Aug. 21, 2019

#12: Career diversity with the 2018 WSAVA Vet Of The Year. Dr Guy Weerasinghe.

#12: Career diversity with the 2018 WSAVA Vet Of The Year. Dr Guy Weerasinghe.
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One of our criteria for selecting guests here at the vet vault is to find people from across varied and interesting parts of our profession to showcase all doors that can open to you with your veterinary degree. Well, today’s guest is the poster boy for veterinary career diversity! Dr Guy Weerasinghe has covered more ground in the veterinary profession than many of us will do in a lifetime. He’s been in diary vet in New Zealand, a small animal shelter vet for the RSPCA - Australia’s largest veterinary charity, he’s worked in government doing field surveillance and policy, and has spent time in general small animal practice. During this time he gained a masters degree in Veterinary Public Health, and then became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventative Medicine: in other words - he’s a certified Veterinary Public Health specialist. While he was doing all of this he co-founded an online employment agency, served as the President of Australian Veterinarians in Public Health, was a branch president for the Australian Veterinary Association, co-authored the AVA’s official position statement on climate change, and became a regular speaker at a range of global conferences on the subjects of zoonoses and preventative medicine. A career like this does not go unnoticed, and Guy was elected as the World Small Animal Veterinary Associations’ young veterinarian of the year for 2018. He is currently a veterinary officer with the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy under the Department of Agriculture - in other words: he’s a Veterinary Public heath government vet, and, to top off a big decade, he became a dad 18 months ago. All of this in less than 10 years! As you can imagine - we had a lot to talk about. Join us to hear about how to take off your blinkers to be able to see all the opportunities that are out there for vets, about how to recognise your limitations and identify your skills, and about the joy of dealing with clients, even when they don’t like you! Guy also tells us about the pathway into a career in veterinary public health, and of course what life as a government vet is like, and much much more. Please enjoy - Dr Guy Weerasinghe.

Add in there about Tehran has secretly passion.You're going to chop that I can do.Good evening.Ladies and gentlemen, this is Gerardo Polly and this sorry One of the best bits of advice I've ever received was to find good mentors and to learn from them trusted people who have already done what you're trying to do.
Now.I've been fortunate throughout my career to have some fantastic mentors to help guide me, but I realize that they'd be hard to find and also hard to commit the time to 1.This is why we've gathered some of the best Minds from the veterinary world and squeeze them for their wisdom so that you don't have to learn the hard way with the help of our guests we Look the veterinary profession on its back and explore its soft underbelly to find the tips tools and inspiration that you'll need to build the career that you've always wanted.
I'm Gerardo Poli.I'm Hubert him strapped and this is the vent valve.One of our criteria for selecting guests here at the vet fold is to find people from across varied and interesting parts of our profession to Showcase all doors that can open to you with your Veterinary degree.
Well today's guest is the poster boy for veterinary career diversity doctor guy were a singer as covered more ground in the veterinary profession and many of us will do in a lifetime.He's been a date of a to New Zealand the small animal shelter vet for the rspca his work.
In government doing field surveillance and policy and has been time in general small animal practice during this time.He gained a master's degree in Veterinary public health and then became a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary preventative medicine.In other words.
He is a certified veterinary public health specialist while he was doing all of this he co-funded and online employment agency served as the president of Australian veterinarians in public health was a branch president for Or Australian Veterinary Association co-authored the aviators official position statement on climate change and became a regular speaker at a range of global conferences on the subjects of zoonosis and preventive medicine career.
Like that does not go unnoticed and I was elected as the world small animal veterinary associations young veterinarian of the year for 2018.He's currently a Veterinary officer with the northern Australian quarantine strategy under the Advent of agriculture in other words, he is a Veterinary Public Health government vet and to double for big decade.
He became a dad about 18 months ago and all of this in less than 10 years as you can imagine.We had a lot to talk about join us to hear about how to take off your blinkers to be able to see all the opportunities that are out there for vets about how to recognize your limitations and identify your skills and about the joy of dealing with clients even when they don't like you.
Guy also tells us about the pathway into the career in Veterinary public health.And of course what life as a as a government veteran is like and much much more, please.Enjoy doctor guy.We're a singer.That's good.Because I don't know if I could say it's not I hope I could buy her a single addressed.
We're a singe guy.Welcome to the podcast.Could I have a gun?It's been a long time coming with you.Tryna set this up for quite a while.So I'm super excited to finally get to talk to you.Yeah.Yeah.It's trying to get the bloody planets aligned to in at the right time for us to have this chat absolutely quite a lot of convincing.
Actually.I think when he found out that I was on the podcast as well that he was like Not that guy.Yeah Seema conferences and and we went for a unit together kind of.Yep.That's right.The guy you've had such a varied and interesting career, you know less than a ten year span.
So I'm a bit like a kid in a candy store so much to talk about don't really know where to start.But I want to I'll pick up with something from from one of your previous lives.When I Googled your name and in researching for this podcast, like came across a picture of you You in quite a cherry quite an intimate moment with a goat with a beautiful white girl.
Well, you can you please tell us about a little bit about Dora the goat ask a Sodor goat.Basically, I was working at the rspca in Sydney short short preamble to that was that I graduated went to New Zealand did like Bix practice or mostly Dairy and then came to New South Wales to Sydney and I swore that I'd never The busy like in a busy hospital.
I'm not Hospital material and suddenly I land in like the biggest Hospital in Australia.I think at that time at the rspca and then so I was everyone's large animal vet and then one day I was working and then there's a get on the phone and the inspectors saying we're bringing in a goat that's got a arrow sticking out of it.
I'm like cool.We'll jump into that.Wow, and suddenly they bring in this go to the go by the way, she's pregnant and like look cool.So how we going to to this is this a feral goat or a know there's just this was a pet goat and so someone had pretty much was illegally trying to poach someone's pet goat.
And so this animal was I guess relinquished the rspca by the former owner and brought to us and I'm like, all right.Well, I'll give this a go.So we intubated the go put it on the table and then I did I did surgery and remove the air.It pretty much went through the scapula missed the vertebrae by that maybe a couple centimeters and then was rubbing against the other side of the scapula.
