Podcast
The Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast
Hosted by Dr. Andy Roark · EN
The Cone of Shame Podcast is the podcast all about life in Veterinary Medicine. Dr Andy Roark covers medical related topics with help from experts in the veterinary industry.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
410 - How to Build Confident, Competent Early Career Vets
Yesterday00:24:03Summary readyBuilding Confident New Grad Vets: Mentorship, Psychological Safety, and Onboarding That Works Dr. Jason Szumski, DVM, joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a problem every hospital feels, new grads want to do great medicine, but they are often scared of mistakes, lawsuits, and being “on their own” before they are ready. They dig into why mentorship is the top priority for vet students, what strong onboarding actually looks like (psychological safety, structured but flexible timelines, and honest expectations that new grads are an investment), and how to build real autonomy without ripping away the security blanket. Jason shares practical mentor and mentee strategies, including having new doctors bring a plan, getting hands-on in surgery, using curiosity instead of confrontation, and reinforcing confidence by revisiting past wins. Gang, let’s get into this episode. Keywords: veterinary mentorship, new graduate veterinarian, veterinary onboarding, clinical confidence. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonszumski (LinkedIn) Dr. Jason Szumski is an entrepreneurial practicing veterinarian, speaker, and educator focused on helping veterinarians work more efficiently and sustainably in clinical practice. He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2023, where he served as both class president and president of the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA). After spending three years in a fast-paced suburban Chicago emergency hospital, he transitioned into his current role as Medical Director of a five-doctor general practice, giving him experience in both high-volume ER medicine and long-term primary care leadership. He is also the co-founder of VetSOAP, an AI-powered workflow tool used by thousands of veterinarians daily to streamline medical records, improve communication, and help teams get home on time. Jason regularly speaks on topics including new graduate development, AI in veterinary medicine, and clinical efficiency, with a focus on building practical systems that help doctors move from chaos to confidence in practice.
Summary409 - A Cry For Help From the Pathology Department
1w ago00:28:09Summary readyA Cry for Help in Veterinary Pathology, Burnout, Economics, Digitization, and AI with Dr. Eric Fish Dr. Eric Fish, DVM, DACVP, joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a tough question: Why does being a veterinary clinical pathologist feel darker right now, and what happens if AI turns “nice to have” diagnostics into “don’t need to have”? They unpack burnout and pay compression (including pathologists earning less than new grad GPs), consolidation in the lab market, and how digitization has pushed cytology toward point-of-care and high-volume “turn and burn” workflows with per-case bonuses that can be as low as $8 to $12. Eric explains how consultative lab medicine has shifted toward internists, why cytology’s cost and turnaround time are eroding its value, and what a better future could look like with AI that augments, triages, and keeps a human in the loop. Gang, let’s get into this episode. Keywords: veterinary pathology, clinical pathologist burnout, digital cytology, AI in veterinary medicine. Links: Substack newsletter All Science Great and Small; LinkedIn. Dr. Eric Fish is a veterinary clinical pathologist and laboratory director at a large private referral center, with a career spanning academia, entrepreneurship, and industry. He co-founded Lacuna Diagnostics, the first point-of-care digital cytology company, spent years at IDEXX as a diagnostician and technology scouting manager, and even found time to work occasional relief ER shifts. Eric brings a unique perspective to the conversation around artificial intelligence: he has not only used voice recognition and large language model AI tools in his own practice, but also worked on teams building computer vision applications for medical imaging. He writes about AI and other hot topics in veterinary medicine in his Substack newsletter, All Science Great & Small.
Summary408 - Beyond Trazodone: When the "Chill Protocol" Isn’t Chilling
2w ago00:31:32Summary readyBeyond Gabapentin and Trazodone, Smarter Pre-Visit Anxiety Meds with Dr. Chris Pachel Dr. Chris Pachel, DVM, DACVB, joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a problem every clinic knows too well, stressed pets, stressed owners, and appointments that start going sideways before the car even leaves the driveway. They dig into pre-visit pharmaceuticals beyond the usual gabapentin and trazodone, including when to increase doses, when sedation is masking anxiety (not fixing it), and how options like clonidine, benzodiazepines, and even dexmedetomidine can fit the patient in front of you. Chris also shares how his new Animal Behavior Clinic space in Portland is reducing stress fast, plus practical tips for at-home trial runs, safety planning, and cautions around acepromazine and “chill protocol” variations. Gang, let’s get into this episode. Dr. Chris Pachel is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and is the owner and lead clinician at the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Pachel lectures extensively worldwide, teaches courses at multiple veterinary schools in the United States, and has authored numerous articles and book chapters for veterinarians and pet owners. He is a sought-after expert witness for legal cases and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for dvm360. He is also a Vice-president of Veterinary Behavior for Instinct Dog Behavior and Training, as well as co-owner of Instinct Portland, which opened in the fall of 2020.
Summary407 - The Dangers of Dutch
3w ago00:25:25Summary readyDr. Andy Roark hosts Dr. Matt Salois, an economist, VMG president, and adjunct faculty at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, to discuss his Today’s Veterinary Business article on the “dangers of Dutch Pets veterinary telemedicine,” using a Trojan horse metaphor. They argue that when a “no strings attached” solution promises cheaper, easier access by reducing restrictions, vets should be skeptical because removing safeguards like the VCPR and physical exams is not the same as innovation. The conversation covers how pharmacy revenue subsidizes clinic services, concerns that Dutch’s model and rhetoric may erode trust in veterinarians, and how misdiagnoses without exams can increase costs, especially for seriously ill pets. They also discuss delayed presentation, accountability, and who bears risk when medical decisions go wrong.
Summary406 - HoF - Fireworks Phobia Over the Phone
4w ago00:15:17Summary readyDr. Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, joins Dr. Andy Roark for a timely Hall of Fame episode that every veterinary professional should revisit before fireworks season kicks into high gear. If you've ever had a client call in a panic hours before the fireworks start, this episode breaks down what you can do, what realistically helps, and how to set pets up for success when noise phobias strike. Gang, let's get into this episode!
Summary405 - Redefining the DVM Career Path
Jun 2900:20:32Summary readyDr. Matt Silvius, DVM, shares a career journey that challenges the idea that veterinarians only have one path to leadership. Matt shares his journey from kennel technician to practice owner and multi-site leader, exploring entrepreneurship, mentorship, and the many ways veterinarians can build fulfilling careers. If you've ever wondered what career growth, ownership, or leadership opportunities can look like in modern veterinary medicine, this episode will leave you inspired to think bigger about what's possible.This episode is brought to you ad-free by NVA General Practice!
Summary404 - HDYTT: The Critical Feline Patient
Jun 2500:23:25Summary readyTasha McNerney, CVT, CVPP, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), tackles one of the most stressful situations in veterinary medicine: the critical feline patient crashing through the door after severe trauma. If you've ever felt the urge to rush a painful cat straight into anesthesia, this episode will help you slow down, stabilize first, and make smarter decisions about oxygen delivery, shock management, analgesia, and anesthesia protocols. You'll walk away with practical tips to improve patient outcomes and a clearer understanding of why stabilization is the first treatment. Gang, let's get into this episode!
Summary403 - Improving Animal Welfare at Commercial Dog Breeding Kennels
Jun 1800:23:57Summary readyDr. Tess House, DVM, MPH, dives into a topic that can spark strong opinions: commercial dog breeding kennels. If you've ever wondered what veterinarians can do to improve animal welfare in these facilities, or what standards, oversight, and welfare programs actually look like behind the scenes, this episode breaks it all down in a thoughtful and practical way. You'll learn about USDA licensing, programs of veterinary care, canine welfare assessments, and how veterinarians can help breeders and pet owners make better decisions for dogs. Gang, let's get into this episode!Resources MentionedUSDA Animal Care Search ToolSample APHIS FormsAPHIS Form 7002: Program of CareAPHIS Form 7013: Exercise Plan for DogsCanine WelfareCanine Care Certified (Purdue University)AVMA Resources2025 Pet Ownership & Demographic SourcebookAttending Veterinarians & Commercial Dog BreedersPreserving Antimicrobial Effectiveness
Summary402 - A New Vet Guide to Working with Senior Paraprofessionals
Jun 1500:29:41Tap to summarizeVicky Ograin, RVT, VTS (Nutrition), MBA tackles a challenge every new veterinarian faces: how do you earn trust, build confidence, and collaborate effectively when the technicians around you have far more real-world experience than you do? Dr. Andy Roark and Vicky share practical advice for creating strong doctor-technician partnerships, giving and receiving feedback, and building a team culture that benefits patients, clients, and the entire veterinary team.This episode is brought to you by Hill's Pet Nutrition!
Transcribe →401 - Three Super-Judgy Things Vets Should Stop Saying (Maybe)
Jun 1100:44:43Tap to summarizeDr. Kate Boatwright, DVM, joins Dr. Andy Roark for a thoughtful (and surprisingly spicy) conversation about three phrases veterinarians say all the time: "If you can't afford the vet, don't get the pet," "You can't care more than the client does," and "That's below the standard of care." Together, they unpack the nuance behind these statements, explore judgment in veterinary medicine, discuss spectrum of care, client financial limitations, veterinary burnout, and what compassionate, contextualized care really looks like. If you've ever wrestled with balancing patient advocacy, client realities, and your own emotional wellbeing, this episode will leave you thinking long after it's over. Gang, let's get into this episode!
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