Ready Vet Go

In this inspiring and practical episode of ReadyVetGo, Dr. Dani Rabwin sits down with Noah Gershoni (he/him), a final-year veterinary student at the University of Arizona, to talk mentorship, networking with authenticity, and how to get the most out of clinical rotations—especially in a distributive model program.Noah shares his non-traditional path to vet school (community college prereqs, years working in ER), how meaningful connections opened doors like Venom Week, and why collaboration beats competition in veterinary medicine. They also dig into the realities of rotating through different clinics and states, the hidden challenge of housing logistics, and how to learn from every mentor and team—without coming off combative.📌 What You’ll Learn:How to network without being transactional (and actually maintain connections)Community college to vet school: confidence, resilience, and belongingWhy UA’s culture (no grades + group-based learning) builds collaborationDistributive clinical year: real-world medicine, pros/cons, and logisticsWhy general practice can do more than people think (and why it matters for access)Mentorship on short rotations: how to ask questions well and respect timeTwo must-use rotation tips: “keep the technicians happy” + find value in everything🎬 Timestamps:00:00 – Intro + pronouns: Noah (he/him) + Dani (she/her)01:44 – How they met: conference lunch line + service dog networking03:00 – ReadyVetGo networking night: “bring as many as you can” (20 students show up)04:39 – Networking that isn’t transactional: curiosity, real connection, follow-through06:35 – Non-traditional path: community college prereqs (no “traditional college” route)09:33 – Working in ER for 5 years: learning fast, growing responsibility10:42 – Falling for surgery: mixed animal + OR confidence11:35 – Why University of Arizona: Venom Week + meeting faculty through networking13:41 – Personal statement: vulnerability, first-gen story, resilience, family pride16:43 – UA culture: no GPAs/grades + group-based learning = collaboration over competition21:29 – Clinical year (distributive model): rotating clinics/states + real-world medicine22:18 – The tough part: housing/logistics + advocating for classmates25:23 – General practice “can do it”: accessibility, internal medicine in GP, specialization trend28:15 – Mentorship nuance: asking questions vs respecting time (the “dance”)30:07 – Evidence-based vs “old school”: how to ask “why” without being combative32:53 – Tip #1: keep technicians happy (donuts + teach-back + teamwork)34:23 – Tip #2: find value in everything (even “how not to do it”) + don’t take it personally👇 QUESTION FOR YOU: What’s one mentoring tip you wish you learned earlier in vet school or practice?Season 1 Ep 18✅ If this helped, like, subscribe, and share with a vet student or new grad who needs it today.🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.📲 Follow: @readyvetgo_📧 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com#ReadyVetGo #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMentorship #VetStudent #ClinicalRotations #Networking #NewGradVet #GeneralPractice #VetSchool #DistributiveModel

How do you build real confidence when your first job is solo ER overnights? Can open, transparent care and shared decision-making transform client trust?Host Dr. Dani Rabwin is joined by Dr. Morgan Stoddard, DVM (UIUC ’20) for a fast, practical deep dive into ER mentorship, communication that lowers stress, and leadership that leads with love.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why structured ER mentorship matters—especially on solo overnightsClient language that lowers the load: “I’m the recommender; you’re the decider”Trust-builders you can use immediately (narrate-the-exam, in-room X-rays/laptop, let clients listen)How to bring “open ER” transparency to any clinic—no remodel requiredMistakes & recoveries: dystocia hemorrhage stabilization + when to phone a mentorOwning outcomes: communicating clearly after a “negative explore” following prior R&AFeedback that helps: lead with love, tailor delivery, and use a “wins box”Confidence scripts for “You look so young!” and curbside → face-to-face transitionsBurnout to fit: when to pivot and how to find the right mentorship structureTimestamps:00:00 – Intro: Dr. Morgan Stoddard—ER path, UIUC ’20, why confidence is built (not born) 03:02 – First job reality: solo overnights during curbside and the hidden upsides03:02 - Solo overnights during curbside: reality + hidden upsides 07:18 -Scripts that save you: recommender/decider + looking things up gracefully 11:06 - Shared decisions, not sales: reducing moral weight 15:20 - Open ER transparency: narrate-the-exam, X-rays in-room, stethoscope listening 20:44 - Case lessons: dystocia hemorrhage & phone-a-mentor 26:03 - “Negative explore” after prior R&A: owning outcomes + next steps 31:12 - Leading with love: feedback, safety, and the wins box 36:25 - Curbside → face-to-face: age comments + clinical presence 41:10Resources mentionedSample “recommender/decider” scripts (ER & GP)Narrate-the-exam + transparency checklistTough-case debrief template (+ wins box idea)Ready Vet Go — because mentorship matters, and vets shouldn’t have to go it alone.Follow: @readyvetgo_Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com#ERveterinary #mentorship #communication #vetmed #ReadyVetGo

This is the Ready Vet Go episode you didn’t know you needed.Veterinarian, entrepreneur, mentor, and doctoral candidate Dr. Gersh Alaluf (Dr. G) joins Dr. Dani Rabwin to unpack the raw, unfiltered truth behind veterinary mentorship, leadership, ownership, and emotional intelligence.💥 What happens when the corporate machine makes you question your entire identity? 💥 How do you go from kennel kid to practice owner — and still feel like you don’t belong? 💥 Why is emotional intelligence the most overlooked skill in veterinary education today? 💥 What does real mentorship look like — and why are so many vets getting it wrong?Dr. G shares his journey from humble beginnings to owning multiple practices to being pushed out by a corporation that misunderstood him — and how that sent him on a mission to understand what makes this profession tick (and break).🎓 Now a doctoral candidate in business researching early-career veterinary stress, Dr. G offers wisdom, wit, and unwavering honesty on what it takes to survive and thrive in vet med today.🧠 Topics CoveredThe real ROI of mentorship: stories that changed his lifeWhy early-career vets aren’t failing — the system isEmotional intelligence as a teachable skill (and why it’s missing from vet school)Leadership lessons from the exam room and the boardroomWhat to watch for when choosing your first jobWhy mentorship needs structure — not just “I’m here if you need me”The truth about burnout, corporate buyouts, and imposter syndromeThis episode is a must-listen for early-career veterinarians, practice owners, and vet students who want to build a career that’s sustainable, joyful, and real.ep. 9#ReadyVetGo #DrG #VeterinaryMentorship #VetBurnout #VetOwnership #EmotionalIntelligence #VeterinaryLeadership #EarlyCareerVet #VetMedRealTalk #VetStudentLife #VeterinaryPodcast #VetMentalHealth #EmpathyInVetMed #VetLife

In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode of Ready Vet Go, Dr. Dani sits down with Dr. Greg Gstrein—relief veterinarian, business owner, and all-around empathetic powerhouse.💥 Rejected from vet school multiple times💥 Learned the hard way how to trust his gut and survive critical mistakes💥 Built his own relief business from scratch💥 Mentors teams with compassion, leadership, and some serious X-ray teaching skillsDr. G doesn’t just talk vet med—he lives it. From his beginnings as a zookeeper to navigating imposter syndrome, tax strategy, and client heartbreak, this episode is packed with wisdom for anyone in veterinary medicine.📌 What You’ll Learn:Why not getting into vet school the first time can actually be a giftHow early-career vets can survive mentorship gapsWhat relief veterinarians owe their clients and the teamHow to communicate through grief, mistakes, and misdiagnosisThe power of shared decision-making and empathy in client careBusiness tips for starting your own relief practiceWhy pollinating practices with positivity matters🐾 Whether you're a vet student, early-career DVM, or exploring relief work, Dr. Gestrin’s journey will resonate, inspire, and educate.👉 Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode if it speaks to you—or to someone you know who’s feeling alone in this profession.ep. 7#ReadyVetGo #ReliefVet #VeterinaryMentorship #VetSchoolJourney #VetLife #VetMedRealTalk #EarlyCareerVet #ImposterSyndrome #SharedDecisionMaking #VeterinaryPodcast #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMentalHealth #VeterinaryMistakes #MentorshipMatters

This episode of Ready Vet Go hits different. 🎙️Veterinary student Garth turns the tables and puts podcast host Dr. Dani Rabwin in the hot seat to tackle some of the realest questions about veterinary mentorship, early-career stress, and what it actually means to be ready after vet school.🔥 What does true mentorship look like—and how do you find it before you graduate? 🔥 What happens when mentorship is promised but never delivered? 🔥 How does Ready Vet Go actually support new grads, and why does it matter now more than ever? 🔥 Why are so many new grads leaving their first job within 12–18 months—and how do we stop it? 🔥 PLUS: Dr. Dani opens up about her own mistakes as a mentor, her biggest lessons learned, and the secret to feedback that doesn’t suck.This is not your average episode. This is a call to action for every student and early-career veterinarian who’s navigating mentorship, burnout, feedback, and the fear of failure in vet med.👣 Whether you’re applying for your first job or still in school, this episode gives you a roadmap for building confidence, finding your people, and creating longevity in the profession.🧠 Topics Covered:Finding the right mentor as a studentBeing a strong mentee (and why that matters)Red flags in mentorship promisesThe hard truth about early-career attritionCreating psychological safety in feedbackThe value of community and shared experienceHow Ready Vet Go actually works—and how to ask your clinic to pay for it🎓 Vet students, this one’s for you. 🐾 Early-career vets, you’ll feel seen. 💬 Practice owners, take notes.ep. 5#ReadyVetGo #VetMentorship #VeterinaryStudent #NewGradVet #VetSchoolLife #MentorshipMatters #VeterinaryPodcast #VetMedCommunity #VeterinaryWellness #EarlyCareerVet #FeedbackCulture #PsychologicalSafety #VeterinaryLeadership #DVM

