Interview with Dr. Ernie Ward about his Fetch Charlotte 2025 presentations

Ernie Ward Fetch Charlotte 2025 interview

At Fetch Charlotte 2025, Ernie Ward, DVM, CVFT, will share his wisdom and advice on getting ahead in vet med with the session 

The 5 lessons every veterinary professional needs for success.

 In this video preview, Ward breaks down 1 of those lessons: that consistent, long-term focus and intentional actions are key to effective leadership. 

: Yeah, I'm Dr Ernie Ward. I'm a veterinarian now, going on 33 or so years, if you're counting those kind of things, and I'm super excited to be at fetch once again, talking about management issues. And this year we've got a jam-packed sort of slate of really hot topics, including how to get your team to take ownerships. You know, some of the top lessons that I've learned over those 33 years is how to be a good, effective, caring and compassionate leader. And then we're also going to talk about some new technologies are going to help us with endocrinological testing in clinic that actually meet a lot of our clients demands, while also offering the best patient outcomes.

Yeah, I think I'm really excited about one of my talks, the 5 lessons that every veterinary professional needs for success, and these apply throughout time. But the one that I think most of us forget about is that there's a formula for success. And it really goes like this, success is equal to consistency times, duration times, focus. Now it kind of makes sense on the outset, but if we can just apply consistency in all of our actions, these are intentional things, whether it's training ourselves or how we act in the world, right? And then if we can do this over a long period of time, even though small changes begin to add up. But the secret element here, the variable too often we forget about, is the amount of focus. And that's that intentionality that's actually saying I've got a strategy, a plan, because success can be defined in many, many different ways, and for us, however we're going to apply that, we're going to do the same things, and even if it's small, over a long period of time, we're going to have a lot of focus, and then we're going to just continue to build on those skills and whatever success we have. So it's 1 of those things where there's four other lessons that we're going to talk about. But if I had to sum it up and say, gosh, you know, guys, success is consistency, times duration, times focus, rocket ship.

Videos

Catch an exclusive sneak peek from Ernie Ward, DVM, CVFT, as he shares 1 of his secrets to success ahead of Fetch Charlotte 2025.

The formula for success in veterinary practice

Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DRSC, PhD, discusses culturing and PCR in this interview 

The challenges of diagnosing fungal infections

According to Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc, PhD, DACVD, DECVD, DACVM, associate professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, and service chief of dermatology in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, the main challenge when diagnosing fungal infections is actually making an accurate diagnosis. In this interview, Santoro emphasizes the importance of culturing to identify the causative agents of the infection. He also talks about the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and when this technique may offer a more effective diagnostic approach than a culture.

Below is the interview transcript, which has been lightly edited for clarity

Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc, PhD, DACVD, DECVD, DACVM:

 The most common challenge that we see in diagnosing fungal infections is actually making an accurate diagnosis. And the reason is because sometimes it's not easy to identify these organisms as a causative agent of the disease that we see. Sometimes even with 

—so for yeast dermatitis—sometimes we have [a] hard time identify[ing] [it] due to... a secondary issue....

With dermatophytes, it’s even a bit more complicated just because...the diagnosis is based on multiple types of techniques and specifically done by the identification of the fungi after culture. And if we do not do a culture, at times it can be kind of tricky, ...again, to figure out if [it] is a causative agent or not.

Other techniques may involve a [polymerase chain reaction] (PCR) for example, but the PCR may not necessarily identify that the dermatophyte is a causative agent. At times it is not able to differentiate live organisms from dead organisms. So even monitoring the therapy, it can be complicated through PCR, so that's why the culture is the best way.

There are also other more uncommon fungal infections, or fungal-like infections, like pythiosis, for example, which a PCR of the tissue can be a more sensitive diagnostic. So it really matters what type of fungal infection we are targeting and...suspecting in our patients.

Articles

Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc, PhD, DACVD, DECVD, DACVM, discusses culturing and PCR in this interview 

Sandra Koch, DVM, MS, DACVD, offers a comprehensive overview of available therapies for feline patients with this allergic skin condition

Treatment options for cats with feline atopic skin syndrome

Treating feline atopic skin syndrome (FASS) can be challenging, as treatment options for cats with this condition are limited, according to Sandra Koch, DVM, MS, DACVD, professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the school’s Veterinary Medical Center Dermatology Service.

In this interview discussing her lecture on FASS at the 2025 WVC Annual Conference, Koch goes into detail about treatment options available for FASS. As Koch explained, although there are a wide range of treatment options for dogs with allergies, research on the pathogenesis of this condition in cats is lagging. 

