Veterinary leadership can feel heavy during the holidays. Between emotional cases, personal transitions, and the pressure to finish the year strong, many leaders find themselves exhausted, reflective, and unsure how to carry both the joy and the weight of the season. This episode brings together honest holiday leadership reflections from Dr. Andy Roark, Tyler Grogan, CVT and Maria Pirita, CVPM offering guidance for anyone who feels stretched thin, unsure of their progress, or overwhelmed by the emotional complexity of veterinary life. If you are seeking emotional resilience, stronger team leadership, or a renewed sense of meaning in your work, this episode is the gift under the tree you did not know you needed!

If your clinic feels like it is constantly reacting instead of leading with intention, you are not alone. Many veterinary leaders struggle to balance patient care, team coaching, and communication challenges while feeling unsure how to shift their culture. Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 was created to help you break that cycle and step into leadership with clarity and confidence.

Join us Friday, January 16 in Orlando for a focused one day experience that begins with Ron Sosa and Tyler Grogan's Leadership Audit. You will also participate in Andy Roark’s Coaching and Accountability workshop and Maria Pirita’s Team Communication session. This is a rare chance to get hands on tools that strengthen your leadership immediately. Learn more and save your spot at unchartedvet.com.

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

When a front desk team member escalates client tension instead of calming it, the entire clinic feels the ripple effect. In this episode, we tackle a tough and common challenge in veterinary medicine: a highly reliable receptionist who becomes defensive and reactive when clients become upset. We break down why this happens, how fear and past experiences amplify emotional responses, and what leaders can do to coach confidence, deescalation skills, and calm communication in the moment. If your team struggles with handling angry clients or turning venting into problem solving, this episode offers practical tools, real language you can use, and a roadmap to transform the front desk into a stronger, more resilient support system.

Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026

If your clinic is growing faster than your systems can keep up, you’re not alone. The truth is, most veterinary leaders are fighting the same battle of trying to coach teams, improve communication, and reduce chaos while still keeping up with patient care. That’s exactly what Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 is built to solve.

Join us Friday, January 16 in Orlando, the day before VMX kicks off, for a one-day immersive experience that will transform the way you lead. You’ll start with a career audit to uncover your strengths and blind spots as a leader, then dive into Andy Roark’s hands-on Coaching and Accountability workshop to learn how to grow your people and actually get follow-through. You’ll also join Maria Pirita’s dynamic Team Communication session to tackle the real conversations holding your clinic back.

Walk away with proven tools, new friends, and the kind of clarity that will change how you lead forever. Tickets are limited and this event always sells out. Grab your spot now at unchartedvet.com.

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Maria Pirita is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, Elite Fear Free Certified Veterinary Professional and former hospital administrator. In her work with Uncharted Veterinary Conference and beyond, Maria has presented to veterinarians and teams across the US and Canada on topics including veterinary marketing, feedback, team building, and positive work culture. With over 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine and over 20 years in leadership, she's passionate helping leaders develop their skills. Maria loves any activity that involves creativity or learning something new. This leads to an abundance of hobbies including crafting, traveling, cooking and aviation.

Dr. Andy Roark is a practicing veterinarian, international speaker, author, and media personality. He is the founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference and DrAndyRoark.com. He has been an award-winning columnist for DVM360 and the magazine Today’s Veterinary Business. His social media, website, podcast and YouTube show reach millions of people every month.

Dr. Roark has received the NAVC Practice Management Speaker of the Year Award three times, the WVC Practice Management Educator of the Year Award, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Veterinarian of the Year Award from the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians. His greatest achievement however involves marrying a bad-ass scientist and raising 2 kind and wonderful daughters.

A longtime veterinary technician feels trapped under an inexperienced new manager, and the entire team is slipping into frustration and burnout as leadership crumbles around them. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dig into the real challenges of working under a difficult boss in veterinary medicine. They explore why imperfect leaders are inevitable, how emotional overload can intensify conflict, and what practical steps veterinary professionals can take when their manager is unprepared or unwilling to lead. From root cause analysis and setting boundaries to protecting your purpose and choosing whether to stay, shift, or leave, this conversation brings clarity to one of the most common and painful issues in practice life. If you or your team are struggling with leadership strain or workplace tension, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate roadmap forward. Let’s get into this episode!

Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026

If your clinic is growing faster than your systems can keep up, you’re not alone. The truth is, most veterinary leaders are fighting the same battle of trying to coach teams, improve communication, and reduce chaos while still keeping up with patient care. That’s exactly what Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 is built to solve.

Join us Friday, January 16 in Orlando, the day before VMX kicks off, for a one-day immersive experience that will transform the way you lead. You’ll start with a career audit to uncover your strengths and blind spots as a leader, then dive into Andy Roark’s hands-on Coaching and Accountability workshop to learn how to grow your people and actually get follow-through. You’ll also join Maria Pirita’s dynamic Team Communication session to tackle the real conversations holding your clinic back.

Walk away with proven tools, new friends, and the kind of clarity that will change how you lead forever. Tickets are limited and this event always sells out. Grab your spot now at unchartedvet.com.

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

When your veterinary clinic starts growing faster than your systems can handle, it can feel like you’re constantly putting out fires instead of leading with confidence. In this episode of The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive into the realities of veterinary clinic growth, sharing how to move from survival mode to sustainable leadership. They explain why rapid expansion often creates burnout, miscommunication, and reactive management, and how to rebuild structure, culture, and accountability that support your team as it scales. Whether you’re a practice owner opening a second location or a manager struggling to keep up with new demands, this episode gives you the clarity and tools to grow your hospital without losing your mind. Let's get into this episode!

Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026

If your clinic is growing faster than your systems can keep up, you’re not alone. The truth is, most veterinary leaders are fighting the same battle of trying to coach teams, improve communication, and reduce chaos while still keeping up with patient care. That’s exactly what Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 is built to solve.

Join us Friday, January 16 in Orlando, the day before VMX kicks off, for a one-day immersive experience that will transform the way you lead. You’ll start with a career audit to uncover your strengths and blind spots as a leader, then dive into Andy Roark’s hands-on Coaching and Accountability workshop to learn how to grow your people and actually get follow-through. You’ll also join Maria Pirita’s dynamic Team Communication session to tackle the real conversations holding your clinic back.

Walk away with proven tools, new friends, and the kind of clarity that will change how you lead forever. Tickets are limited and this event always sells out. Grab your spot now at unchartedvet.com.

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Veterinary professionals often pour time, money, and energy into certifications that don’t always deliver the results they expect. In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark and Maria Pirita, CVPM break down how to decide if becoming a certified veterinary assistant, technician, or manager is truly worth it. They explore how to weigh the financial, emotional, and career impact of credentialing and share how to talk with your leaders before committing to any program. You’ll walk away with a realistic framework for evaluating your return on investment, setting clear goals, and understanding what professional growth really looks like in today’s veterinary field. Let's get into this episode!

Ready to stop chasing accountability and start building it?

If you’ve ever felt like you’re repeating yourself, trying to get your team to follow through, or carrying the whole clinic on your shoulders, Andy Roark’s workshop at Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 is for you. Join us on January 16 in Orlando for a one-day, high-impact experience where you’ll learn how to build a culture of accountability that actually works.

This isn’t a series of lectures. You’ll also take part in a hands-on leadership audit to uncover what’s holding your team back, then dive into interactive coaching sessions that show you how to empower your staff to make decisions, follow through, and communicate clearly. Come learn with Andy, connect with people who are building better teams, and walk away with tools you can use the moment you get back to the clinic.

Seats are limited. Claim your spot at www.unchartedvet.com and start leading with confidence today.

