release (April 2022): https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/department-education-announces-actions-fix-longstanding-failures-student-loan-programs 
• One-time Forgiveness Count Adjustment  https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-account-adjustment
• Federal Student Loan Servicers: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
• Stay up to date with VIN Foundation updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/

Email VIN Foundation: studentdebt@vinfoundation.org

Get updates to stay tuned for the VIN Foundation webinars on student debt. 

You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

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