Step into the heart of Ready Vet Go as host Dr. Dani Rabwin honors the mentor who shaped his career, Dr. Mike “Buff” Buffum—veterinarian, Air Force officer, coal-miner-turned-animal-nutritionalist-turned-practice-owner, and tireless advocate for client-focused care.In this emotionally rich episode, discover:Mentor & Mentee Bond: How a chance meeting led to decades of shared wisdom—cowboy medicine, emergency shifts, and beyond.Unconventional Journeys: Dr. Buff’s $10-bet GED-to-veterinary-degree story proves that opportunity favors the bold.Building Culture: The secret behind a practice where associates thrive, clients feel heard, and teammates cover each other.Hands-On Leadership: Why “staying involved” in daily clinic life is the most powerful management strategy.Mentorship Pearls: Practical tips for mentors and mentees—set clear roles, share responsibility, follow up on cases, and always keep learning.🔗 Quick Links ► Ready Vet Go Mentorship Program: readyvetgo.com/mentorship ► Email Us: info@readyvetgo.com👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe to lift up the next generation of veterinarians.💬 Comment Below: What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve received from a mentor?⏱ Timestamps0:00 Intro & Emotional Welcome1:04 Dr. Buff’s Unlikely Vet School Bet ($10 Story)6:00 From Navy Flight Decks to Emergency Clinics12:19 Launching a Multi-Doctor Practice & Culture Creation20:00 Empowering Associates & Distributed Responsibility27:05 Investing in Ultrasound, Cytology & In-House Diagnostics33:00 Community Engagement & Client-Centered Events41:03 Formalizing Mentorship: Lessons for Mentors & Mentees55:30 Final Pearls: Joy, Optimism & “Best Is Yet to Come”ep. 3 #ReadyVetGo #VeterinaryMentorship #PracticeLeadership #VetMedLife #ClientFocusedCare #CareerJourney #VeterinaryMedicine #DVM #VeterinaryStudent

Discover how strategic mentorship, emotional intelligence, and shelter-medicine know-how can accelerate the success of early-career veterinarians.In this Ready Vet Go Podcast conversation, host Dr. Danny Rabwin interviews Dr. “Hawk” Hawkins, Executive Director of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA), about building sustainable veterinary careers, leading teams, and turning setbacks into growth opportunities.🎯 What You’ll Learn – Proven mentorship tactics new-grad veterinarians can apply today – How shelter medicine experience sharpens clinical and leadership skills – Emotional-intelligence tools for diffusing exam-room stress – Inside look at organized veterinary medicine and advocacy work – Leadership pearls for balancing multiple roles without burnout⏱ Chapters 00:00 Intro & why EI matters in the exam room 01:44 Meet Dr. “Hawk” Hawkins – 25-year journey in vet med 05:55 From GP to shelter medicine: skills, surprises, rewards 13:08 Evolution of modern shelter practice & population medicine 19:09 Leadership path: SCVMA, CVMA & association “Kool-Aid” 24:55 Biggest clinical mistake, recovery, and growth lesson 31:22 Early-career leadership tips inside any clinic 37:20 Building community: why VMAs and networking matter 42:55 Quick-fire Q&A with Dr. Hawkins 45:46 Ready Vet Go remote mentorship – how it works & sign-up info🔗 Resources & Links – Learn more & join the Ready Vet Go mentorship community: https://readyvetgo.co – Southern California VMA (SCVMA): https://scvma.org💡 Subscribe Weekly episodes feature industry leaders, practice owners, and specialists who reveal the soft-skill strategies and clinical insights that vet school leaves out.📣 Connect with Ready Vet Go Instagram: @readyvetgo_ LinkedIn: Ready Vet Go TikTok: @readyvetgo_ep. 1#VeterinaryMentorship #EarlyCareerVets #VetMedPodcast #DVM #dvmotivation #veterinarystudent #veterinarian #veterinarycareers