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

What happens when friendships in your veterinary clinic start to blur the line between connection and cliques? In this episode of The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dig into one of the most uncomfortable culture challenges in practice: favoritism. It often begins innocently, with a doctor and technician who click, who work smoothly together, and who spend time outside of work. Over time, that “we just work well together” energy can quietly turn into exclusion, frustration, and an uneven playing field that leaves the rest of the team feeling left out.

Andy and Stephanie explore how favoritism shows up, why it erodes trust and collaboration, and what leaders can do when personal bonds begin to affect professional dynamics. They share practical strategies to coach your team, set boundaries without being the “fun police,” and rebuild fairness and inclusivity across your clinic. Whether you are a practice manager, medical director, or lead technician, this episode offers a clear path to strengthen your culture and support a healthier team. Let's get into this episode!

You’ve spent another year juggling chaos, coaching your team between appointments, and wondering when leadership will finally feel easier. The truth is, you don’t need another lecture or cookie-cutter CE session. You need a space to recharge your leadership, sharpen your strategy, and connect with people who truly understand what you face every day.

Join us for the Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 on January 16 in Orlando, where we’ll tackle the real problems that keep veterinary professionals stuck. Learn how to rebuild trust after burnout, navigate tough conversations with confidence, and design systems that actually work for your practice.

This is not a sit-and-listen kind of CE. It’s a one-day, fully interactive event filled with workshops, honest discussions, and coaching sessions led by experts like Dr. Andy Roark, Ron Sosa, CVPM, Maria Pirita, CVPM and Tyler Grogan, CVT. You’ll leave with practical tools, a renewed sense of clarity, and a network of veterinary leaders who will help you stay accountable long after the day ends,

Seats are limited and open only to the Uncharted community. Stop repeating the same year and start creating the one you’ve been working toward. Register now: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/about-uncharted-veterinary-conference-2026

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Your team comes back from CE full of ideas, energy, and handouts. Two weeks later, it is as if none of it ever happened. Sound familiar? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Maria Pirita tackle one of the most frustrating challenges in veterinary leadership: how to actually implement what your team learns at continuing education events. CE should spark growth, not fizzle into forgotten notes and half-finished protocols. Andy and Maria unpack why good intentions fall apart once everyone returns to the clinic and share how to set your team up for real success before, during, and after any conference. They dive into the leadership mindset that drives continuing education implementation and the systems that keep learning alive long after the plane ride home.

Want to turn CE ideas into real results? Download our free CE Implementation Facilitation Guide and help your team bring their learning back to life.

Download: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/k4t0d5

Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026

Unlock 2026 like never before! If you don’t claim your spot at the Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 on January 16 in Orlando, you’ll watch others pull ahead while you stay stuck where you are. This is not another passive CE day. It’s a one-day, high-intensity experience designed for veterinary professionals ready to lift their anchor and steer into the boldest phase of their career. Expect interactive leadership audits, hands-on workshops with top-tier experts like Andy Roark, and game-changing connections with peers who refuse to settle for status quo. Seats are reserved exclusively for our community and they’re ticking away. Show up or get left behind. Register here: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/about-uncharted-veterinary-conference-2026

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Maria to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Veterinary client communication is at a crossroads. Teams everywhere are feeling the strain of constant calls, texts, and emails from clients who expect immediate answers. The pace of communication has accelerated faster than many veterinary practices can keep up with, creating a daily challenge: how do we stay personal and present while meeting growing digital demands?

That question is at the center of a conversation between Dr. Andy Roark and Shawna Castillo on the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, sponsored by Otto.

Shawna is the Director of Care Membership Programs at Otto and co-owner of Cement Creek Veterinary Hospital in Colorado. With more than 20 years of experience in the veterinary and animal health space, she is a leader in people, process, and technology integration. Her background spans team leadership, retention strategy, client education, and process improvement.

At Otto, Shawna helps veterinary hospitals implement tools that improve efficiency and strengthen client relationships through intentional automation. She is passionate about finding new ways to use technology to deepen the bond among pets, their people, and their veterinary teams.

This episode is brought to you ad-free by Otto!

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Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag