 presented by dvm360, our host, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, to chat about transferable skills veterinarians need for leadership roles. Throughout the episode, Christman and Edwards highlight the skills and traits effective leaders should highlight in their team members, the need for leaders to recognize and cultivate leadership abilities in their team members, and ways to create a culture of growth and success at your veterinary practice. 

Below is a partial transcript that has been edited lightly for clarity.

We also talk about in vet med about leadership positions and qualities that make a good leader. And you and I know we've been in this field for a long time, sometimes we'll see individuals be promoted just because they've been there for 5 years, or just because they've been there for 10 years, or maybe they have a potential relationship with someone and I'm curious to get your perspective in terms of what specific behaviors or qualities should we be looking for when we're trying to identify leadership potential in our teams?

Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP: 

I agree with you that so often the best surgical tech or the person with the most seniority is put into that role, and while they may be good at that role, they also may not be and they, quite honestly, they may not even want it. The characteristics that I would recommend managers looking for are things like noticing, paying attention, kindness, being able to hold space for people, supporting people, tolerance, taking responsibility and not blaming. Yes, it's helpful if they also know a bit about what they're leading. Like say they're going to be leading the surgical team, probably is a good idea, that they have some skill, but they don't actually have to be the best surgical tech. 

When you put people into leadership positions that either don't want to be there or have no leadership skills whatsoever, what happens is that the people that they're leading, they can become resentful. They can again start to feel like they don't matter, like they're unheard, and then you end up with disengagement. And from disengagement, it's just a downward spiral, and that's not anything a practice manager wants. 

Yeah, I would say. And the other thing for team members is just to remember, from your perspective, you don't have to be the best surgical tech to want to be a leader that you know. Think about the imposter syndrome there—that "Well, who am I?" Kind of shrinking back. You very well, maybe if you're kind, you're compassionate, and you care, period, you can become a great leader. It's all learnable. You just need to want it, and you need to care about people.

Podcasts

Discover essential leadership skills for veterinarians as experts discuss fostering growth and engagement within your veterinary team on this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360.

From patients to teams: Veterinary skills that make great leaders 

An equine hospital known for treating Olympic-level sport horses has announced plans to expand its campus to include advanced imaging technology found only in a handful of facilities around the US. Meanwhile, the USDA has rolled out plans for an $8.5 million New World screwworm (NWS) facility in Texas and is exploring options for additional facilities to prevent the flesh-eating parasite from entering the US.

Continue reading to learn more about those new or upcoming facility openings.

NWS fly. (Image courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association and USDA)

With increasing detections of NWS in Mexico, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is escalating its detection and containment efforts to prevent the spread of the parasite into the US. As part of a 5-part eradication plan, the USDA has announced an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility to be constructed at the Moore Air Base in Mission, Texas. The facility, situated close to the border with Mexico, will be completed by the end of 2025.

According to Buck Wehrbein, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, having a “sufficient supply of sterile flies” is the only way to push NWS away from the border.

 “To accomplish that, we need a sterile fly production facility of our own in the United States. Moore Air Base was previously part of our nation’s screwworm eradication effort in the 1960s and now this base will be the cornerstone of our renewed fight against this parasite,” Wehrbein said.

In addition to the Moore Air Base facility, the USDA is reviewing options for another sterile fly production facility in the US capable of generating 300 million sterile flies each week. The federal agency is also exploring the possibility of building modular sterile fly production facilities along with other technologies to provide faster construction and surge capacity in the future.

Moreover, the USDA is investing $21 million to help renovate a sterile fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico. The project, which is estimated to generate 60-100 million sterile flies weekly, is anticipated to be completed in 18 months.

Currently, 100 million sterile flies for dispersal in Mexico are being produced at the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (COPEG) facility in Pacora, Panama. All facilities are built to raise large numbers of flies at every life stage and include spaces for insect rearing, sterilizing male flies with irradiation, and supporting functions like waste treatment and security.