The majority of patients with FASS will need systemic medication, explained Koch. In severe cases, Koch recommends beginning with a higher dose of steroids, as it will increase the chances of the treatment being effective. Moreover, it is important for veterinarians to ensure that they are using prednisolone and not prednisone, as prednisone is not metabolized well in cats.

Another treatment option available for cats is cyclosporine. However, as Koch explained, veterinarians should keep in mind that this medication is slow acting. In patients with severe pruritus, this medication may not be ideal as an initial treatment. Instead, veterinarians can begin with steroids and transition to cyclosporine or combine both.

Below is a partial interview transcript which has been lightly edited for clarity:

I think [managing FASS is] a combination of strategies and creativity, because unfortunately, cats with FASS don't have as many treatment options available to them as there are for dogs with allergies. Research is moving very slowly in the understanding of the pathogenesis of this condition in cats compared [to] dogs. And if we don't understand the disease very well, it becomes more of a challenge to treat, right? ...For example, in dogs, you have many labeled medications, from Apoquel, cyclosporine, Atopica, you know, many other generics. You have Cytopoint, you have a multitude of options. While cats, we are limited to steroids, cyclosporine—which have been shown to have good efficacy, there's evidence based on good studies.

For everything else, there's not good evidence yet that [the treatment] works.... we’re very limited in options.

Our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Tyler Primavera, DVM, to the show to discuss his recently published children's book

The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360: Lessons from Eli: A veterinarian's perspective on pet love and loss

On this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and special guest Tyler Primavera, DVM, discuss his new book 

. The book was inspired by his own dog as a way to talk about all the good and bad days of owning a pet with children, giving them a place to learn about caregiving, grief, and the human-animal bond. 

Throughout the episode, Primavera and Christman discuss grief in the veterinary space, the importance of addressing grief with children, and what his journey to become a children's book author looked like. 

You know, at our fetch conferences this year, our theme is storytellers, because we're all storytellers in what we do and what we say, whether we're in the exam room or not. This is one chapter I would say in your life journey that you're talking about of doing something that's really remarkable, and part of your legacy is telling the story, and now everyone gets to share the love of Eli in this book that you've done. So which is, that's got to make you feel amazing, right? What a nice tribute.

: Yeah and the funny thing is, you know, when writing this book, I couldn't really decide what age group this was for. And a lot of kids, they'll read it and they say, I love this one silly part, and completely miss the point of the book or they just see it from a different perspective, and their point of the book is not what I intended.

: One of your points of the book, which is something that can be very challenging for children specifically to understand, is grief. And you know, what are some of the tips out there to help clients handle grief?

I think everyone handles it differently. You know, it, it may take different forms of connection with your inner circle, your family, your friends, also taking care of your physical body, I think is an important part of that. But really there's all the stages of grief, and I think being patient is a big part of it. Like being patient with yourself, I think you and I, Adam, are both type A people. We want things done yesterday, and we can be very hard on ourselves, but just giving us that, that grace to say, hey, it might take me longer than I would like to get over this, and I'm not okay right now, but that's okay because it's not forever.

Podcasts

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Tyler Primavera, DVM, explore the world of grief through Primavera's recently published children's book

 Lessons from Eli: A veterinarian's perspective on pet love and loss

As the demand for animal care grows, more veterinary centers, as well as animal supply stores are opening. These veterinary facilities, equipped with newer technologies and suites, help improve access to care for pets, livestock, and other animals. Animal supply stores, meanwhile, help meet the everyday needs of animal owners.

Below are 3 animal care business that have recently opened:

Ribbon Chewing Ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Lovet Pet Health Care)

Formerly known as AZPetVet, Lovet Pet Health Care—a network of animal hospitals in the Phoenix, Arizona area—has opened the doors to a new hospital in Queen Creek, Arizona. The new location marks the network’s 23rd hospital in the greater Phoenix area.

Lovet offers a series of services, including urgent; primary care; surgery; and advanced services like acupuncture, cold laser, endoscopies, cardiology consultations, care for reptiles and other exotics, and more.

 The network also offers same-day appointments and welcomes walk-ins. To mark its new opening, Lovet held a community event with a Ribbon Chewing Ceremony, where a rescue dog from #LovePup, a local 501(c)3 rescue focused on shelter prevention, chewed through an edible ribbon.

Virginia Veterinary Centers (Short Pump, Virginia)

Virginia Veterinary Centers (VVC) recently announced the opening of a new 32,00 sq ft emergency and specialty veterinary hospital in Short Pump, Virginia. The new center is providing 24/7 emergency care and a variety of specialty services like ophthalmology, radiation oncology, neurology, and more. Moreover, the hospital contains a critical care unit (ICU) with high-ﬂow oxygen and ventilators, dedicated isolation suites for respiratory and gastrointestinal infectious diseases, radiation therapy, 7 surgery suites, 31 exam rooms, and a full in-house lab.

"We are thrilled to open the doors to our new state-of-the-art hospital, designed with both innovation and care in mind. With the latest medical equipment and a team of world-class specialists, we are poised to oﬀer exceptional care to pets in our community,” Andrea Bulifant, VVC director of operations said in an organizational release.

 “This facility reﬂects our commitment to the health and well-being of animals, providing cutting-edge diagnostics and treatment options that were previously unavailable to metro Richmond area. Pet owners can now feel conﬁdent knowing that their beloved companions will receive the highest level of care in a compassionate and advanced environment."

Feeds’n Needs Hammonds Plains interior. (Photo courtesy of Feeds'n Needs)

In Nova, Scotia, Canada, Feeds’n Needs Hammonds Plains—an animal feed and supply retail store—has opened. With 15 stores in Canada, Feeds’n Needs is the retail division of Shur-Gain/Trouw Nutrition. The store offers dog, cat, small animal, birds, farm, and lawn and garden supplies under one roof.

"We are excited to open our doors in Hammonds Plains and become a part of this vibrant community," Brittni Crowell, Hammonds Plains store manager, said in a company release.

 "Our store offers an extensive selection of pet supplies, livestock feed, wild bird food & supplies, and gardening products, all under one roof. We look forward to welcoming our customers and providing them with the best shopping experience."

Lovet Pet Health Care marked the grand opening of its newest hospital in Queen Creek with an adorable ‘Ribbon Chewing Ceremony’ led by local rescue dog from #LovePup. News release. Lovet Pet Health Care. February 26, 2025.

Urgent and primary care. Lovet Pet Health Care. Accessed March 12, 2025. 

Virginia Veterinary Centers (VVC) Short Pump is now open. News release. Ethos Veterinary Health. March 5, 2025.

Feeds’n Needs opens new location in Hammonds Plains. News release. Feeds’n Needs. February 21, 2025. Accessed March 12, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/feeds-n-needs-opens-new-location-in-hammonds-plains-815160160.html

Take a look at these newly opened, coming soon, or expanding animal care establishments

Clinic center: New animal feed and supply store in Canada, and more

Michael Blackwell, DVM, MPH; Stephanie Jones, DVM; Jane Brunt, DVM; and Alex Miller, VMD, MS, at the awards ceremony during WVC (Image courtesy of Caitlin McCafferty)

During the 2025 WVC Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Blue Buffalo honored 4 veterinarians during its Together For Pets awards event. This year’s winners are Michael Blackwell, DVM, MPH; Jane Brunt, DVM; Stephanie Jones, DVM; and Philip Richmond, DVM, CAPP, CPHSA, CCFO. Each winner received a $10,000 grant to support their mission and continue their efforts to improve the lives of patients and clients.

“We’re thrilled to support veterinary professionals and advance their contributions to the profession,” Alex Miller, VMD, MS, manager of veterinary services at General Mills, said in an organizational release.

“Veterinarians are extraordinary people in so many ways. Through our Together for Pets program, we have been honored to showcase how so many go above and beyond to make the world and our industry a better place.”

Blackwell founded the Program for Pet Health Equity (PPHE), which strives to advance pet family health equity through a Health Approach. PPHE is also working to transform communities in a way that ensures access to essential care and integrated services. The organization works to ensure that every pet family, no matter their circumstances, can access the care and services they need to thrive.

During his address at the award ceremony, Blackwell highlighted the fact that the family model in the United States has changed over time because families now include both human and nonhuman members. Nearly 70% of households in the US have pets, and 97% say their pets are real family members who deserve the care they need regardless of circumstances.

Closing out his speech, Blackwell recalled a time as a child when he was exposed to economic euthanasia, and what that sparked in him.

“So it was the veterinarian that ended up in a horrible situation with the dog being euthanized or a treatable medical problem, and it was on that day that my childhood ended about these things happen that seemed all wrong. Why? Because they're known better, another expression of serving our collective good in a serious way. I think of our teachers. I think of public servants in general. These people deserve access to health care for all of their family members, and that is how the program for public equity got started and ultimately aligned care as a system to subsidize that care,” Blackwell shared.

Brunt serves as the executive director for the CATalyst Council, an organization working to improve healthcare for feline patients in the US through increasing responsible cat ownership, enhancing the stature of cats, and enriching lives.

“If you think about why we're all here, it's the human-animal bond, and that's what brings us together for pets. So with the people that are coming in next to me, I am feeling not worthy, because they do so many things with people and pets, and all I do is promote the power of purr.It's fun, but I am so proud to be a veterinarian. Our profession continues to evolve, adapt and grow in the ever-changing environment, because we're all veterinarians, and yes, we like animals,” Brunt expressed.