I could just feel that I don't know and I just took it almost just feel that yeah, and I mean like admittedly I mean like even when I was in Small Animal Practice, I would always tell people like give me a scalpel and everyone loses money, but at that point I was like, you know what I'm going in for the surgery and so Pretty much did that surgery and like pretty proud of that work and then she recovered and a month later she gave birth and you know next thing I know I'm I've got articles on the what Daily Telegraph and appearing on weekend today T today.
We can one of those no sir.You guys made it into TV.Yeah your daughter to go Boots the boots.Yes, I would be no awesome with Billy the Kid like I know but but that's Dora and Boots and Diego.
I think that fits into that Dora the Explorer thing.Okay, then what's that show?Oh, yeah, you're going wait.I well a very familiar with Dora and Dora the Explorer of what do this live action film coming up with that?Oh, really?Yeah it somehow came up on one of my feeds and I was just like, huh?
Okay, cool.That's a thing.I'll go down over the tangent here about this.We might delete this out.So Jurado the the the show is about Dora and there's a young girl what you seven or eight or so who goes around the world rescuing animals, but in helicopters and jet skis and her cousin is also an Animal Rescuer.
What's his name Diego?And I said there were chickens my kids going who pays for this shit and to no no, I mean for these rescues if you in the reality of the situation have these two sub 10 year olds who have helicopters and And all these resources to rescue these animals are just thinking who's funding it just it's not it's not like Thunderbirds Thunderbirds.
They had like a philanthropist who paid for them patience.Oh, no, I came on.I think I figured it out.It's dragged might get a funding from the signing light and a few other groups And everyone loses money, what does that mean?
Hi, I am not a surgeon.I just do not consider myself in any way like even when I was going through vet school.I was just like not do not want to be a surgeon would rely more on the people who are around me who are keen on surgery to sort of guide me along, you know, which my let's cut this like do not touch that do not touch that guy Mike.
Okay, I'll go go above the ligature and I just found that I just it just wasn't my jam and And I don't like I threw myself into the deep end their story was one of those success stories where in rent really well, but other stories I was like I'd be slaving away trying to like hour and a half trying to do a dog spay and I'm just like no this is not for me.
So when I was with the rspca, I just said look just get me doing consulting and sometimes like sometimes consult from like 8:30 till like 8:00 p.m. 8:30 in the morning till 8 p.m.And that was my happy place and even with my when I was in Companion Animal Practice Just do consults all day.
Like I didn't have like people like it some days I got be sick and someone would have to jump into my shift and they're just be like not we can't handle that.That's just too much and I'm like, you know what?That's my jam.I prefer that scalpels and dentals just not my not my fix.I love it.
I love it that you've kind of you found that particular area or Niche or of Monastery Niche, but you know particular area that you've we excel in and How did it feel to get to the point?What was that Journey like to get to the point where you like?
I'm going to drop the scalpel and you know focus on the medicine and stuff.Oh, I think I'd feel like I knew that from early on and ironically I the reason why I got into vet school apart from wanting to obviously be a wedding everything else.
I like went through a science degree did honors and then worked in a research lab where I was doing surgery on rats for a preclinical drug research.It's and I was I was actually I genuinely enjoy doing that and then suddenly now get at the end of that school.I'm like, yeah not going to be a surgeon and so I found that I really enjoyed just making connections with clients and just having those conversations with people and really getting into that whole investigation side of things, you know, thinking myself as like a Batman with a white lab coat and I really enjoyed that side of things and I think I think that's that to me.
That's just one of those Niche areas of Andre science that I feel like that's that's my I was one of my areas.Mmm.It's a skill the Consulting thing, isn't it?It's a the up the RV to really excel at that.
Were you you say you enjoy those client interactions?Have you always enjoyed it or was it something that you that you picked up or learnt or had to work on or does it just come naturally to you?It came naturally to me it does that sound arrogant probably does but that's like to me.
I just genuinely enjoyed.Those building those relationships with new people who came through the door as well as maintaining those relationships.I had no sort of operated with the rule that everyone at any point in the any any console would have to laugh in the console side.Try to make them laugh.
Even if it was a euthanasia we would try and make sure that everyone sort of had a life of some sort and kind of enjoyed that like, it's kind of like I'm a really bad stand-up comedian.Like I have absolutely no skill when it but I enjoy trying Lines in that situation.
Yeah, I read a quote by you.I can't remember where I found it that you said you enjoy stand-up comedy and some of the skills that they use you think I quite applicable in Consulting and yeah meetings and stuff like that.Are they specific skills that you that you've made or that you that you think you can use or that people could learn I think have a seat like have have lines that sort of come naturally to you.
But at the same time Just read your audience.Like you obviously can't drop the Deacon ball jokes to a grandma over there, but you can certainly you can you can identify what makes her laugh and then try and work with that same thing with someone who just comes in and it's rough as guts you can certainly identify what they find humors.
And obviously you've the teeth start at ratios the wrong way around you don't want to drop the racist jokes because Then goes down a very dark path, but just try to think that a bit of a time in a racist joke.
Actually, it's good and it is appropriate.No, no never my goodness.It is amazing.Just I don't know why maybe because I am a brown doctor.I just have these people who come in and then they think it's okay to like be casually racist for about another race and I'm like, yeah, that's so cool.
Not not in 2019.Or 2018 then but yeah, like I'd had like one client tell me huh.At least you're one of the good ones and like is that actually it's quite an interesting question and maybe that might signal into that but is that something you struggled with or do you like you you okay with that and you you know, you can deflect it.
You just kind of like yeah, okay hits me that goes through me.I'm cool with That was did that take a little while for you to kind of and and I'm free and I frequently do you experience it?I guess it didn't I would like to think that we've moved Beyond it in 2019, but do you still get get stuff like that?
Aw?Look, it's really really rare and it depends on where you're practicing.So like when I was in Sydney once every six months you get something some sort of casual comment you like.Well, that's a bit strange when I was working in the Sunshine Coast where I was part of the less than two percenters certainly that At increase the little bit more and you kind of you kind of just get I think I think I just sort of rolled with it.
I mean I grew up in Mackay.I don't know if you're familiar with what McIver represents, you know, it's like Central Queensland.I was very much part of the less than 1% as in that school and growing up there and you sort of learn to have the whole water off a duck's back and to anything that sort of said, I mean, I merely I had called my fair share of racism people as spat at me and told me to go to go back to where I came from and all of that but you kind of go that all comes from a position of ignorance and you kind of have to just realize you know, I feel like it's almost my role is to just show that we have seen more similarities than differences and you are obviously born and bred in Australia where there's no no.
No, I was born in Sri Lanka and I migrated to Australia went in 86 So I was about 4 years old then okay.Yeah, but you're a hell of a lot more Australian than I am.Yeah, but yeah, it's funny like it's just you you come up with I've seen or heard some people say some really strange things and just like and maybe it's because they feel like they can say it in the console room because there's no one else watching and they feel like God, you know, he seems approachable we can say whatever we want to say.
It's kind of like that ABC show or SBS, you know things On Oscars keep things.You can't say things you wish you could say.Yeah, as you said I'd like to think that it's probably more more ignorance as to what is what's acceptable and what's not rather than I'd like to think so rather than trying to trying to be hurtful or and you know what?
I think this is a reflection of who you are and how you come across right?If you know in to put a positive spin on this if you're the kind of person that people can actually have those open conversations with then the person you must be in the console room must be a person that they trust and be able to build rapport really quickly with yeah, you know like yeah for them to have those quite quite Frank comments.
Yeah means that you you know, you must be able to do that really rapidly.And yeah.Yeah, and I think it's also just being outside.For what the best way to diffuse a situation is I remember having a client in the waiting room.It was a weekend.I was the only veteran on consult and I think I ducked my head out the door just going no, we're just running five minutes late blah blah.
And then this older man who was with his wife were saying I do not want to go see that fit that type of n or something like along those lines and the nurses just like easy only one, so you're stuck with him.And so and I found and they They came and told me just going by the way.
He sounded a bit racist kiss heads up and I'm just like, all right, cool.So didn't make an issue of it.Just tried to just find out what his issues were and just trying to in terms of his pet showed head about I was there for his pet.I'm not there to try and address what his yeah, you know ignorant beliefs were or yeah biases were and to me it was just more about addressing what was pet what I think it all ended pretty well, but it was just one of those things that you can you can have your hackles up in the lead up to a consult and it could just really Tainted or you can just try and just go go.
How do I make the best the situation?Yeah, it goes for other situations as well.Because other the are they are all those situations and consults where the with a nurse will say glanced really angry about this happened last time or there weren't happy with the service of the other vet or and again, it depends on your how you approach that makes a big difference because if you go in there going.
Oh, well, I'm going to show them, you know, you're going to measure those we you're right that there were goes.Well, where's if you go in this thing will come on.That's a challenge that I'd like to try and try and fix this if I could turn the situation around.Yeah goes a hell of a lot further.Do you do you approach it with?
In a way kind of deliberate ignorance or just approach it with like a complete focus on delivering the best for their for the client and their pets so you kind of like came my out my my I'm coming to this room.
I'm sleeping in this room.I know that the clients upset or I know that they have this particular belief about me.I'm going to focus on actually what I can what I can do and what I could control that bi I think having having That end goal that you're there like they came to you though.
They came to your Clinic For assistance with their pet for some reason whether it's problem or vaccination or whatever else your deck.They've come to you and so your end goal is to make sure that they walk out the door just feeling as though they've received the best service having that prior knowledge of what's happened before certainly does help because then you could try and weave it in like a really bad example is but like I probably haven't done a disk.
Bluntly, but like, oh, I heard that, you know fluffy was in here last week and how'd that go and then sort of raise it up and sort of try and defuse the situation at that point.Don't try and say oh look you were wrong about this because everyone loves being told they're wrong.Yeah, but you can sort of address it in that situation and maybe with the tincture of time they might have cooled down and can sort of see have a bit of a perspective on it.
All this wasn't an opening question there which You know, what would you say what you're doing is bringing it up in a way where they can then have their ability to have their say and speak their thoughts.Right which is the vast majority of the times when complaints occur allowing them to speak is is the first and foremost most important thing and without judgement in a way.
It's kind of really understanding what it is that they're saying and then from there you can move forward if need be sometimes things need to be done.Sometimes they've just said their piece that's off their chest and their okay, And I think I feel like part of it may also come from just the nature of how we are running Veterinary practice itself is like if you do these short and Punchy consoles, you don't get the time to address the issues that are raised up at that may not be directly related to the Pet's Health at that very point, but it might be something that's of historic nature.
I mean, I know I had a really bad reputation of the rspca.I'd even a Green Cross where I would have really long cod's but it's because I would often Trying to talk through with issues with clients and making sure that they really understood it.Like one of my favorite of biggest frustrations is whenever I identify their pets got a heart murmur and I will just go are you your pets got to like a grade 3 heart murmur as you know what that is now, like I in the Vets mentioned it's had it last time and it's like okay, but do you know really what that means and they're like no.
Okay.So I go I love having white boards and I'll get the white board out and I'll draw the heart and I'll draw the valve.And everything else and I'll just go this is what's going on.And this is when things go really pear-shaped.Yeah, and it to me, I feel like that's something we kind of let ourselves down because we need to get through those consoles really fast.
We don't get the time to explain issues or science to people mmm.It's hard to demonstrate value there.When when what you're doing or is trying to get in and out in and out and in and out, so it's interesting.I'd like a as an emergency service fee on myself as a veterinarian in an emergency service we do.
Time pressures.Yeah, but then what I've at least one of my strategies is not necessarily to speed up the consult but then to do multiple consoles but allow them time to think in between so I will start a consult have a discussion with them and then I'll have a segue which is like a look they need to think about something sitting there waiting with them.
I'll go ahead look there's a patient that's come in now even what if I triage and I go in there start that conversation and then Prime the idea that actually Ali look over I have another console that empathic part way through so I just want to make sure everything's right with you and fluffy.Give us a if you give me a rundown as to why you're here today, then they can talk and then I can make sure they're okay.
Then I go back at the next one.I enter the previous one and see where they're at.And then go through that way rather than going he got 15 minutes.Yeah.What do you do now?Yeah.Yeah.That's that's the tough thing about emergencies.You've obviously it's all time critical and I guess that's why I've always just when it comes to critical.
Clinical practice.I just always enjoyed the standard GPU level of practice because you just have that time to and I mean, I genuinely enjoy teaching and that's what I feel like we do in that at that level you teach your clients.I'm not a fan of handouts like Ted, that's a fine but not everyone learns through Reading.
I how many agree with you on the handout things how many people are eat it but I read it out with them at this that's like word-for-word.This is a read it out.It's like I'm sure make sure understand but it's like it's and I was feel like whenever we vets right things.
We write things for vets.Hmm.Like I look at some of the Facebook post.So sweet like from veterinary clinics.I just go the person who wrote that social media post have eroded for a vet not for a client and a half.Wonder if we do ourselves in Injustice because we think we're communicating only two beds.
Yeah.Yeah, the I think this the problem there is that Get how much you know, yeah, you literally forget that those words to using you.Didn't know when you were before you started studying Reggie science.And you think that everybody just just knows it.
Yeah, the the back to the do the consult in the speed of consult thing.I'll my two cents but that is is there a booking stuff.So your I do emergency as well and if I pick something up that requires time with it's not urgent there and then just being honest with the To say look your animal has a heart murmur.
It's actually it's I need a bit more time with this then I then I can give you now at fluffy deserves more time.Now's not the right time.Please book it in tomorrow that time for half hour consult of need to talk through it and discuss it that that's why that's a good strategy that I mean.
That's a really good strategy that I think especially any up-and-comers can utilize is the fact that you do have the option for re bookings.I think it's a little bit harder an emergency practice when you just Emergency.Yeah Endeavor to give you peace in it send it to the dry practice and people love that line about look.
I want to give you a decent amount of time for this.I don't want to rush it.Yeah, so please let's be honest truth.You know, you actually don't want to rush it right now building on what you were saying or adding one little piece that I use when I'm in a consult and there's there's presumed knowledge, right?
They know there's a heart murmur there.So you like okay.It's been covered before.Sometimes I ask them like you don't mind actually letting me know what your understanding of actually heart memories.Hmm.So then what happens is then they go.Oh, I got to regurgitate something and then they go actually I'm not too sure.
Yeah, but sometimes they're all over it and it's like cool.Okay.That's exactly I was going to say let's move on here or something.So yeah.Yeah and often you do ask that an often.I will also ask like does anyone have a science background is anyone a doctor before I start sounding like a real idiot and there's like you Cajon?
I'll get the hand up just going yeah, I'm a pediatrician like all right, you know all about the okay explain anything further.Can you explain it to your partner?Because they're giving the medication that's right.Yeah, that's what you're paid for earlier.
And he said that when you're at the point of graduation or when you're younger or just about to graduate you see you saw that you swore that you never work in a big small animal hospital because you're not hospital, but Tyrael you sound like pretty good hospital with you.Answer me.
Why did you feel that way?Why do you feel that way?What about what about it?Didn't what about that idea, but didn't you like and I think it's something that I've just learned over time as I've gotten older is I'm very task-orientated.I hate having multiple wheel spinning at the same time.
Like I like dealing with what's there in front of me at that point and I found when I was going through vet school.I found it very stressful to have like you've got multiple.Things going on in the ICU while also juggling clients and I found a much more enjoyable when I was in the GP side of things.
So yeah, that's why I definitely felt like the hospital environment wasn't for me.Okay, so it wasn't it wasn't a version two small.He's as such a lot more that the big busy.Yeah, and I mean admittedly I when I yeah, but I always felt like I was going to be a public health that even from like week one of that's cool.
Yeah.Yeah.Yeah.I knew that was my Jam like I sat through this one lecture about like Hendra and nipah virus and Ebola and I was just like that's the jam that's the stuff that I want to be involved with.Hmm.That that fascinates me.Sorry Joe, you know exactly when when we went through uni and it became quite apparent that your interests were in that kind of feel that in that particular area and if it's and as probably you but that is humid said it's not Not something that I was particularly engaged.
Oh, right.Yeah, and I struggled with epidemiology and and and public health and so forth and I saw the clinical a place I saw the applications I saw the importance of it, but I was just like no you can give me something I want to I want to be the you know, the the the Batman with the lab coat on and goes sorts of shit out, you know goes yeah my lives and but the the impact that a epidemiology epidemiologist could have have all the impact that a veterinarian and in the Public Health Arena or sector can be a more dramatic than actually being on the ground seen patient after patient every 15 minutes.
Yeah, that's it.That's it.And I mean die definitely pursued that interest or passion up as far as I could go because I even in Companion Animal Practice I found like I was fine with dealing with the individual cases, but I was like why Constantly seeing the same kind of cases and how do we try and address it at high level?
So like say with chick cases?Yeah, we get a ton of paralysis two cases coming through but at a higher level then maybe we need to be improving how we communicate about tick prevention.Mmm not selling product just talking about why we recommend it and then also going well, what's one of the ways people can sort of identify the reason why they need to be going about tick paralysis and the prevention so, I found when I was in one of my clinics I asked for like about three or four years worth of data of all the tick paralysis cases and I asked for what are the street addresses and and suburbs and identified at my three or four hotspot suburbs and every time I had a client come along its go.
Yeah.I'm from this particular someone like you to really like and what are you getting for tick prevention?Nothing.You do realize that's in my top four of tick paralysis cases suburbs and like I didn't know that we've Therefore all our lives.I was like, yeah, you think you're bulletproof until your shot.So why not get all over it?
I just find that having that sort of broad scale approach can really help sell your message.But then hopefully also address the things that are easily preventable.Hmm.Let's go.I was going to say I love your way of thinking that's really good.Where's that from?
What was your I'm going to skip back.What was did you do something before vet sides or it?Why did this?Why do you think this when the rest of us don't?There is the first time I don't know like I guess I went through uni.I started uni doing a Bachelor of Science degree with at uq and then doing the typical student thing.
I tacked on an arts degree.And so I've got like a What majors in biomedical science with honors and pharmacology and majors in Psychology and film and television so broad kind of pre-vet education, but then like because I worked in that preclinical drug research field for a couple of years.
To me.I started playing with a lot of data and like looking at how does all that data fit into I guess drug design at that time, but then I realized that that was sort of ingrained in my hand.My brain was working and that when I was going through vet school, I was like, yeah, that's cool.We're dealing with all these individual cases, but then what can we do to prevent those cases from occurring in the first place?
Yeah, not how my brain works.Actually, no Strokes make the world right?No.No, but it's ready.I'll think about I think that way about other things sometimes not specifically work.But but funny when it comes to work, I don't sometimes the third will cross my mind you'll go.
Yes, I stupidly so I'll go somebody needs to figure this shit out.And then I'm like, okay guys go to figure it out.I do think that every team.At least large teams should have someone who's a little bit data Savvy or as keen on that whole preventive health approach and then they can help frame up messaging and communication approaches.
Mmm.Yeah, totally.We have a quite a large team of veterinarians and in our leadership team, actually we well I utilize particular people are all the veterinarians based on their kind of inclination and skill set.
So so my personality type I'm a driver.So I will I will I will create Implement push push push and then get the balls rolling but then I'm done.I'm like I gave anyone wants to kind of finish off for that and you go for that, but I'm on the next thing so but what I've realized is actually and it's something we've just kind of labeling that's you got to find your contrarian.
And essentially there are there are vets that I go to now or it's like hey, this is my idea.Amazing you'll love it, but I think I need your advice on it.How's it going to impact the team actually, you know, and then really get them to sort of drill down and pull out and pull out all the the problems with it so I can at least address it.
So they're going to do present it to the team.It's a much more rounded more thoughtful process, but it is utilizing other people and it's really helpful when you do have people who are different and and yeah and Do bring something else to the table?So Guy Talk us about your work and it's just very recently changed when I when I started researching a you were doing some Public Health work and some small animal work.
What do you do?What's your what's your average work week?Like what do you have to do for a living?Ah, so now I'm officially employed full-time with the Department of Agriculture and water resources are more Commonwealth veterinarian and pretty much so I work under the Branch of knocks.
So Northern Australian quarantine strategy.We pretty much look after that Coastline between broom and cans including the Torres Straits.That's about 10,000 cases of Coastline.It's like a multidisciplinary team includes like entomologist plant botanist and Pathologists and obviously veterinarians and we work with our community liaison officers and work with the indigenous range of groups and look out for like diseases coming into the country.
So a lot of our work is about unregulated Pathways of exotic animal diseases and plant diseases coming into the country that we don't want here.So obviously foot and mouth disease is one of those ones rabies is a big one.I find the rabies thing about fascinating thing because we've got to talk to indigenous communities about rabies.
But how do you talk to a community that has never encountered a rabid dog before?It's like a lot of the literature that's out.There is all about rabies.Occasion in countries where they all know about it then how do you talk about it in layman's terms in a manner that is going to provides.
I guess some sense of keep an eye out for these cases because rabies is slowly very very slowly making its way through Indonesia, and we know that it could come on a foreign fishing vest like a dog which is preclinical jumps ship and then enter into Australia and then suddenly people We'll go.
Oh, we've got some angry dogs or any it's of crazy dogs.And then how do you get that messaging out there?Just going don't try and stop hold the dog.Give us a call.We will come and assist and try and work out if this is truly rabies or not.Yes rabies II there's a couple things my Mike's got blown.
There's like rabies is slowly making its way through engineered.I'm like, holy shit.That's not far away from us.I mean admittedly the last time it had made an Eastward progression was back in 2011.And so we haven't really heard too much but it's about having that awareness and having knowing how far it's progressing because obviously people are getting these animals putting them on their boats moving on you put a dog on your boat for both protection as a gift sometimes if you get stranded, Dude, like all of those things.
So the pathway is there and some of these dogs look healthy and then it's that incubation period plays in and then suddenly you've got a rabid dog.There was a girl in America.I think who pretty sure was America who was in Egypt picked up this puppy took it back to America ended up being a rabid dog because it was in that incubation period so you like whoa, what's going on?
Right?Wow, yeah.It sounds like fascinating work.Do you do how long have you been at this job for now?I've been into it for about nine months.I have okay.Yeah.Yes.I'm the policy vet.So my my job is to mostly look at the data that's coming out reported out to up for our national reporting purposes and then find ways where we can still stay current with the science that's out there.
So, I mean a lot of my work these days day-to-day is writing up policy or even just getting the data.Out of that's out there whether it's from our team or other teams plugging it into various software management programs or database management programs and then pumping out pretty Maps like because I find that people love Maps people like if you're talking to an audience that's non-science or don't have that degree of science that we have as that you need to find.
What is the easiest visualize visual tool that you have to convince your stakeholders?And so I'm discovering how to play with various software packages like like power bi and at some point I need to learn our which is probably not the kind of stuff your listeners want to listen to but it is something that I have to do at some point.
I feel like the universe is telling me this.Oh, but I think what you're sharing their is is like a career pathway, right which is not your typical career pathway, you know in your whole story at the moment is kind of, you know, don't like surgery like medicine and then, you know didn't want to work in Hospital now you working in government and and then you're working on something that I would need.
No really existed.So I think it's just it's highlighting here that actually just the diverse.I suppose the the options are available as a veterinarian, you know cop buddy.Yeah, buddy.I said, I think that's something which I definitely noticed in vet school was because I definitely my pathway is going down public health or public practice.
As I call it now and trying to figure out what my career path would be to get to where I want to be mmm, but I found out I had a lot of other people going through grad school around me who are just like had the blinkers on only wanting to think about clinical practice and that was it and I don't know for me.
