VCA Voice Veterinary Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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In this episode of the VCA Voice Podcast, Dr. Kerl is pleased to welcome Dr. Melanie Hnot, a specialist in veterinary dermatology. In their conversation, she shares her journey in veterinary medicine and discusses the importance of dermatology in pet care. She explains common skin conditions in pets, the role of primary care veterinarians, and the complexities of diagnosing and managing allergies. Dr. Hnot also highlights new treatments for your pet's skin irritation and emphasizes the importance of collaboration between pet owners and veterinarians in managing skin diseases.

Dr. Melanie Hnot, VMD, DACVD, is a board-certified veterinary dermatologist at VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital in South Florida, where she collaborates with local general practice veterinarians to provide comprehensive dermatological care for pets. Specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of skin, ear, and allergy-related conditions, Dr. Hnot is dedicated to improving the quality of life for pets with chronic and severe dermatological issues.
Dr. Hnot received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania before completing a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. She further honed her expertise through a dermatology internship across practices in NJ and PA, culminating in a dermatology residency and a Master of Science degree from The Ohio State University in 2015.
Her clinical focus includes the management of allergic diseases and ear infections (otitis), common but often complex conditions in veterinary medicine. She offers advanced diagnostics and treatment options such as allergy testing and immunotherapy, particularly for pets suffering from atopic dermatitis.
When not at the hospital, Dr. Hnot enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her family, which includes her lively greyhound, Jagger. Her personal love for animals complements her professional commitment to delivering top-tier care.

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Happy Veterinary Technician Week! On his episode of the VCA Voice Podcast, Dr. Kerl welcomes Kim Dudder, Regional Technician Director for VCA's Mid-Atlantic Region. Listen in as she discusses her transition from early childhood education to becoming a credentialed veterinary technician. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, team dynamics, and the role of regional technician directors in optimizing patient care. Kim also highlights the significance of healthcare documentation and the Scribe program, as well as her collaboration with Harcum College and the Upward Bound program to engage and educate future veterinary professionals. Their conversation touches on the need for diversity in the field and the importance of community involvement in shaping the future of veterinary medicine. For more information on how Harcum College and Upward Bound created a pipeline for new Vet Nurses, check out this video. 

Kim is a Certified Veterinary Technician residing in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Kim has been in veterinary medicine for 27 years with her clinical career focused on Emergency Medicine. She joined the VCA family in 2001 and has held many roles in VCA hospitals throughout her career. Kim is currently a Regional Technician Director for hospitals in the Mid-Atlantic Region. In her role as Regional Technician Director, she works with different teams in multiple aspects such as medical protocols, efficiency, training and her favorite aspect, mentoring Technician leaders on each team. This combines her passion for teaching and for veterinary medicine. Kim also has opportunities to engage with several Veterinary Technician Programs in her region working with new students and sitting on advisory boards to guide the next generation of Veterinary Technicians. Her goal is to encourage people to see that being a Veterinary Technician is an amazing career and to educate them on the numerous career paths that open up for credentialed technicians.

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Dr. Kerl is pleased to welcome her long time friend and colleague, Dr. Karen Kline to the podcast. Dr. Kline has been the Medical Director and associate neurologist at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle and is currently an associate neurologist and past Medical Director at VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists in Portland, Oregon. 

Dr. Kline is also an associate professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at WSU CVM. She will be working part time at WSU and also at her home base of Northwest Veterinary Specialists. She has published multiple journal articles, has been an author in several veterinary textbooks, has spoken at local, national and international meetings and is currently serving as President of the NAVC. 

Dr. Kline brings with her a passion for teaching and clinical service. When not in the clinic, Dr. Kline enjoys the treasures of the Pacific Northwest as well as spending time with her husband Karl and their terrific dog, Voodie.

