The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360 – Details, episodes & analysis

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Annika VanNoy, PhD, is an accomplished leader in the veterinary field, currently serving as the senior director of talent and learning at Thrive Pet Healthcare. With a solid academic background culminating in a PhD from The University of Texas at Austin, VanNoy has dedicated her career to advancing the veterinary industry by enhancing practice management and optimizing team development. Her work focuses on creating and implementing talent strategies that empower veterinary professionals, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to excel in their roles. In addition to talent strategies, VanNoy oversees Thrive's wellbeing strategy.  VanNoy's expertise and innovative approach to talent management have been instrumental in driving the growth and success of Thrive Pet Healthcare, making her a key figure in the company's mission to revolutionize veterinary care.

Christopher G. Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ, is a practicing board-certified veterinary emergency & critical care and small animal internal medicine specialist, as well as a certified veterinary journalist, based in Omaha, Nebraska. He received his Bachelor of Science degree as a University Honors Scholar in Animal Sciences from Colorado State University and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. He is the Co-Editor of the textbooks, Feline Emergency & Critical Care Medicine and Canine Emergency & Critical Care Medicine. He has also published chapters and articles in numerous textbooks and peer-reviewed medical journals.  

Mariah Young, DVM, is a small town Montana girl with a passion for compassion. Her whole life she wanted to be able to make an impact on this world. As she grew up, this desire morphed into pursuing a career in veterinary medicine and a secondary career as a firefighter/EMT. Young achieved both goals simultaneously and currently work full time as a mixed animal veterinarian and part time as a firefighter/EMT.

Young has an Australian Kelpie named Dilly who is her constant adventure companion. She is fluent in Spanish and love to travel. Young volunteered in a vet clinic in Peru during undergrad, studied abroad in Spain, and has visited 13 different countries. Recently, she has been spending her time playing soccer, ultimate frisbee, rock climbing, hiking, traveling, snowboarding, running half marathons, and white-water rafting. Young also enjoy reading, baking, training Dilly, and cleaning

After seeing team after team struggle with staff morale, hospital after hospital face financial challenges, and too many incredible but disheartened veterinary professionals leave the field, Dr. Ingrid Pyka concentrates on implementing much-needed change in our ever-evolving veterinary profession.

Earning her DVM from Colorado State University and furthering her business training at Purdue University, Ingrid has owned her own practice, worked as an associate and relief veterinarian, as well as held executive management roles in large corporate and non-profit hospitals. In 2011, she established IBP Consulting Services LCC to guide effective and profitable strategies. More recently, she founded VetMatch with a focus to reduce burnout and bring like-minded veterinary professionals back together - strong.

A two-time TEDx Speaker, multi-award winning and internationally recognized author, Dr. Pyka promotes high-level communication pathways and effective tools. She embraces the multitude of perspectives, and, now collaborates extensively with corporate and private veterinary leaders and teams for general, specialty/emergency and mobile practices and the quickly emerging field of telemedicine. Owners/investors, managers, individual veterinary professionals alike rave about her interactive approach to establish efficient, productive and happy teams. “Long-term success of the veterinary profession (or any industry for that matter) builds from individual physical, mental and financial wellness,” says Ingrid.

Ingrid remains active in veterinary academia (currently a facilitator in Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital well-being programming). Her passions also include supporting younger generations to a more empowered future. She is the immediate past-President of Imagination StoryBooks, a non-profit supporting global literacy with vision- and hearing-impaired as well as other learning challenged children.

When not actively traveling for trainings and “exploring the world,” Ingrid resides in Colorado with her two cats Bert (aka Berticus or Albert) and Harvey (aka - Harvard).

Contact ingrid.pyka@vetmatchPRO.com

My name is Dr. Jennifer Remnes and my undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Illinois at Champaign- Urbana. I double majored in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. Believe it or not, I was on a pre-med track throughout college and planned to apply to medical school. I quickly realized humans are gross, and I am way more passionate about animals. I was inducted into the Phi Zeta National Veterinary Honor Society in 2014. I graduated from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 following completion of my clinical year at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. The wonderful small town of Chambana gifted me with endless country nights at Kams I’ll never remember with friends I’ll never forget. The small Spice Island of Grenada will forever remain a second home for me. I was fortunate enough to experience an authentic Caribbean culture, obtain a PADI scuba certification and bring home the world’s most handsome souvenir—my heart dog and Papillon, Nutmeg. 

I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. Yes, Chicago, Chicago—not the burbs. I grew up
a few miles west of Wrigley Field, and I’m absolutely ecstatic that I witnessed a Cubs
World Series championship within my lifetime. Hey Chicago, what do you say? I live in the Windy City with my husband, Brad, and our Great Pyrenees rescue, Ophelia.

Hi! My name is Dr. Jessica Trice! I graduated from Waubonsee Community College with an associate degree in Biological Sciences. I then received a bachelor's degree at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in Animal Science and Agricultural
Consumer and Environmental Sciences. I graduated from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine.

My multifaceted career has led me to wear many various hats in veterinary medicine,
including Chief of Staff and Medical Director. I have also served as a member of the
Medical Advisory Board for the Midwest and led a Mentorship Program for veterinary
students and new DVM graduates. I proudly collaborated with Banfield Pet Hospital
and co-authored a children's book called "My Very, Very Busy Day." You may have also viewed one of my many television media segments featuring pet current events, health and preventative care.

