Why Conversation Matters in Veterinary Medicine
August 26, 2026
Veterinary medicine is built on shared knowledge and experience, but that doesn’t mean that everyone approaches the profession’s biggest questions the same way. From how we develop future leaders and utilize teams to the evolving themes of adopting technology and maintaining medical autonomy, there is rarely one simple answer.
So, what happens when we create space to talk openly about those differences?
At the first-ever WVC Nashville conference in August, our Chief Medical Officer Stacy Burdick, DVM, MBA, DACVIM (SAIM), had the honor of moderating a 2-hour CE session titled “Leading Forward: Building the Next Generation of Veterinary Leadership.” The conversation brought together senior veterinary leaders from across the profession for a candid conversation about what’s ahead.
As panelists and audience members shared their perspectives, asked questions, and explained the reasoning behind their personal views – the discussion dived deeper than initial reactions.
Conversation Takeaways:
- Dr. Audrey Wystrach covered resilience in leadership, including the idea that sometimes the right answer is, “I don’t know.” Strong leadership doesn’t mean having every answer. It means staying curious, listening to the expertise around you, and continuing to learn.
- Dr. Dan Markwalder provided thoughts on veterinary healthcare team utilization, encouraging practices to develop written SOPs to standardize quality and build trust.
- Technician utilization sparked some of the strongest audience discussions, including questions about medical autonomy, answered by Dr. Andrea Crum, the ability to adapt treatment plans, and how state regulations can affect what team members are able to do.
- Dr. Christie Long provided her Top 10 rules for innovating in veterinary medicine, including defining what success looks like, and understanding the “why” behind change.
Ultimately, the panel found that conversation creates understanding and leads to progress, even when it doesn’t create consensus. Mutual respect grows without requiring uniformity. When veterinary professionals are willing to share their experiences, challenge assumptions, and remain curious about different perspectives, individual knowledge becomes collective wisdom.
Our profession moves forward not because everyone thinks the same way, but because people are willing to keep talking, listening, and learning from one another. We’re proud to help create space for meaningful conversations that help shape the future of veterinary medicine.
From left: Dr. Stacy Burdick, Dr. Christie Long of Modern Animal, Dr. Dan Markwalder of Mission Pet Health, Dr. Audrey Crum of Community Veterinary Partners, and Dr. Audrey Wystrach of Pet Folk.