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On this episode of the VCA Voice Podcast, Dr. Kerl is pleased to welcome Aaron Frazier, the Chief Operating Officer of VCA Animal Hospitals. Listen in as he shares his career journey and the importance of collaborating with strong industry partners to improve veterinary healthcare. In their conversation, Aaron emphasizes the need for a healthy partnership between medical and business operations to drive quality medicine and ensure business success. He also highlights the importance of empowering teams to come up with innovative ideas. Aaron believes that by staying grounded in our values and supporting our Associates, VCA can weather any challenges that come our way.

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In this episode of the VCA Voice Podcast, Dr. Adi Oz and Dr. Negeen Najafi discuss their unique journeys in veterinary medicine and their decision to pursue internships. They share their experiences in veterinary school, their interest in different specialties, and the process of finding a small animal rotating internship program. In their conversation with Dr. Kerl, they discuss the challenges and rewards of being veterinary interns, including the transition from an academic setting to real-world practice, learning client communication skills, and building confidence as primary clinicians. They also share some of their favorite cases and the misconceptions they had about internships. 

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April is Heartworm Awareness Month in veterinary medicine and in light of this important issue for pets and pet owners, Dr. Kerl is pleased to welcome Dr. Tom Nelson to the podcast. Dr. Nelson is the hospital director of the VCA Animal Medical Center of Northeast Alabama and has been in private practice for 45 years. Dr. Nelson is also an expert on heartworm disease and how to effectively diagnosis, treat, and prevent it in dogs and cats.

For more information on resources mentioned in the podcast, please follow the link below:

American Heartworm Society 

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In this episode, Dr. Kerl welcomes Rachel Turner, a credentialed veterinary technician and one of the managers of virtual care services for VCA. Rachel shares her journey in veterinary medicine, from starting as a part-time veterinary technician to joining the virtual care team at VCA. She discusses VCA Live Chat, which supports our clients through medical triage and education 24 hours every day. Rachel also highlights the qualities she looks for in team members and the resources available to virtual care technicians, such as the Knowledge Base. 

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Dr. Kerl is pleased to welcome Dr. Lore Haug to the podcast. In their conversation, they chat about Dr. Haug's journey in Veterinary Medicine, what led to her role as an Animal Behavior Specialist, and some helpful insights for new owners of puppies and kittens.

Please check out the links below for further information on topics mentioned in the podcast:

American College of Veterinary Behaviorists https://www.dacvb.org

American Association of Feline Practitioners https://catvets.com

Fear Free Happy Homes https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior https://avsab.org

The Pet Professional Guild https://www.petprofessionalguild.com

International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants https://iaabc.org

Karen Pryor academy https://karenpryoracademy.com

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Dr. Kerl is pleased to welcome Dr. Sharon Mix and Dr. Sydney Stein to the podcast for an intriguing episode about a rare case of rabies in Nebraska and the public health response that has taken place as a result of this case. 

Dr. Mix is the Medical Director of VCA Animal Medical Center of Omaha and Dr. Stein is an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer for the CDC.  Throughout their conversation, they cover the key role of primary care veterinarians as the “first line of defense in public health” and that it takes vigilance to make a rare diagnosis. Rabies is a significant public health concern, is endemic in wild animals, has no cure, and keeping pets current on rabies vaccination is a crucial step to protect both pets and people. They discuss the differences in the wild animal reservoirs for rabies in the US and why the Omaha case was alarming.

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Welcome to season three of the VCA Voice Podcast! February is Dental Health Month in Veterinary Medicine and in light of this, Dr. Kerl is delighted to welcome Dr. Cindy Koons. Dr. Koons is a Regional Medical Director for VCA in the Mountain Southwest Group and is passionate about promoting dental health, which contributes to overall patient health. 

Listen in as they discuss Dr. Koons' lifelong journey in Veterinary Medicine, the joys and challenges in her role as an RMD,  and her experience educating colleagues and clients about sustainable oral health in pets.   

For more information about dental health resources mentioned in the podcast, please visit VOHC.org 

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