My Veterinary Life

Amanda Fark, AVMA's Assistant Director of Veterinary Career Services, joins the show as this quarter's featured guest for a conversation about career coaching and how it can support your veterinary life. Amanda shares what to expect from a coaching relationship, how to find a qualified coach, and why self-reflection, accountability, and openness to the process are key to meaningful career growth. This episode offers practical insight and reassurance for anyone feeling stuck or curious about their next step, and we can't wait to share it with you!Thank you to our podcast partner, the AVMA Career Center. Are you a veterinary professional looking for a position change or even a complete change of scenery? The AVMA Career Center is THE place for all veterinary professionals to find the next step in their career journey. Learn more and explore career resources at https://www.avma.org/careersRemember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected] us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

This special 400th episode is a heartfelt farewell to podcast founder Dr. Marci Kirk. In her final episode as co-host, Marci shares candid memories from the early days of podcasting, standout guest moments that changed how she views the profession, lessons on communication and storytelling, and the deep gratitude she feels for the veterinary community that made the podcast possible. Thank you, Marci, for your inspiring passion and dedication to the show for 6 wonderful years.Thank you to our podcast partner, the AVMA Career Center. Are you a veterinary professional looking for a position change or even a complete change of scenery? The AVMA Career Center is THE place for all veterinary professionals to find the next step in their career journey. Learn more and explore career resources at https://www.avma.org/careersRemember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected] us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Because student loans are a part of veterinary life for many of us, student loan expert Paul Garrard joins us this week for an in-depth yet approachable conversation about the federal  changes slated to take effect July 1, 2026. Paul breaks down the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, new federal borrowing caps, new and changing repayment options, and the status of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. It's a great episode to help you make an informed decision about your loans and repayment strategy.For more student loan resources-- including short video modules and an up-to-date repayment plan comparison chart-- visit the Finance section of myvetlife.avma.org.Thank you to our podcast partner, the AVMA Career Center. Are you a veterinary professional looking for a position change or even a complete change of scenery? The AVMA Career Center is THE place for all veterinary professionals to find the next step in their career journey. Learn more and explore career resources at https://www.avma.org/careersRemember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected] us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Mary Emfinger, a third-year veterinary student at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, joins us on the show this week for an inspiring episode. She shares how she balances vet school, motherhood, serving as a SAVMA senior delegate, and launching her own compression sock business, Bright Alert Responsive. She reflects on learning patience, following ideas that won’t let go, embracing work-life integration, and how being a second-career student highlights the strong teamwork and collaboration in veterinary medicine that she hopes to carry into her future career. We can't wait to share her story with you!Thank you to our podcast partner, the AVMA Career Center. Are you a veterinary professional looking for a position change or even a complete change of scenery? The AVMA Career Center is THE place for all veterinary professionals to find the next step in their career journey. Learn more and explore career resources at https://www.avma.org/careersRemember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected] us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk returns to the show this week to discuss her new book, A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to Be a Veterinarian, which explores the realities of veterinary life. From her upbringing in a veterinary family to her emergency and critical care career, academic burnout, and transition into wellbeing advocacy, Marie reflects on the importance of mindset, speaks candidly about the emotional impact of mistakes, and shares how perfectionism and imposter syndrome shaped her early career. She also highlights the need for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion to help the profession evolve and better serve its communities. We can wait to share this episode with you!Thank you to our podcast partner, the AVMA Career Center. Are you a veterinary professional looking for a position change or even a complete change of scenery? The AVMA Career Center is THE place for all veterinary professionals to find the next step in their career journey. Learn more and explore career resources at https://www.avma.org/careersRemember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at [email protected] us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast