Dr. Mary Gardner, DVM, co-founder of Lap of Love, joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about one of the most emotional parts of veterinary medicine—helping pet owners process end-of-life decisions. Before you brace for a downer, take a breath. This episode is anything but heavy. With laughter, warmth, and a whole lot of heart, Mary brings her signature optimism to a conversation that every vet team will relate to. They dive into the guilt pet owners feel about getting a new pet, the emotional signs that often go unnoticed, and how to support clients in the thick of grief. From navigating spiritual beliefs to choosing the right language in the exam room, this episode is full of insights, compassion, and some seriously good one-liners. You’ll leave with a better understanding of how to guide families through goodbye, how to spot unspoken pain, and why it’s okay to bring some joy into hard moments.

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There is nothing better to Dr. Gardner than a dog with a grey muzzle or skinny old cat! Her professional goal is to increase awareness and medical care for the geriatric veterinary patient and to help make the final life stage to be as peaceful as possible, surrounded with dignity and support for all involved.

A University of Florida graduate (AND ANDY’S CLASSMATE!), she discovered her niche in end-of-life care and is the co-founder and CIO of Lap of Love which has over 350 veterinarians around the country dedicated to veterinary hospice and euthanasia in the home.

Dr. Gardner is co-author of the textbook “The Treatment and Care of the Veterinary Patient”, co-author of a children’s activity book focused on saying goodbye to a dog called “Forever Friend”, and the author of a book dedicated to pet owners “It’s Never Long Enough: A practical guide to caring for your geriatric dog”. Dr. Gardner also won VMX Small Animal Speaker of the year in 2020!"

Dr. Dana Varble, DVM, CAE, takes the mic to bust a myth that haunts way too many vets: that a board complaint is career-ending doom. (Spoiler: it’s not.) In this honest, eye-opening conversation, Dana, Chief Veterinary Officer at NAVC and exotic animal surgeon extraordinaire shares her personal experience with a board complaint, how it impacted her emotionally, and what she learned from it. Andy and Dana tackle the anxiety, stigma, and fear that swirl around board complaints. They talk about the emotional toll, the waiting game, and that wild moment when you wonder, am I the bad guy? Most importantly, Dana shares what helped her cope, grow, and come out stronger and still loving veterinary medicine. Gang, let’s get into this episode!

Article Referenced: These "Terrible Things" Aren't That Terrible

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Dana Varble received her veterinary degree from the University of Illinois in 2003 andearned her Certified Association Executive designation from ASAE in 2021. She has practiced clinical medicine in exotic pet, small animal general practice, and emergency medicine and serves as an associate veterinarian for Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital.

She has spoken locally, nationally, and internationally on herpetological and exotic animal medicine and the state of the veterinary profession. She served as the president of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians in 2013 and presently works as the managing editor of the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery for ARAV. In 2015, she joined NAVC and in January 2020, she was named Chief Veterinary Officer.

As an NAVC spokesperson and a veterinary industry expert, she promotes animal health and the veterinary profession through media interviews and appearances including CNN, NBC News, local media outlets, and others including regular appearances on WGN radio on the Lisa Dent Show. She is the author of Today’s Veterinary Practice column, “The Secret Life of Vets.”

She shares her home with a Leonberger named Kodi, a Mastiff mix named Denali, a tank of cichlids, four ball pythons, a New Caledonian Giant Gecko, and her human family.

In this jam-packed episode, Dr. Andy Roark sits down with Tabitha Kucera to talk about why animal handling deserves way more respect in the veterinary world. We’re not just talking about holding techniques here. This is about understanding body language, reducing fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS), and elevating handling to an art form. You’ll hear Tabitha’s take on why our old-school training methods don’t cut it anymore, how we can retrain ourselves and our teams to do better, and why learning to handle animals with empathy isn’t just kinder—it’s also more efficient. Whether you're a vet tech, assistant, or practice owner, this conversation will challenge the way you think about restraint, behavior, and what it means to truly support our patients. Gang, let's get into this episode!