Equine hospital treating Olympic-caliber horses expands

Fairfield Equine Associates surgery and imaging facility rendering. (Image courtesy of Bohler)

Fairfield Equine Associates, a nationally and internationally-media recognized equine hospital, is building an 8132 sq ft, single-story surgery and imaging facility on its 14-acre Newtown, Connecticut campus.

The facility will also house a 3-bedrom apartment for interns and visiting veterinarians, as well as a 74 ft x 150 ft covered riding ring. The hospital, which has treated horses from the US Equestrian Team and competitors in various Olympic games and other international events, also has a second location in Wellington, Florida.

“We have local roots with a global reach,” said Kimberly J. Harmon, VMD, owner and managing partner of Fairfield Equine, during a public hearing, according to 

 “We’re able to provide care for a donkey that’s a beloved pet in someone’s backyard all the way to helping a horse that was bound for the Paris Olympic Games and had a setback; our team reached out and got the latest cutting-edge treatment for that athlete, and got them jumping and competing in Paris.”

The hospital currently offers advanced imaging technology which includes a magnetic resonance imaging system, but the new facility will allow for a Qalibra computed tomography (CT) machine designed specifically for horses. Currently, similar CT systems are only found in Tufts University in Massachusetts and in the Mid‑Atlantic region.

 The new wing will also feature 15-foot-high ceilings to accommodate a trolley system for hoisting horses up as they are moved from a gurney to a table.

Construction is slated to start in Fall 2025.

USDA unveils Texas screwworm facility, eradication strategy amid reopening of southern ports. American Veterinary Medical Association. July 2, 2025. Accessed July 9, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/usda-unveils-texas-screwworm-facility-eradication-strategy-amid-reopening-southern-ports?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

Helping to enhance the standard of care for Fairfield Equine Associates. News release. Bohler. July 2025. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://bohlerengineering.com/blog/news/helping-to-enhance-the-standard-of-care-for-fairfield-equine-associates/?utm_source=chatgpt.com#

Ryser R. Newtown OKs expansion for equine hospital that has treated Olympic-caliber horses. 

https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/newtown-oks-horse-hospital-equine-surgery-imaging-20381002.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Fairfield Equine Associates. Fairfield Equine Associates. Accessed July 9, 2025. 

Articles

The latest updates relating to animal care establishments and platforms.

Clinic center: USDA announces sterile fly facility at Texas base for screwworm eradication, and more

More than 100 human lives have reportedly been claimed by the flash flooding disaster in Texas that occurred in the early hours of July 4, 2025, along the Guadalupe River. While rescue and recovery efforts continue, veterinary health and animal care professionals are working to assist animals and support their families.

Flooding can be caused by thunderstorms with little to no warning. According to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), animals may be displaced and need temporary shelter, feeding, and medical care when there is an event that results in catastrophic loss of life and property, environmental damage, and financial constraints.

 (VET) deployed 6 members and 2 Texas A&M AgriLife Disaster Assessment & Recovery agents to Kerr County in support of Texas A&M Task Forces and other regional partners, according to a university news report. Three additional VET members later joined the team, as it works to provide veterinary care for canine search teams.

“Our hearts are with the families, loved ones, and communities affected by this tragedy,” Deb Zoran, DVM, PhD, MS, director of the VET, said in a university report.

 “This has been a particularly solemn mission; while all loss of life is tremendously sad, the loss of young children hits particularly hard for the entire community and state. We know Aggies everywhere are keeping the folks in this region, and in other flood-ravaged areas of Texas, in their thoughts and prayers.”

According to Texas A&M, local veterinary partners and community animal groups are handling residential animal care and reunification needs, while the VET is focused solely on caring for working dogs. “The community and our state partners are very supportive, and our team is staying strong during these challenging days,” Zoran said in the report.

