The Veterinary Optimist

Jennifer Evans

I’m Jennifer Evans, The Veterinary Optimist. I’ve spent over 20 years dedicated to veterinary medicine. This profession is beautiful, meaningful and often brings fatigue, heartache, and challenges. This podcast exists to inspire and empower those who work in, love, and support veterinary medicine and animal welfare through servant leadership and storytelling. Join me as I interview everyday heroes, renowned experts, and leaders in the veterinary field as we bring some optimism back to vet med.

  1. Mentorship and Why It Is Important with Dr. Kelly Cairns, VP of Medical Excellence and Education at Thrive Pet Healthcare

    22/08/2024

    Mentorship and Why It Is Important with Dr. Kelly Cairns, VP of Medical Excellence and Education at Thrive Pet Healthcare

    Listen in as Dr. Cains dives in deep to mentorship, how it shaped her and what she is doing to pay it forward. We talk about her early career, who has made massive impact in her personal career, and how she leads at Thrive. About Kelly Cairns, DVM, MS, DACVIM: Dr. Kelly Cairns is the Vice President of Medical Excellence and Education at Thrive Pet Healthcare. With over 20 years of experience in veterinary medicine, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Dr. Cairns earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University and pursued further training through a small animal rotating internship at Cornell University. Following this, she completed a small animal internal medicine residency at The Ohio State University, where she attained Diplomate status as a board-certified Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist. Dr. Cairns also actively contributes to the field as an adjunct faculty member at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine and holds positions on the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association Board of Directors, the dvm360 editorial board, and the Wedgewood advisory board. With a focus on profession-related wellness, leadership coaching, veterinary education models, and internal medicine, Dr. Cairns is committed to fostering the growth, success and happiness of veterinary professionals worldwide.

    38 min
  2. Jeremiah Pouncy pt 3 with special guest Dr. Karen Shenoy, Hill's US - Chief Veterinary Officer

    15/08/2024

    Jeremiah Pouncy pt 3 with special guest Dr. Karen Shenoy, Hill's US - Chief Veterinary Officer

    Dr. Karen Shenoy serves as Chief Veterinary Officer for Hill’s US. She joined Hill’s Pet Nutrition in 2008 and has extensive industry experience, having progressed through roles of increasing responsibility leading commercial and professional teams at Hill’s. Additionally, she has small animal practice experience & has worked in wildlife rehabilitation medicine and as part-time adjunct faculty with a veterinary technology program. She serves on a number of boards and committees, including the Board of Chief Veterinary Medical Officers and the Veterinary Innovation Council. Jeremiah Pouncy: Why & Who Am I? “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is yet a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." ~ Langston Hughes Hey, I hope that you and your loved ones are staying happy and healthy! I'm Jeremiah Pouncy, a Cornell University veterinary student and proud alum of North Carolina A&T State University. Langston Hughes' words have been a true north for me as I've navigated through this world of polarizing perspectives and conflicting values. My journey? It's been a tapestry of academic excellence, a deep-rooted passion for environmental health, and an unrelenting drive to innovate veterinary medicine. In the future, I envision building an international veterinary business that resonates with gold-standard care, establishing wellness programs connecting students & animals, and spearheading groundbreaking research! As a 2x author, former NFL intern, and an African American pioneer in my field, my mission extends beyond my own personal success. This odyssey is a bold statement in a field where my presence as a black male is a rarity, with only 1% of veterinarians in the U.S. being African American. The path I trailblaze is designed to shatter ceilings and pave ways for those who follow, embodying a journey that intertwines the threads of veterinary medicine, entrepreneurship, and a deep-seated desire to redefine the norms of our wo Mission Statement: Join me on a journey that transcends the ordinary. This is not just about veterinary care; it's a mission to make lasting, global impacts on animal welfare and environmental conservation. Your support is the key to unlocking this transformative venture. Let's embark on our odyssey together!

    35 min
  3. Jeremiah Pouncy - Part 2 - Navigating Year One and The Journey To Summer Internships

    08/08/2024

    Jeremiah Pouncy - Part 2 - Navigating Year One and The Journey To Summer Internships