I just thought that you miss out on appreciating the breadth of where you can go with this profession.Mmm.So so let's say we've got younger vets than me because I said new grads are students.And they listening to this and go huh?
Yeah, right.That's interesting.So two questions sell your career path to somebody who has the clinical practice blinkers on what what's what's cool about your career and and be what you do to take that career.What is that?
What is the journey look like to get into that path from from a veteran degree?Okay.So what would I tell young grads are I mean like anyone who's going or even semi considering public practice?I would They going to clinical practice and learning you learn your strengths.
So for me, I definitely found my strength was in communication and I really enjoyed the opposite of that consult aspect and and I found it helped me hone my skills and being able to explain complex situations to lay audiences.And then I then gone down the pathway where I've gotten to it.
And I think that that's something that's really important for anyone who even has they're scared of a belief that they were going to government.The but in terms of anyone who's got those blinkers on and wanting just purely to do that.I would always say that never I guess you don't know what the future holds for you and you don't know where you're going to end up.
I've got like people who've come into government who have gone and done the memberships in small animal medicine and then suddenly found themselves in government.I've got people who have own practices for 20 years and then suddenly found themselves in government and but then you've got a lot of younger vets as well sort of like I don't consider myself.
A young vet sort of who have just dedicated their career path towards getting to where they are.So we've recently got a new chapter or exhumed a chapter the public health chapter that seen the Australian and New Zealand College of veterinary sciences.
And so that's that's out there.So that's a pathway that people couldn't after a few years of practice or work can now start learning their skills and sitting a membership exams.I personally found an alternative pathway where I did a master's in Veterinary public health.
And then when it did my American boards in Veterinary preventive medicine in America because I was just pretty Keen to just be in this role.Wow, like, you know, I was really passionate about this field of veterinary science.So now I'm board certified as of 2017.
Yeah, you know, you're the only one in Australia.It's no no, there's a couple there's a couple out There I think I thought I was too and then I discovered the department has someone who boarded the year before me.However, she was working for the food and agricultural organization FAO at the time and then she's just recently joined come back to Australia.
What's it what's Batman's plan to take her out?No.No, she's an ally and and she's actually a lot more Epi Focus while I'm very much more Public Health Focus.I'm really Keen about zoonosis and I guess communication strategies around what to do, but in terms of young and up-and-comers, I would say learn to apply the very very basic skills.
You learned in vet school in the clinic that you're at.Remember what I was talking about with that paralysis to case those cases.I would just look at the data that we had and then find what is going to be of Worth to our clients and and try and work out.How do you present that data in a way that's going To be interesting to them.
So I find out I really enjoy heat Maps do up a couple of heat maps and then just go and like just have that there and then point it is where the client lived in scope.You're right in that red spot.Yeah, like if there is this is it anywhere.So is there any way where people can go and look into it if you if people are curious like a Facebook pages?
Oh, yeah.Yeah or so.So we have a Facebook group called the Australian veterinarians and public health.It is an offshoot of the A special interest group I would recommend people to also join the AV a special interest group a vph.
That would be a good start stepping ground.I'm also a co-director of a group called Veterinary careers so you can go to bed retrievers.com day you and you can check out what like, I guess one of the things that we do is we hunt around globally for alternate clinical alternative to clinical role than rerolls.
Sorry.That didn't come out right but you know what I mean, though.Wrong cynical.Yeah non-clinical roles and we would put them on the website.So people it's actually visible could because what you often find is that the people who are who work in HR who are promoting.
These jobs aren't don't know how to talk to veterinarians.They just know how to talk an HR world.And so they're promoting it through what they think everyone's going to but they don't realize that the clinicians or the Vets who should be looking at.These ads are looking elsewhere.Yeah.
Do you want to say say I interrupted you earlier?No, I was just like what is the laypersons heat map look like and I just imagined a screenshot of my screen and I got a pen nose just like inking dots on.Yeah, it's just like I show this heat map and they're like, did you just draw on a Google map image?
I'm like, yeah, but it's just yeah finding funding what are the simple tools that are out there and they're plenty out there.Yes using Google Maps.And you could go with depending on how much in this is love you.You only practice managed just like get a highlighter and just go over the top of it.
Don't do not do that.We're going to come back to your website guy.So you did I wrecked it.Did you start are you one of the founders of that did you yes, yeah.Yeah.So basically it was is above the the original brainchild of it was of Emma Haslem and the Davis and she The one who came up with this idea and then she got a couple of us to come on board of directors and I think the websites just had a recent facelift and so am is trying to just keep that machine going and also trying to explore the world of Veterinary coaching as well because there's a probably a as you guys probably all have discussed in the past.
There's a need for people sort of guide their careers and coaching is one of those Pathways to do it.Yeah, absolutely.It's a great site.I had a browse through the other day and I must admit I am.Yeah it gave me itchy feet looking at all those jobs.
Okay, that's a lot of is a lot of interesting stuff out there.Well, that's that's thing which I think people don't realize is that when you start looking there's tons of career options that are out there and I guess one of my pet frustrations when people say, oh I'm leaving the profession because I can't see an option for me in clinical practice and I'm like guys there's so much more out there.
Mmm, Amazon.I've met him actually a couple times and we did coaching together.So in a and I do totally believe that coaching can help just develop and when you're stuck when you start can you feel like you have no options you think I should be able to figure this out for myself, but actually having someone who's good at coaching can work you through the most impossible.
Problem that you have and then develop a path of moving forward and help you actually be accountable towards the the path and decisions that you make so like I'd buy myself actually at a state had two coaches and I got I got one of the moment who is assisting me in the rollout of a couple projects and honestly, it's the best thing I'd like I did we don't talk about everyday kind of things.
It's kind of what we need to get you on track.Yeah, what are you stuck on ways?Why you stuck there?Who do you speak to?What do you do and just helps move you forward and helps us suppose a different perspective or get you to consider a different perspective your career might be actually more enjoyable than you think it is when viewed from a different way.