My long time passion of incorporating integrative medicine with conventional veterinary medicine finally became a reality when I received my certification of Veterinary Acupuncture along with Herbal Medicine through the Chi Institute. Additionally, I also earned certification as a Veterinary Chiropractor in the specialized area of Applied Kinesiology through the Health Pioneer Institute. Together, we can take a whole-pet approach to your pet’s therapy. My collaborative techniques blend Western medicine with holistic approaches to treatment.

Dr Courtney A. Campbell is a board certified veterinary surgeon who specializes in orthopedic, soft tissue, and minimally invasive surgery. He practices at VetSurg in Ventura, California. He is also a host, author, producer, and content contributor for Vet Candy. Dr Campbell is the host of 3  popular podcasts, Anything Pawsible, The Dr Courtney Show, and Vet Mysteries with Dr. Courtney. Dr. Courtney has been dedicated to veterinary journalism for the past 10 years. He had the honor of co-hosting Pet Talk, a first of its kind talk show on Nat Geo Wild. He is a recurring veterinary health correspondent expert on programs such as WebMD, The Rachael Ray Show, CBS’s The Doctors, Home & Family, KTLA, and other daytime talk shows. He was awarded the Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award at the Global Pet Expo in 2020. He shares his life between veterinary surgery, veterinary journalism, and exploring the depth of the human-animal bond. He’s looking forward to new possibilities in 2023.

Dr Jan Bellows received his undergraduate training at the University of Florida and doctorate in veterinary medicine from Auburn University in 1975. After completing a small animal internship at The Animal Medical Center in New York City, he returned to south Florida, where he still practices companion animal medicine surgery and dentistry at All Pets Dental in Weston. He is certified by the Board of Veterinary Practitioners (canine and feline) since 1986 and American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) since 1990 He was president of the AVDC from 2012 to 2014 and is president of the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry. Dr Bellows’ veterinary dentistry accomplishments include authoring 5 dental texts including, The Practice of Veterinary Dentistry: A Team Effort (1999), Small Animal Dental Equipment, Materials, and Techniques (2005, second edition 2019), and Feline Dentistry (2010, second edition 2022). He is a frequent contributor to DVM Newsmagazine and a charter consultant of Veterinary Information Network’s dental board since 1993. He was also chosen as one of the dental experts to formulate the American Animal Hospital Association’s Small Animal Dental Guidelines published in 2005 and updated in 2013 and 2019 

Brian Hurley, DVM, National Medical Director at AmeriVet Veterinary Partners

Dr. Hurley serves as AmeriVet’s National Medical Director. He received his education from the University of Florida Veterinary School in 1994. Since then, he has run a successful veterinary clinic in Gardner, Massachusetts, where he became AmeriVet's very first veterinary partner. Impressed with the professionalism and impact AmeriVet had made on his business, he began consulting for AmeriVet Veterinary Partners in 2017 while still overseeing his practice, Gardner Animal Care Center. Then in 2018, Brian was appointed as AmeriVet's medical director.

Louis DelGiudice, DVM, DACVECC, National Emergency Specialty Director at AmeriVet Veterinary Partners

Dr. DelGiudice has been in private practice emergency medicine since 2002. Dr. Delguidice has worked at emergency/specialty hospitals in California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. Louis has been involved with the training of interns, and emergency/critical care residents. In addition, he has served on several committees for both the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and the Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society.

Prior to becoming dental board certified, Curt Coffman, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, National Specialty Director of Dentistry at Thrive Pet Healthcare, worked as an associate veterinarian and partner in a small animal veterinary practice. Realizing that he enjoyed the dentistry portion of his GP role, he decided to seek specialty board certification. Dr. Coffman began working at Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists (AVDS) as a relief veterinarian and ultimately completed his residency training at the hospital. Today, Dr. Coffman is an AVDS partner, and the hospital has grown to encompass four locations across Arizona! Within Thrive Pet Healthcare, Dr. Coffman has launched a Dental Growth Program, a year-long training initiative to build more competent and confident dental champions across Thrive’s network. The program includes extensive training, including 30 hours of continuing education, with an opportunity to participate in a hands-on training at the Dental Growth Symposium at the end of the program. With the demand for pet dental services growing, Dr. Coffman is particularly passionate about helping current and future veterinarians deepen their dental training – something students spend very little time on in veterinary school – to improve the industry. As a member of Thrive Pet Healthcare’s Specialty Directors Board, Dr. Coffman supports training and mentorship opportunities for new and prospective dentists, recruits top talent, and ensures team members can truly thrive.

Dr. Coffman is the author of multiple publications in the field of veterinary dentistry and enjoys lecturing and presenting dental education topics to doctors and veterinary technicians. He has been fortunate to be invited to lecture and teach across the country and around the world. This pairs well with his interests outside of the office including traveling, food/wine, and golf.

Dr. Tracy Paukette founded the first clinic dedicated to reactive pets and their families. She earned her doctorate at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998.

Since 2018 her focus has been on animal behavior and stress-free handling in the veterinary environment.

The Reactive Referral Center was eventually created to provide veterinary care for reactive patients. Many of these patients had previously been fired from other veterinary clinics or unable to seek veterinary care due to their reactivity.

In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Paukette enjoys speaking events and working with her team to provide education and hands on training sessions within individual clinics.