Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM), discusses how RECOVER is helping to standarize how CPR is performed around the world.

Standardizing CPR in veterinary medicine

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM), chief nursing officer for Veterinary Emergency Group and program director for the RECOVER Initiative, explains the importance of CPR certification in veterinary medicine and why it is important to standardize this type of training with evidence-based guidelines, in a 

 interview. Yagi is leading a RECOVER workshop May 28-29, 2025, hosted by North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) during the NAVC SkillShop event in Orlando, Florida. The workshop aims to have attendees earn CPR certification and CPR instructor certification.

The following is a transcript of the video:

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM):

 If you think about the human medicine field, it's actually a legal requirement for medical professionals to go through CPR training. And there are certification processes out there that [are] based off of evidence-based guidelines. Even nonmedical professionals that [work] with the public a bit, like teachers, would need to be certified in performing CPR. There's no such regulation or standard in veterinary medicine yet, and should there be? It is a really good question, but the RECOVER guidelines and the certification process is really an attempt to standardize how we perform CPR, based on an evidence-based guideline, which should improve the outcomes and spread that globally.

Videos

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM), discusses how RECOVER is helping to standardize how CPR is performed around the world.

Julia Miller's path to dermatology

Veterinary professionals often grapple with the decision to pursue a specialty. The experience of Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD exemplifies how embracing change and following one’s genuine interests can lead to both personal fulfillment and clinical excellence.

My name is Julia Miller. I am a board‐certified veterinary dermatologist. When I was in veterinary school, I was actually on an equine track, so I ended up completing a large-animal internship. I then stayed in mixed-animal general practice for about 4 years before returning to Cornell to complete my dermatology residency. The path to my residency was a little askew, but I loved every step. After finishing my dermatology residency at Cornell, I stayed on the faculty there for a few years, then realized that I was very interested in private practice life—I still wanted to “do,” not just teach.

For the last three years, I’ve been in private practice at Animal Dermatology Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. What I love about private practice is that it gives me the opportunity to lecture at Fetch conferences and other meetings. It also allows me to continue educating through continuing‐education programs for veterinarians, because I’m passionate about spreading the dermatology “love” and getting everyone to enjoy their dermatology cases a little more. Dermatology is a cult, and I love it—I will gladly be one of its leaders if I’m allowed to be.

The goal of my keynote speech is to talk about my journey into dermatology, because it isn’t a linear, easy path. I was kind of all over the place, and it took me some time to decide that specialization was what I wanted to do with my life. I hope to inspire others who haven’t taken the traditional route—perhaps those in private practice who have fallen in love with a specialty, even if it’s not dermatology. That’s okay—I’ll allow you to like cardiology or neurology too—but I hope I can serve as an inspiration for people who haven’t followed the vet school→internship→residency path straight through. There are still options to return to specialization and find what you truly love about veterinary medicine so that you can continue to thrive and remain passionate about what we do as veterinarians.

Toward the end of the keynote, I’ll also share some of my favorite dermatology tips, and there may or may not be a catchy tune I’ll sing with fun veterinary lyrics. I’m hoping people leave with a bit of dermatology knowledge and a tune in their head that helps them remember how to better work up their dermatology cases.

Finding dermatology was a slow burn for me. I did large-animal work, then mixed-animal general practice, and I found myself really enjoying my small-animal cases in mixed practice—much to my surprise. At first, I thought I was a “horse girl”: give me every goat in the country. But I didn’t expect to like dogs and cats as much as I did. Over time, I realized I simply liked being a small-animal general practitioner, period. I then found myself gravitating toward dermatology cases.

My dad is a dermatologist, and I tried very hard not to follow that path—I did not want to be the apple that fell from that tree. But it took me a while to realize dermatology was in my blood. When I was working at a low-cost spay-neuter clinic, I discovered that I also loved surgery and even considered specializing in surgery. However, my hands couldn’t tolerate that career—I have occlusive hand dermatitis—so I wasn’t able to continue in surgery. At that point, I was talking to my dad on the phone and said, “What am I going to do? I can’t continue this.” He reminded me how much I loved dermatology and suggested I try for a dermatology residency. That conversation was a light-bulb moment. I asked, “Do you really think I could do that?” and he said, “Julia, do it. You’ve experienced it, you know it’s what you love doing—why not try and see if you love it?” That was a turning point that sent me back onto my specialization path.

I’d like to say people should not be afraid of change and should follow what makes them happy, even though it’s not easy. I’ve moved jobs—Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia—before returning to Cornell. For me, the change of moving and switching jobs brings anxiety; it’s comfortable to stay where you are. But change can lead you to your endpoint and help you find what truly brings you joy in veterinary medicine. Had I been too anxious or unwilling to make those changes, I never would have ended up where I am today. So follow your heart, believe in yourself, and don’t be afraid to make the changes you need to find your happiness in veterinary medicine.

The journey of Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD, from equine intern to board‐certified veterinary dermatologist proves that passion and perseverance can reshape your professional destiny

The secret to happiness in veterinary medicine? Don't be afraid of change

Being a practice manager, although a rewarding career, can also be a challenging one. Between managing employees, clients, patients, and anyone else who steps foot into your clinic, learning how to be a great communicator and leader can take time and practice. But what if you had some tips to help? 

, Lazaro Lopes and our host, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, discuss how Lopes manages his practice by understanding employees and how he is improving access to care by getting a better understanding of his clients' cultures and languages.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

 What's your approach to keeping communication strong and making sure that everyone stays on the same page?

That very much falls on me, because every team member is different, and a one-size-fits-all approach is not going to work. There's always a learning curve. I tailor communication based on how each person best receives information. Some prefer direct conversations, while others do better with written updates, like an email or a text. I do very informal touch bases, and, like I said, that may work for some [but is not] enough for others. You learn your way through, but the point is to hold regular check-ins to make sure everyone is aligned and encourage open feedback, whether it's about workflow, schedules, or team dynamics. Clear communication keeps things running smoothly and helps prevent misunderstandings. 

It's great, it really is. And I love that you have this open-door policy...to chat with you, because you're leading by example. You're in the trenches with them. You get them. You understand them. That all speaks to your authenticity and your character, which is great.

Podcasts

Discover effective communication strategies for veterinary practice management as experts share insights on enhancing team dynamics and client care.

Building strong teams and cultural competency in veterinary practices

La'Toya Latney, DVM, DECZM (ZHM), DABVP (Reptile & Amphibian), CertAqV, explains the most frequent cause of reptile visits to the veterinarian.

Understanding the role of husbandry in reptile medicine

What are some of the most common conditions in small lizards, snakes and chelonians? La'Toya Latney, DVM, DECZM (ZHM), DABVP (Reptile & Amphibian), CertAqV, explains the most frequent cause of reptile visits to the veterinarian and why good husbandry matters, in a 

interview at the NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, Florida.

La'Toya Latney, DVM, DECZM (ZHM), DABVP (Reptile & Amphibian), CertAqV

: A common thread—and I would say this is very unique to reptiles, because there's so many things that need to go in to setting them up for success, with regards to their husbandry. But I'd say, overwhelmingly—most practitioners would agree with me—80% of their husbandry is the reason why they come to see a veterinarian. There's some flaw in the way that they're kept, not because owners don't want to do the best for them, but unfortunately, there's a myriad of sources, definitely more than there used to be, and there's almost like this disconnect.

We want to make sure we're trying to set up these ecologically niche species in a tiny environment that would be reflective largely of where they come from. But then there's certain things that when we put them in captivity, when we're trying to meet those measures, sometimes they can result in harms or the potential for diseases to develop because we put something in a box. It's just really that simple. Captive species that we deal with don't have the same diseases as the diseases we see in the wild. It's just a completely different cohort.

So, overwhelmingly, we have a bunch of well doing owners coming in, not aware that there's something about their [pets’] diet that they've been giving [or] there's something about the light that should have been changed. There's something about a manufacturer saying one thing when they went to purchase an item for their pet, and then it results in a process. So usually it's because there's some type of flaw in husbandry.

I think even in private practice, academia, general practice and specialists, we're all unfortunately dealing with an explosion of infectious diseases that are also impacting their health.

La'Toya Latney, DVM, DECZM (ZHM), DABVP (Reptile & Amphibian), CertAqV, explains common conditions in small lizards, snakes and chelonians, as well as thei most frequent causes.

Recently, a Tennessee-based university and an online pet health provider and retailer partnered to support the construction of a new learning space inside an upcoming animal services building. Moreover, a new clinic is set to open in Rhode Island, along with a boarding and dog day care facility in Illinois.

Below are 3 upcoming animal care facility openings.

Clay County Animal Services (Middleburg, Florida)

Clay County Animal Services groundbreaking ceremony. (Image courtesy of Chewy Health)

Clay County officials, Lincoln Memorial University (LMU), and Chewy Health recently broke ground on a new animal services building in Middleburg, Florida. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Chewy and LMU also pledged a $1 million donation for the development of an educational space, called the Chewy Health & Lincoln Memorial University Applied Learning Center, in the animal services facility. At the learning center, veterinary students from LMU specializing in shelter medicine will be able to use it for hands-on learning in a real-world shelter environment. According to Chewy, the center will also be used for community events and educational programming. Both the new animal services building and the learning center is planned to open in 2026.

“We’re proud of the hard work our staff does each and every day for the animals in our care, and this partnership and new building will only augment those efforts,” Clay County Commissioner Betsy Condon, said in a news release.

 “We’re not only building a shelter; we’re building more opportunities for our community, the animals in our county, and the aspiring veterinarians who will one day care for them.”

Veterinary Urgent Care Center (Narragansett, Rhode Island)

The town of Narragansett in Rhode Island will soon have a new clinic. The Veterinary Urgent Care Center (VUCC) in Narragansett will be 1 of 8 VUCC locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Founded by Christie D’Andrea, DVM, VUCC of Narragansett is expected to open this spring and will offer general and emergency services, as well as surgical services for uterine infections and foreign bodies for certain cases.

 The clinic will also feature a radiology suite and in-house diagnostics.

"The Narragansett community is one that is very similar to our Plymouth, Massachusetts, location, where there is a large spike in the number of people who live and vacation there in the summer months,” D’Andrea said in a news report.

 “We want to be a good partner to the general practices in the area when their pets need same-day care and another option for folks when they don’t need to visit emergency medical centers for nonemergent injuries and illnesses.”

K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel (Deerfield, Illinois)

K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel, a luxury boarding and dog day care franchise, will be opening its first location in Deerfield, Illinois, on June 21, 2025. The facility will feature an air purification and ventilation system for maintaining clean air and outdoor play yards with antimicrobial K9Grass. According to K9 Resorts, the franchise intends to launch 48 new locations across the US, with up to 11 in Southern California, 13 in Florida, and 11 spread throughout Virginia and Washington, DC. By 2029, the organization aims to establish up to 8 locations in the greater Chicagoland area.

"We're thrilled to bring K9 Resorts to Deerfield. Dogs are family, and we believe they deserve the same level of care and comfort we would expect for ourselves,” Zack Nisbet, executive vice president of the Chicago region for Luxury Pet Hotel Investments, LLC, which owns K9 Resorts Deerfield, said in a news release.

 “Chicagoland dogs are going to enjoy a healthy, safe, and loving environment inside our custom-designed resort."

Clay County breaks ground on new animal services building, announces $1M pledge from Chewy Health in partnership with Lincoln Memorial University. News release. Chewy Health. May 27, 2025.

Seymour B. New veterinary clinic in Narragansett eyes late May opening. 

. March 14, 2025. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://www.ricentral.com/narragansett_times/new-veterinary-clinic-in-narragansett-eyes-late-may-opening/article_37d7ea92-00f9-11f0-8d48-cb83fb3817f0.html 

K9 Resorts set to make Illinois debut. News release. K9 Resorts. May 8, 2025. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/k9-resorts-set-to-make-illinois-debut-302450157.html 

Articles

The latest updates relating to animal care establishments and platforms.

Clinic center: New veterinary learning center and more

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM), discusses the unique opportunity for veterinary professionals to learn this emergency rescue technique with a hands-on element.

Practicing CPR with simulation

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is hosting a RECOVER workshop May 28-29, 2025, during the NAVC SkillShop event in Orlando, Florida. The workshop aims to have attendees earn CPR certification and CPR instructor certification. In a 

 interview, Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM), chief nursing officer for Veterinary Emergency Group and program director for the RECOVER Initiative, discusses the workshop and the opportunity it provides for veterinary professionals to learn CPR with simulator technology.

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM)

:The whole premise of the RECOVER workshop, the rescuer workshop [is], to begin with, that [the] workshop has a structure of people learning through a nice, interactive online course the concepts of RECOVER guidelines and how to perform CPR based on an evidence-based guideline. And they come in and actually practice performing CPR with a simulation-based learning, high fidelity simulators that actually makes them be able to believe that they're actually working on a real animal. And that kind of practice is something that is very difficult to get in on the hospital floor, that they have a patient that's dying in front of [them]. That's not the time to practice. You want to be practicing before you get to that point, which is why simulation exists.