So hmm.Yeah.I follow this is saying bolt didn't get to where he was just on his own.No.No, that's a very good point.You'll get your goat Jurado.They vet specific or just general business business coach know it was one was that one is a performance coach because I consider myself as a professional been professional but also consider myself as like almost like a performance athlete.
I view that I think my belief is that every veterinarian should consider themselves as Veterinary professionals and they should do everything they can to upskill develop and that's not just clinical that That's mental health that you know Focus whatever whatever it is that we are you feel like as if you are not achieving or not not achieving the goals.
He set out to do that's very coaching come in handy and and my second coach is actually a public speaker / Behavior / Mentalist coach.So helping assist with some projects which are more personal related.
David so I'd I can't do the things I do.I definitely couldn't do the things that I do now if it wasn't for the assistance of coaches, so yeah.Yeah, totally agree totally agree the great attitude that continuous learning I think many of us and certainly myself included at it as a least as a new granted you go.
Okay.Well to God my degree I'm down.I'm cool.I'm a complete picture Let's Take On The World and I I'm finished learning and that's it.That's all I think I was guilty of that for a long time.But that's that's not a great attitude is how can I know?
I mean, I went through during my science group with through science with a lot of I guess people who ended up in medicine and I while I was going through grad school.I saw these guys coming out of medicine and just going wow, you guys are still studying and I guess that's what we also having to do as veterinarians and I guess I've always just thought it was it came with the territory.
Audrey for you to be a good like I always tell like I remember hearing us it Gordon Gordon from double Bay vets here.He came and spoke to the final year vet students and he just said by the time you guys graduate you're going to be the smartest vets at that point in time because you know what, the latest stuff is anyone who's getting in my vintage has forgotten all the latest stuff and and you've got it like it's a lot of hard work to try and keep up with it all and you've just like and the May's we end up start putting ourselves down these Niche areas and you forget everything else.
Mmm.Yeah.Yeah.How would you feel Gerardo someone came to you with a horse with colic?See?I'm completely happy with the things.I don't know and I've tackled that demon of wanting and leaving that I should know everything.Yeah, but yeah, but I think that the non clinical aspect of your job often gets forgotten top bloody.
Okay, and I think people when you go through vet school you kind of grow I'm all about having to learn all of these soft skills and it's like that's not what that's on you like ultimately to be a successful veterinarian held to be even a good veterinarian.You need to have all those soft skills behind you.Mmm-hmm.Totally.
That's why we're doing this broadcast.I thought we'd start bashing a TV.So we talked a little bit before we started recording so up until recently you were still Doing small animal clinical practice as well guy, but not anymore with your with your current job.
Yes.Yeah, and and I guess the the sweet irony of that is I want that Hills basava Next Generation small animal vet award.Yeah.They ain't around the same time sort of almost felt like that whole imposter syndrome over my shoulder.
Just going what are you doing?Why are you why are you taking this award when you know, you are slowly drifting away into government.And I guess why I am now a full-time government and not doing any more small animal practice is pretty much what I've got a 14 month old son and trying to juggle government work as well as parenting and trying to be a supportive husband trying to then throw in what I what could be called a hobby now is doing a small animal side of things.
Like I genuinely enjoy doing it the same time.It's Really taking away that time that I could be being Dad.Yeah, so I'm happy to take a break from doing small on practice for a little while.My wife's just about to start setting her while studying for her fellowships in emergency medicine in humans.
And so she's the next 18 months.She's going to be pretty damn busy.So I'm going to have to take up that mantle load a little bit more.Yes.It's a challenge.I must admit when I was when I was is reading about you and all the stuff you do so small.
They will work Blessed Virgin Public Health bless this bless the director at a website and then L Ed and has a baby.I was like, oh there goes my excuse because Mike is nobody it.Will that all our guests some fun with our deal with Gerardo?
I my excuses always yeah, but they don't have kids.I wasn't expecting that.Uh, yeah, like literally everyone would say your life is going to change.
In fact a few people chose a few choice, you know, four letter words at the same time.Yes, you did you say yeah you're screwed now and it's true and like, you know what?I'm happy to, you know, just to to drop a few of those things off.Hmm.
I used to be very very involved in the a VA now, I just maintain my membership and just still sitting on a couple of Mitties, but I'm not going to go I would used to run conferences and stuff in there and like my last conference was in November and I just sort of fatigued adjusting.I just can't do this.Mmm-hmm.
Well, did you say your son is now 14 months.So at least you're getting proper sleep again or not quite it.Well, yeah.I thought I thought you were until last night and he was very much crying and screaming at about 11 o'clock in the night.So he came and slept in our bed and so obviously sleep was an optional.
Your last night.They're like little like pets.You know, when when you have a pet in the bed, you don't want to upset the pet.So you just sleep in and some contorted kind of like yeah.Yeah.Yeah, we did position and he's like, I tell my no make em and you're busting to go for a piss and then you don't want to get out of bed because it might like when my wife coughed I was just like staring Claggett daggers at it's going why are you coughing he's sleeping.
But it's what about friends.It describes it out, please it's like it like it is the first time an alien slept in our bed for like ever so like it feels like forever and it's like sleeping with the drunk octopus face hands and butts everywhere and he's just hanging around and just like, okay this is this is parenting.
Yes.This guy I might really advice.I've got to I've got a third at the moment.We've got a wow.Yeah stupid is as stupid as this I've got an eight month old is the number 3 at the better, but why would why only advice would be a spare bed somewhere else in the house for either yourself or your wife so that yeah because two people could sleep in a bit find three people not so much.
Yeah, one of the adults leaves that then what I don't stay and sell like you guys are emergency vet cells and emergency doctors a sheet of stupid hours and so P will need that spare bed.So yeah.No, it's a it's a lifesaver for me at least.Yeah, so then that parent to parent King's greatest.
It's been this insane kind of like you can be really really good at one thing and then suddenly this little creature comes along and just like I know absolutely nothing about how to keep you alive.And and you kind of like, you know, I when I'm okay with like handling medical cases that come through the door that with pets but when it's units human, I'm just like no I'm in I'm in the dark.