Chirrups and Chatter

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Tabitha Kucera is an Elite Fear Free Registered Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician Specialist (Behavior), Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, and Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. She owns Chirrups and Chatter Cat and Dog Behavior Consulting and Training and is the animal behavior technician at The Gentle Vet in Ohio. Tabitha lectures at both regional and national levels, enjoying the opportunity to help people better understand and connect with animals. Additionally, Tabitha is a Fear Free certified speaker and coach, a Fear Free Practice Certification and Implemention Consultant, and the host of the podcast, Tails from a Vet Tech.

Tabitha offers organizational consulting and education for veterinary clinics and animal shelters, focusing on best practices that address both the emotional and physical needs of animals. She specializes in behavior and training programs and handling skills. Tabitha has contributed to the development of training and behavior programs for numerous veterinary hospitals and shelters and continues to provide ongoing support to these organizations through her consulting work. \n

3 fun facts:

-Im an ultra trail runner

-Im vegan

-Im a tattoo and hair color euthusiast

Dr. Derek Fox, DVM, PhD, DACVS joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk all things angular limb deformities and why they’re about so much more than crooked-legged Bassets. In this episode, Dr. Fox shares how limb malalignment is often the root of conditions like patellar luxation and elbow dysplasia, what general practitioners should be watching for in growing puppies, and how to set realistic expectations with pet owners when surgery might be needed. From practical recheck tips to why simple photos can make all the difference, this one’s packed with orthopedic gems. Gang, let’s get into this episode.

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Derek B. Fox, DVM, PhD, DACVS

Dr. Fox is a Professor of Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery and Chief of the Small Animal Surgery Service at the University of Missouri’s Veterinary Health Center. He graduated veterinary school from Michigan State University in 1998, after which he completed an internship, surgical residency and PhD at the University of Missouri, eventually becoming faculty in 2004. He teaches courses and lectures on a variety of topics regarding small animal orthopedic surgery both nationally and internationally. Dr. Fox’s special research interest is in limb alignment and deformity correction. He has authored or co-authored 50 peer reviewed papers, 8 text book chapters and numerous abstracts. He pioneered the adaptation and use of the Center of Rotation of Angulation methodology for the quantification and pre-surgical planning of angular limb deformities in dogs. He is a member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Orthopedic Society and AO.

In this episode of the Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark is joined by Dr. Emily Tincher, Chief Veterinary Officer at Nationwide Pet Insurance, to explore the concept of the "pet family perspective" in veterinary care. They discuss the importance of understanding the unique dynamics and needs of both pets and their families to provide more personalized and effective care. Dr. Tincher shares insights from her work on contextualized care, emphasizing the need to consider factors such as the pet's behavior, family resources, and overall lifestyle. Through engaging stories and practical tips, this episode highlights how veterinarians can better support pet families and improve the accessibility and quality of care. Tune in to learn how to ask the right questions, build stronger relationships with pet families, and navigate the challenges of modern veterinary practice.

This episode is brought to you ad-free by Nationwide!

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Guest Bio: Dr. Emily Tincher is a collaborative leader who uses data-informed approaches to create sustainable systems that meet the needs of pet families, veterinary healthcare teams, and businesses. Continuing her family’s legacy in animal care, she graduated from Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine as a second-generation veterinarian.

As Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Tincher manages strategy and operations for pet health programs, develops partnerships within the animal health industry, and directs engagement with veterinary students and teams. She has practiced in small animal emergency and general practice.

Dr. Tincher is President of the Board of Directors for the Veterinary Leadership Institute and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Veterinary Innovation Council. She co-authored a chapter in Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, "Cost of Care, Access to Care, and Payment Options in Veterinary Practice,” and has become a sought-after speaker, most recently on cost of care and spectrum of care topics, presenting at major veterinary conferences across North America. 

Gene O’Neill, CEO of NAVC, joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about something most of us never thought we’d live through, guiding one of the largest veterinary conferences in the world through a global pandemic. What happens when your flagship event relies on thousands of people flying into one place… and the world shuts down? Gene shares a behind-the-scenes look at the massive decisions NAVC had to make in the early, uncertain days of COVID. From survey results and postponed plans to sacred cows and cutting-edge pivots, Gene walks Andy through the hard choices, team dynamics, and the surprising wins that came out of the chaos.

Whether you’ve led a team through crisis or just wondered how big vet orgs stayed afloat, this conversation is packed with real talk on leadership, transparency, and making peace with imperfect decisions. Gang, let's get into this episode!

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Gene O’Neill joined the NAVC in 2013 as Chief Financial Officer. He was promoted to Deputy CEO and CFO in 2018 and was named CEO in 2019. O’Neill has led the transformation of the NAVC, expanding its portfolio from one which had consisted primarily of its annual veterinary conference, the Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX), to a diverse and growing international portfolio that includes: a media division that has become the veterinary industry’s largest trade publisher; a robust online learning platform and virtual portfolio which takes the events and continued education opportunities through which the NAVC built its global reputation and makes them available to more veterinary professionals worldwide; certification programs; an advocacy arm; and an innovative, new style of in-person local events designed to help the veterinary industry get ahead of issues impacting veterinary professionals. Under O’Neill’s leadership and vision, the NAVC has more than doubled its revenue.



Prior to joining the NAVC, O’Neill held executive and financial leadership roles at the Institute of Internal Auditors, IIA-Australia and SeaWorld of Florida. He has held CPA and CIA designations throughout his career. O’Neill served as the Interim CEO for The Institute of Internal Auditors-Australia, based in Sydney. During his four month term there, he was able to implement new programs and benefits that turned around a declining membership base, develop an operating business plan for the organization that matched the changing dynamics of the structure of The Institute and produce a world-class conference for members in Australia and SE Asia. A New Jersey native, he lives in Ormond Beach, FL with his wife Pam. They enjoy spending time with their four children and two grandchildren. He loves to spend time on the water and is an avid golfer and a music enthusiast.

Dr. Jules Benson joins Dr. Andy Roark for a deep dive into the economics of veterinary care, where it’s headed, and what it means for your practice. Using data trends from the last few years, Dr. Benson breaks down the troubling pattern of rising veterinary service costs and declining client visits, projecting what that could look like by 2030. But this isn’t a doom-and-gloom forecast. Together, they explore practical, optimistic strategies for keeping care accessible, building client trust, and thinking entrepreneurially about pricing, transparency, and innovation in independent practice. If you’re a veterinary professional looking to understand where the industry is going and how to stay ahead of it. Gang, let’s get into this episode!

https://illuminate.vet/

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Guest Bio:

Dr. Jules Benson is the Principal at Tapetum Lucidum Consulting and the 2025 Chair at the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC). With over two decades as a practitioner, industry executive, strategist, and data and technology leader, his focus lies in identifying and applying innovation that can improve the lives of pets, pet families, and veterinary healthcare teams.

Dr. Alex Sigmund joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a common but tricky case, a 9-year-old shih tzu with persistent red eyes. In this "How Do You Treat That?" episode, Dr. Sigmund walks through his diagnostic approach to chronic canine eye redness, including Schirmer tear tests, fluorescein staining, tonometry, and the critical red flags for glaucoma, dry eye, and autoimmune conditions. They also cover practical tips for intraocular pressure measurements, antibiotic stewardship, and how to guide pet owners through managing long-term eye care. If you want to sharpen your skills diagnosing and treating red-eye cases in dogs, especially in brachycephalic breeds, this episode is a must-listen!

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Guest Bio:

Alex is a dedicated veterinary ophthalmologist with a passion for educating pet owners and veterinarians about animal eye health. With a background from UGA and the University of Tennessee, Alex shares insights from a diverse career treating various species, including dogs, cats, and exotic animals. Based in Atlanta, Alex offers teleconsultations and engages with a growing community of animal lovers.