The VET canine search teams have faced many challenges working along the Guadalupe River basin, including rough terrain, risks of snake bites and injury from debris, and continuing flash flood risks as well as long days searching over miles of terrain. However, working dogs play a vital role in searching for individuals who are still missing.

“These elite canine partners are critical to the mission, and our team is committed to helping them stay healthy, safe, and mission-ready,” Zoran said in the report.

 “We are honored to do our part in supporting these heroes, and we’re hopeful that the search missions will be able to help grieving families find closure.”

Many animal care organizations responding to the flooding disaster in Texas have been identified in local and national media outlets. They include animal rescue groups, veterinary clinics, and welfare organizations. The following are some examples:

Austin Pets Alive! is a nonprofit shelter that has received more than 300 animals displaced by flooding.

 The organization has a team in Kerrville, Texas, a heavily affected community, that is assisting local shelters in distress, providing medical care to affected animals and distributing supplies to human individuals, coordinating search and rescue efforts for animals, and working on the reunification of pets with their families.

 “We’ve been deploying [volunteers] all over the state to try to find any signs of life of pets and be able to make that connection back to owners, which is really important because people that have lost everything, their pets are maybe the last thing they’ve got” Ellen Jefferson, president and CEO, said in a live video on Facebook.

Wings of Rescue is a nonprofit organization that “flies pets from at-risk shelters and disaster areas to safe havens,” according to its’ Facebook page. Volunteers with the group are in Kerrville and other affected communities, assisting rescue and relief efforts in affected areas. Working in partnership with CUDDLEY, a fundraising and wish list platform, Wings of Rescue flew “several tons of critical supplies to the hardest-hit areas” on July 8, 2025. The organization also planned to fly pets being housed in affected shelters to Utah, rescuing them from potential euthanasia and providing opportunity for these animals to be reunited with family, while also creating room for more local pets to be rescued. “The devastation there is staggering. Shelters are overwhelmed, families are still searching for their beloved pets, and supplies are running dangerously low,” the organization reported in a live Facebook post.

Lindale Veterinary Clinic has been collecting various animal care supplies intended for displaced pets in the affected region. These items include food, crates, blankets, tarps, towels, and small bales of hay. Raul Johnson, DVM, of Lindale, is delivering the supplies and joining a team of veterinarians to provide care to animals on site. “As these flood waters recede, they are expecting a large influx of animals in 3 to 4 days’ time that may need lifesaving care for potential injuries,” Johnson told KLTV on July 7, 2025.

In the event of flooding, there are health concerns with standing water, contaminated floodwaters, and wet feed, according to the TAHC. Animals should be monitored for chemical burns, dermatitis, or hair loss that may be caused by toxic substances in flood waters. Furthermore, foot or hoof health issues may occur with livestock standing in water for an extended period of time, and animals may need booster vaccinations to prevent diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis as well as mosquito-borne diseases in horses.

The TAHC also notes that stress or disorientation in animals may be caused by environmental changes following a flooding situation. As a result, animals may express unusual aggression and should be approached with caution. The public is encouraged to contact a primary care veterinarian for assistance if a condition is suspected of being caused by flooding.

Tips to help prepare clients and the veterinary team for a disaster situation

Natural disaster: Animal preparation and response. Texas Animal Health Commission. Accessed July 8, 2025. 

https://www.tahc.texas.gov/emergency/naturaldisaster.html#fl

Bennett M. Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team deploys to Kerr County in response to central Texas flooding. Texas A&M University Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. July 7, 2025. Accessed July 8, 2025. 

https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/press-releases/texas-am-vet-deploys-kerr-county/

Austin Pets Alive! Facebook. July 8, 2025. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1An5DAvSVK/

Helping our neighbors affected by devastating floods. Austin Pets Alive! July 8, 2025. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://www.austinpetsalive.org/blog/helping-our-neighbors-affected-by-devastating-floods-in-kerr-county