    Jeremiah Pouncy: Why & Who Am I? “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is yet a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." ~ Langston Hughes Hey, I hope that you and your loved ones are staying happy and healthy! I'm Jeremiah Pouncy, a Cornell University veterinary student and proud alum of North Carolina A&T State University. Langston Hughes' words have been a true north for me as I've navigated through this world of polarizing perspectives and conflicting values. My journey? It's been a tapestry of academic excellence, a deep-rooted passion for environmental health, and an unrelenting drive to innovate veterinary medicine. In the future, I envision building an international veterinary business that resonates with gold-standard care, establishing wellness programs connecting students & animals, and spearheading groundbreaking research! As a 2x author, former NFL intern, and an African American pioneer in my field, my mission extends beyond my own personal success. This odyssey is a bold statement in a field where my presence as a black male is a rarity, with only 1% of veterinarians in the U.S. being African American. The path I trailblaze is designed to shatter ceilings and pave ways for those who follow, embodying a journey that intertwines the threads of veterinary medicine, entrepreneurship, and a deep-seated desire to redefine the norms of our world. Mission Statement: Join me on a journey that transcends the ordinary. This is not just about veterinary care; it's a mission to make lasting, global impacts on animal welfare and environmental conservation. Your support is the key to unlocking this transformative venture. Let's embark on our odyssey together!

    24 min
  4. Jeremiah Pouncy - Part 1 - The Journey To Vet School

    01/08/2024

    Jeremiah Pouncy - Part 1 - The Journey To Vet School

    Jeremiah Pouncy: Why & Who Am I? “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is yet a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." ~ Langston Hughes Hey, I hope that you and your loved ones are staying happy and healthy! I'm Jeremiah Pouncy, a Cornell University veterinary student and proud alum of North Carolina A&T State University. Langston Hughes' words have been a true north for me as I've navigated through this world of polarizing perspectives and conflicting values. My journey? It's been a tapestry of academic excellence, a deep-rooted passion for environmental health, and an unrelenting drive to innovate veterinary medicine. In the future, I envision building an international veterinary business that resonates with gold-standard care, establishing wellness programs connecting students & animals, and spearheading groundbreaking research! As a 2x author, former NFL intern, and an African American pioneer in my field, my mission extends beyond my own personal success. This odyssey is a bold statement in a field where my presence as a black male is a rarity, with only 1% of veterinarians in the U.S. being African American. The path I trailblaze is designed to shatter ceilings and pave ways for those who follow, embodying a journey that intertwines the threads of veterinary medicine, entrepreneurship, and a deep-seated desire to redefine the norms of our world. Mission Statement: Join me on a journey that transcends the ordinary. This is not just about veterinary care; it's a mission to make lasting, global impacts on animal welfare and environmental conservation. Your support is the key to unlocking this transformative venture. Let's embark on our odyssey together!

    34 min
  5. How FidoCure Is Helping Dogs With Cancer With Christina Lopes, CEO and Co-Founder Of The One Health Company

    11/07/2024

    How FidoCure Is Helping Dogs With Cancer With Christina Lopes, CEO and Co-Founder Of The One Health Company

    Christina Lopes is the CEO and co-founder of the One Health Company, whose flagship product, FidoCure, uses AI and genomic sequencing to provide personalized treatments for pet dogs with cancer and accelerates the development of lifesaving cancer drugs for humans. Under Christina’s leadership FidoCure has expanded into over 1,350 veterinary clinics around the world and treated more than 5,000 pet dogs with cancer. In partnership with Stanford University’s AI Health leadership, Christina has built the world’s largest and most comprehensive canine cancer dataset, which consists of over 2 billion data points collected from patients in real world environments. Christina has co-authored peer reviewed research in leading scientific journals including Nature Precision Oncology that validate FidoCure’s personalized cancer treatment efficacy by up to 3X survival times, identify novel indications for existing cancer drugs, and accelerate the development of new cancer drugs via new insights into genomics. Christina’s work has been featured in the Washington Post, WIRED, STAT, The Times, and many other media outlets around the world. Previously, Christina was Managing Director at Cerberus Capital ($50B AUM) and helped create new financial asset classes in emerging markets. Christina is a graduate of Columbia University, was recognized at the World Economic Forum at Davos as a Young Global Leader, and an Inc. Magazine top 100 emale founder. She is a Y-Combinator founder and is backed by leading investment firms such as Andreessen Horowitz and Lerer Hippeau. She served as Advisory Board Director to International Planned Parenthood for the Western Hemisphere, which provides 30M health services annually and has previously participated in the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women.

    52 min

Sobre

I’m Jennifer Evans, The Veterinary Optimist. I’ve spent over 20 years dedicated to veterinary medicine. This profession is beautiful, meaningful and often brings fatigue, heartache, and challenges. This podcast exists to inspire and empower those who work in, love, and support veterinary medicine and animal welfare through servant leadership and storytelling. Join me as I interview everyday heroes, renowned experts, and leaders in the veterinary field as we bring some optimism back to vet med.