Through the CATalyst Council’s efforts, pet owners are connected to and gain an understanding of the importance of taking their cats to the veterinary regularly, veterinarians provide a positive experience for cats and clients as well as believe that caring for cats is a crucial part of a sustainable and profitable practice, and shelters and veterinarians work together to educate families adopting cats on positive cat care practices.

At age 10, Jones read a Dear Abby news article that sparked her journey into veterinary medicine. She did not have any exposure to the field but pursued the career anyway landing here where she is today. Jones told attendees that throughout her career, like others in the industry, she lost her purpose and why within the profession. However, she ended up doing a community service project at a foster care organization that gave her that spark back. While volunteering, she could not start engaging with children until telling them she was a veterinarian, and that helped create interest and curiosity for the field.

“Pets Help the Heart Heal was created as a place that provides opportunity and experience to our youth and the power of the human-animal bond. So our youth and foster care have all the different challenges, and sometimes they don't know what it is that they want to do so I always say you don't know until you know,” explained Jones.

“So Pets Help the Heart Heal has been able to do that, not only for youth in foster care but youth all over because you don't know until you know. And I love that I have the space, I have the team, and I have the support of the community in order to do that, through our shadow programs, through our life at pets and junior vets, through our reading initiative, and our STEM workshop, and so we are giving them a why,” she concluded.

Richmond, who could not be present at the awards ceremony, is the founder of Flourishing Phoenix, a veterinary wellbeing and engagement consulting practice. Richmond founded the company intending to help veterinary teams create positive workplace cultures and improve veterinary professionals’ overall well-being. In a statement provided by Richmond for the event, he shared a time in his career when he was suffering mentally, leading him to think about the future of veterinary medicine and how to improve the mental health and well-being of those who make up the industry.

“If it weren't for caring individuals in the veterinary community like you, I wouldn't be here today as an early career veterinarian, I experienced serious psychological distress, lacked effective tools, and had a plan to end my life. Thank goodness my coworkers recognized the signs and knew the resources available to get me help,” Mills read from the statement provided by Richmond.

“While in treatment, I was given tools, not only to help me be better and heal but also to enrich and elevate in work and in life. Those lessons and experiences offer me the foundation for a generative question for the future of VetMed: what if veterinary professionals leave in better psychological condition than when they arrived? What if every one of them left work through fulfilled energies, energized and uplifted to do that, we need to prevent psychological harm, treat illness, and promote flourishing.”

Flourishing Phoenix created the first comprehensive workplace well-being, psychological safety, emotional social hazards, and positive leadership evaluations. Richmond also shared that through work with the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), and sponsorship from Blue Buffalo, the FVMA now offers support for veterinary professionals in the state, regardless of role in the clinic, to give them mental health professional coaching and therapy.

To date, Blue Buffalo has donated over $120,000 to veterinary industry organizations to help make the veterinary industry a better place by uplifting those working to do so, like this year’s Together For Pets award recipients. Previous winners of the award, like Addie Reinhard, DVM, MS, founder and chief executive officer of MentorVet, used her grant from 2024 to grow programs that are evidence-based to help support and uplift veterinary professionals. Other previous winners, Jon Geller, DVM, DABVP, emeritus founder of the Street Dog Coalition, Robin Downing, DVM, DAAPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, CCRP, CVA, MS, who pioneered pain management in animals, Terrence Ferguson, DVM, and Vernard Hodges, DVM, hosts of NatGeo’s hit show 

, all have contributed in different ways to make the industry a better place for pets, clients, and veterinary professionals.

“In some ways, [WVC] kind of runs itself. We go through the motions. Veterinary medicine can feel like that as well. We show up, we do our job, and we just kind of move forward. I'll tell you, what's really easy is, you get home from a hard day's work, you have a glass of wine or a beer, however, you relax and you start thinking about, like, ‘oh, veterinary medicine really could use this. Or why can't we just right?’ And we said, we have those conversations with ourselves or with others, so it's really easy to think about what needs to be done. What's really hard is doing it is actually taking those steps to change the profession for the better, because I truly believe we can be something miraculous. We have been, we are now, and we can get even better,” Mills expressed to the crowd.

Blue Buffalo Continues Annual “Together For Pets” Award Ceremony Marking $120,000 Milestone. News release. Blue Buffalo. February 26, 2025. Accessed March 12, 2025. 

Brown A. About Half of U.S. Pet Owners Say Their Pets Are as Much a Part of Their Family as a Human Member. Pew Research Center. Published July 7, 2023. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/07/07/about-half-us-of-pet-owners-say-their-pets-are-as-much-a-part-of-their-family-as-a-human-member/

Together For Pets awarded $120,000 to various organizations across the animal health industry over the years