Wings of Rescue Facebook page. July 7, 2025. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/WingsofRescue/

Wings of Rescue. Facebook post. July 8,2025. Accessed July 9, 2025. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EswbqdQrc/

Burns E. Lindale Veterinary Clinic collecting donations for displaced pets in hill country flood. KLTV. July 7, 2025. Accessed July 8, 2025. 

https://www.kltv.com/2025/07/08/lindale-veterinary-clinic-collecting-donations-displaced-pets-hill-country-floods/

Veterinary professionals and rescue organizations are delivering critical supplies, providing medical care, and helping communities save shelter pets and disaster survivors.

Experts are providing animal care in flooded disaster areas of Texas

dvm360, the leading multimedia provider of animal health care communications, education, and research for veterinary professionals, is proud to announce the winners of its 5th Annual Veterinary Heroes Awards. The awards recognize extraordinary individuals whose dedication and contributions have advanced veterinary medicine and enriched animal lives across the country.

This year’s winners will be honored during a live ceremony at Fetch Kansas City, one of dvm360’s flagship continuing education conferences, held from August 22-24, 2025. The Veterinary Heroes Awards have become a beloved tradition within the profession, celebrating the community, heart and humanity that define veterinary health.

“These are the people who remind us why we fell in love with veterinary medicine in the first place,” said Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, chief veterinary officer of dvm360. “Their leadership, compassion and commitment to excellence inspire all of us to keep raising the standard of care for animals and their families. It is a privilege to celebrate them and share their impact with the world.”

The 2025 Veterinary Heroes Awards honorees are:

Behavior (sponsored by VetriScience): Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC

Client Service Representative: Alyssa Israels-Blood

Credentialed Veterinary Technician (sponsored by MedVet): Danielle DeCormier, LVT, VTS (Oncology), CFE

Dermatology (sponsored by Elanco Animal Health): Ashley S. Bourgeois, DVM, DACVD

Emergency Medicine: Leslie Bauer, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice)

Feline Medicine: Julie K. Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal Medicine), DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)

General Practitioner: Colleen Lambo, DVM, PhD, MS

Internal Medicine (Oncology): Craig A. Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)

Lifetime Achievement: Dottie Cimino Brown, MS, DVM, DACVS

Nutrition (sponsored by Blue Buffalo): Julie A. Churchill, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Nutrition)

Surgery (sponsored by Thrive Pet Healthcare): Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA

Veterinary Paraprofessional (noncredentialed support staff): Hannah Marie Inman

“Each of these honorees is a shining example of what makes veterinary medicine such a special profession,” said John Hydrusko, vice president of sales with MJH Life Sciences®, the parent company of dvm360. “Their dedication, skill and compassion touch countless lives every day. We’re thrilled to celebrate them in front of their peers at Fetch Kansas City, which continues to be a can’t-miss event for education, inspiration, and community.”

Fetch Kansas City offers attendees the chance to earn high-quality CE, learn the latest clinical updates and practice management strategies, gain hands-on training from expert faculty, and connect with colleagues and mentors who share a commitment to excellence in veterinary care. The Veterinary Heroes Awards ceremony is just one of many unforgettable moments designed to leave attendees recharged, reconnected and ready to make an even greater impact in their practices.

This year’s Veterinary Heroes Program is sponsored by Blue Buffalo Natural, Elanco Animal Health, MedVet, Thrive Pet Healthcare and VetriScience, who each share dvm360’s commitment to advancing veterinary care. dvm360 invites the entire veterinary community to join the celebration by attending Fetch Kansas City or following coverage of the Veterinary Heroes Awards across dvm360’s digital platforms and publications.

For more information about the Veterinary Heroes Awards or to register for Fetch Kansas City, visit 

https://registration.dvm360.com/fetch-kansas-city-2025

Founded more than 50 years ago, dvm360 is the leading multimedia provider of animal health care communications, education and research for veterinary professionals. We engage audiences with top-of-the-line, in-depth digital and print news, medical information and veterinary resources focusing on every aspect of a veterinary professional’s life. With our online learning platform, dvm360 Flex, we also deliver a 360-degree solution for continuing education in various mediums including print, digital, in-person and on-demand.

