In this behind-the-scenes, retrospective look at the world of veterinary medicine through three women’s prominent careers in the space, you will find an impassioned plea for industry-wide change. With suicide being at an all-time high in this profession, which is now the profession with the highest rate of suicide comparatively, it’s time to take a serious look at the contributing factors.
This honest, sometimes blunt, and determined book shares real-life stories that illustrate the reasons why change is needed while providing suggestions, ideas, and opened-ended reflection questions that provide a hope-filled path to a potential, alternative future for an industry that needs help.
It’s time to unleash the power of truth, empathy, compassion, and inclusivity in the world of veterinary medicine, and this project aims to do just that.
Spend a day walking in someone else’s paw prints—all so that you can learn how to support professionals who live each day trying to make the lives of the animals they work with better in an effort to impact the humans who go through the ups and downs of pet ownership.
This engaging, fast-paced book will give you the tools to:
- Embrace empathy while honestly confronting issues in the workplace.
- Discover support methods that can be used outside of work to counter compassion fatigue.
- Create more inclusive environments for underserved professionals in the veterinary medicine industry.
- Set reasonable expectations for professional growth in a team-centered environment.
- Actively seek mentorship possibilities to create refined skills that aren’t practiced in school.
- Communicate with clients who are stressed.
And so much more. This is the quintessential book the veterinary medicine world has been waiting for. Because industry professionals deserve better support as they strive to provide quality care to the pets we love.
Dr. TOSHA STARKE grew up on a grain and livestock farm in Brunswick County, Virginia. Pursuing her passion of caring for and healing animals, she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. Since then she has been providing exceptional veterinary care in many capacities throughout Northern Virginia. She has practiced as a Chief of Staff in two hospitals, provided medical care to shelter pets as well as worked as an associate veterinarian. Dr. Starke’s experience is varied and well-rounded, and she loves the interaction and relationships that she is able to build with patients and clients.
In 2013, Dr. Starke created All Four Paws Veterinary Relief. As a mother of two amazing kids, she needed a way to balance her passion of being a mom and a veterinarian. Starting her own relief practice has given her the flexibility to do both while creating a lasting positive impact on the veterinary profession.
Her most recent venture in the veterinary field, Vets To Pets, was founded in 2021 to alleviate some of the strain on veterinary clinics. By seeing non-emergent patients in their homes and virtually, Vets To Pets is able to help decrease the wait times in Emergency Clinics and General Practices as well as eliminate the majority of stressors for pets and their owners that can be associated with a typical vet visit. Offering the in-home pet care service makes veterinary care more accessible to clients whose pets have anxiety about traveling in the car or being at the vet’s office.
Dr. Starke lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, her children Christopher and Gabrielle, and their three dogs: Dozer, Bruce, and Kettle.
MICHELE PEVAHOUSE is a seasoned veterinary professional who has spent the better part of 20 years working in various roles in veterinary medicine. She began her career as a kennel worker and quickly grew into a veterinary assistant. After that she spent several years working as a technician in Emergency and Specialty medical practices in the DC Metro area. She rounded out her experience working as a Hospital Administrator in both private and corporate hospitals as well as serving the farming community with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Michele now lives in the Blue Ridge mountains where she enjoys hiking, gardening, traveling and spending time outdoors.
KAITLYNN SCHARAPOWA has been involved in animal care in many capacities throughout her life. She grew up fostering dogs and visiting veterinary clinics that her mother worked in. She continued fostering and volunteering for her local animal shelter when she moved to Northern Virginia while working as a veterinary assistant.
She later began working as the medical coordinator for a non-profit animal shelter where she took an interest in shelter medicine and animal behavior. Kaitlynn moved from the busy city to the peaceful Blue Ridge Mountains to care for her teenage siblings and her two dogs, Buck and Meatball.
Kaitlynn is the self-taught producer of the Real Talk Unleashed podcast. She also manages social media and marketing for several companies, including Real Talk Unleashed, All Four Paws Vet Relief and Vets To Pets Mobile Vet. Kaitlynn is passionate about making a difference in the future of veterinary medicine and uses her skills in marketing and graphic design to call attention to the issues in our industry.
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