MJH Life Sciences is the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels, providing health care professionals with the information and resources they need to optimize patient outcomes. MJH combines the reach and influence of its powerful portfolio of digital and print product lines, live events, educational programs and market research with the customization capabilities of a boutique firm. Clients include world-leading pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and biotech companies. For more information, please visit https://www.mjhlifesciences.com/.

Fifth Annual Awards Honor Veterinary Professionals for Leadership, Compassion, and Lasting Impact

dvm360® Celebrates Winners of the 2025 Veterinary Heroes Awards at Fetch Kansas City

Roseman University announced earlier this summer that it has submitted a letter of intent to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) to begin the planning process for a new veterinary school at its Henderson, Nevada campus.

 The university’s proposed College of Veterinary Medicine would become the first veterinary school in the state of Nevada.

Roseman, a nonprofit private institution accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has campuses in Nevada and Utah offering programs in nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and medicine.

 If accredited by the AVMA COE, the proposed College of Veterinary Medicine would expand the university’s offerings in the health professions and create a local pathway for students in the state wishing to pursue veterinary medicine.

With the submission to the AVMA COE, Roseman will be able to proceed with its preliminary planning and development process, which includes consultation with veterinary professionals in the state for establishing clinical partnerships. The proposed 4-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree program will consist of a semi-distributive model with Roseman-based clinical rotation across equine, large animal, and companion animal medicine, according to the AVMA.

 Additionally, the program will offer off-campus rotations at partner sites throughout the area.

 The university has not yet announced a specific launch date for the program. 

According to the AVMA, Roseman joins almost a dozen other universities that are in different stages of seeking accreditation from the COE.

Lyon College breaks ground on a new veterinary school

“Our goal is to create a veterinary program that is not only academically rigorous but also deeply mission-driven,” Katherine Fogelberg, DVM, PhD, MA, appointed founding dean of the veterinary college, said in the university news release.

 “We want to train veterinarians who are equipped to serve all communities—urban and rural, pets and livestock, locally and nationally.”

Katherine Fogelberg, DVM, PhD, MA. (Image courtesy of Roseman University)

Fogelberg, an army veterinarian with more than 10 years of clinical experience in small animal general and emergency practice with work in zoo and wildlife medicine, earned her DVM degree from Texas A&M University and her PhD in science education from Texas Christian University. She is an editor and contributor of a recently published veterinary education textbook, is a founding member and past president of the Academy of Veterinary Educators, and is one of 32 esteemed educators chosen to spearhead the development of a worldwide veterinary educator certification process. In her prior role, Fogelberg was the director of the Center for Innovation in Veterinary Education and Technology and associate professor of veterinary medicine at Lincoln University.

In the program’s initial planning, Fogelberg will lead the design, planning, operation, and assessment of the proposed program. “Launching a veterinary college requires both a strong vision and deep engagement with the community it will serve,” Renee Coffman, PhD, president and cofounder of Roseman University, said in the release.

 “Dr Fogelberg brings the right combination of experience, insight, and passion to help Roseman build a veterinary program that responds to the growing needs of Nevada and the surrounding region.”

Roth J. Roseman University to begin planning for College of Veterinary Medicine in Nevada, names founding dean. News release. Roseman University of Health Sciences. June 16, 2025. Accessed July 8, 2025. https://www.roseman.edu/student-experience/news/roseman-university-to-begin-planning-for-college-of-veterinary-medicine-in-nevada-names-founding-dean/

About us. Roseman University of Health Sciences. Accessed July 8, 2025. https://www.roseman.edu/about/

Roseman takes first step toward becoming Nevada’s first veterinary school. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. July 7, 2025. Accessed July 8, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/roseman-takes-first-steps-toward-becoming-nevadas-first-veterinary-school

Roseman University’s proposed College of Veterinary Medicine would provide a local pathway for students in the state interested in veterinary medicine.

Planning is underway for what will be Nevada’s first veterinary school 

Gallant has raised $18 million in a Series B funding round, the animal health biotechnology company recently announced. The funding, according to Gallant, will help support the development and potential commercialization of its off-the-shelf stem cell therapies.

Gallant’s ready-to-use stem cell therapies mark the development of a “new category” in veterinary medicine, as described by the company.

 The platform uses mesenchymal stem cells derived from the uterus. These self-renewing cells have the ability to differentiate into other types of cells.

The therapies focus on addressing the root cause of some of the most prevalent diseases in cats and dogs, with the company’s first product for refractory feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) being on track to receive FDA conditional approval in early 2026. FCGS, a painful, highly inflammatory, immune-mediated oral mucosal disease, affects up to 26% of domestic cats.

 In at least 10% of cases, the disease can become life-threatening.

Gallant’s new therapy for FCGS may become the first FDA-labeled, allogeneic stem cell therapy for veterinary use. The product would not only provide new treatment options for feline patients facing FCGS, but would establish a regulatory pathway for future off-the-shelf stem cell therapies in pets.

“The FDA approval of the first human allogeneic stem cell therapy was a historic milestone, and we’re looking forward to delivering this breakthrough therapy for animal health,” Linda Black, DVM, PhD, CEO of Gallant, said in a news release.

“Gallant has made significant strides in a short time, advancing a new class of therapies grounded in science and built for scale,” Teymour Boutros-Ghali, managing partner at Bold Capital—a supporter of the Series B financing round, added.

 “As it moves through FDA review toward commercialization, we’re excited to stand behind a team pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in veterinary care.”

Additional products in this new line of therapies include treatments for canine and feline osteoarthritis, canine atopic dermatitis, and feline chronic kidney disease, all which will continue to be developed with the funding. The funding round was led by Digitalis Ventures, with NovaQuest Capital Management joining as a new investor and Hill Creek Partners continuing their support. 

A survey by Gallant of more than 800 veterinarians throughout the United States found that 56% of veterinarians are satisfied with current therapies for canine osteoarthritis, with most respondents agreeing that current treatment focus on managing symptoms instead of addressing the underlying disease.

 Only 8% of veterinarians surveyed showed satisfaction of current treatments for FCGS.

 According to Gallant, approximately half of participants indicated a strong interest in using regenerative medicine as a treatment for diseases.

“Regenerative medicine is entering its prime—we’ve seen it firsthand with the success of allogeneic stem cell therapies in human healthcare,” Brian Axe, partner at NovaQuest, said in the release.

 “Gallant is bringing that same caliber of science to animal health with off-the-shelf therapies for pets targeting the root cause of disease where current care falls short.”

Gallant closes $18 million Series B to bring ready-to-use stem cell therapies for pets to market. News release. Gallant. June 30, 2025. Accessed July 8, 2025. 

https://www.gallant.com/news/gallant-closes-18-million-series-b-to-bring-ready-to-use-stem-cell-therapies-for-pets-to-market/

Cona LA. What are mesenchymal stem cells? DVC Stem. Accessed July 8, 2025. 

https://www.dvcstem.com/post/what-are-mesenchymal-stem-cells

Soltero-Rivera M, Shaw C, Arzi B, Lommer M, Weimer BC. Feline chronic gingivostomatitis diagnosis and treatment through transcriptomic insights. 

. 2024;13(3):192. doi:10.3390/pathogens13030192.

Veterinarians agree: Current treatments manage symptoms; anticipate regenerative options—Gallant study.

The funding will support Gallant’s treatment for refractory feline chronic gingivostomatitis, which is in development.