They absolutely are the and especially with the awareness the soft skills.Say to read if you want to call it that the the sleeve Trading and when they do, you know why they sawed happy why this about I struggled my firstborn I try to approach it like a case.So as I was convinced I could diagnose it and if I can diagnose it I can fix it and I just drove me absolutely nuts because you can't you think you've got it you get in control of it and then things got two pieces again with this one.
No other third I was like I give a shit.It's one day one day you'll sleep again.I don't know what's wrong with me, but I kind of I have no comments there.
Like that's fine.That's fine.You just you just laugh it up.Yes, just live the life.You enjoy your sleep.I do I do.No, I do clinical advice over the phone staring at pictures and of slides and videos of ultrasound.
So but I mean said that it's I do like So but do you have you got any questions?No, actually, I've asked all my questions.No, I've got heaps more.It did a guy let us know if you're running out of time G.Yeah.No.No, I'm good looking.My wife comes home at 11:00.
So I've got happy to try to have to kill so yeah.Okay cool.I've got to warn the it's sort of a theme to your career so far.We're not a theme but certainly there's a lot of diversification or they all they all there.Was was that a decision too?
To do that or did it is that just the way it worked out to get where you want it to be?No, I think I just enjoyed the diversity.I did not envisage like if there was no there was probably a little bit of strategy in terms of getting to where I want to be in terms of vet Public Health, but doing all the other stuff was just stuff that kept my my brain trying to reach out and look at other things and explore other things and never think that anything is ever going to be static and So is why I still kept on doing small and practice and I have to admit I just genuinely enjoy doing medical consoles.
Like it's just so much fun and then learning how to get involved in directorship roles and looking after a website and doing all of those things that had to like help me push my brain and they're totally different direction and that's coming to into like being really handy when in government work as well.
Like we've got all these websites coming along and database is being developed and I'm like, oh I can I sort of know that language speaking.We've got it's-- people here and I can sort of sort of drop a few words that they might recognize and so makes me sound like I'm not a complete Noob that really helps because the world is not just made of debts.
Yeah surprisingly you mentioned before that.You're still on a couple boards with regards to the a VA and I just just just just on committees committees.But also, you know, I think I ask this question of Paula but also quite interested to see how how you answer it as well and it's something that I've tackled and still tackle but it's kind of stepping into a particular area or stepping onto I suppose something like a committee or board and and dealing with the the internal chatter which is the Imposter syndrome the why do I know enough to be?
Here there are some important people on the sitting around this table here.Should I even speak up?You know, we're like What can I contribute to to the to the kind of caliber of people that are that are sitting around me every tackle that or is that something that you'd kind of been?
Okay with or would your had a new Coke?It's a mixture of two things.Like I felt I feel like because I came into vet school as a mature age student kind of like a stinky cheese.I had this I was totally fine with asking questions in class, right so you I was that annoying mature-aged student just but I didn't like, you know do the whole turn around and stare.
Just keep some of us here to learn but I still I still felt it was fine to just ask questions because probably someone else in that room was also thinking the same thing and then I discovered that I probably had this voice that some reason people sort of listen to it.
So I was like, okay, let's let's try and direct this.In a more useful manner the other part of it is yeah.I did I always feel like I've got the Imposter syndrome every time I step into a meeting every time I step into a committee meeting or a policy council meeting when I went and pitched why the ABA should have a position statement on climate change.
I felt like the biggest imposter sitting in there because I was just like all these big names in the veterinary profession in Australia sitting around here and he is me who's like think got that was 2015.So I was Like four years out of that school just coming along just going you guys need to take climate change seriously, and this is why and you know the following year.
We got to ratified into a VA policy and positions.So I think it's what I always tell myself.Is that often you're invited to be there.So someone else has thought you have a valuable insight to provide.
So don't let your own inner demons sort of get in the way and prevent your voice from being heard.Obviously.I always wait for someone to just go stand down.You don't need to say anymore.You've said enough and sometimes that has happened at least having a voice and being able to say something is really really important.
And it's I feel like it's a privilege to be always be given that opportunity and always recommend anyone to just jump to any of the committee's that are out there.I love it.How you said that there was just that you forget that I can see people see something in you and you've demonstrated something they've seen as valuable when it when often what it is is it's your inner demons you're in a in the thoughts saying that you're not capable.
You don't know enough.How can you do another half wondering its rickety.Do you reckon it's our negative biases that we carry like like we it's almost like we have a preference for negative bias.And I always think about it like in terms of you have a busy day of consoles and you have all these great concerts and then you have one shitty consult and that's all you remember the entire day.
Yeah, we have some amazing puppy consoles and all of those other things and you like to help diagnose things and pets but you have one she consult one bad client and then suddenly your entire day is ruined like it's crazy how that demon gets up creeps up and really impacts on your day.I think it's all my thought on this is that it's around protection.
The vacation, you know, there's no there's no just not so much about that.There is value in remembering the good things.Right?But there's always listens to be learned so that you don't have to experience that thing again.So, you know, if you dwell on the bad so that you can develop strategies and how to stop that from happening again, and it's just becomes the thing that you do, you know, it's and when you step into something which is beyond something new or used Stepping up into a position then your brains telling you don't do this because it's protecting it to self-preservation.
You know that yeah, it doesn't want you to feel embarrassed because remember the last time you felt embarrassed.They won laughter do its kind of stopping you and it's literally just you got to learn how to eat don't listen to them in a demon.I don't think I don't think there's power and suppression them.
I think what do you suppress when you resist persists?It's a matter of just letting it flow past and then There's something cool that I've been trying recently and and it's part of acceptance to he and that is just thanking your brain.
Thanks brain.That was helpful.Right, you know, like you don't and and noted as I guess Aquino.Thank you stupid piece of shit.It's like you just like you just and then you let it go because if you fight it suppress it, then it comes back bigger and harder later.
Yeah, yeah.So in other words thanking it for trying to take care of you.I'm not but in all seriousness.No, don't you go.Okay.Thanks for thanks for looking out for me.Thanks for looking at me.I understand what you're trying to do, but thanks.Yeah, there's there's a Buddhist philosophy around demons and how they're actually considered teachers you like if you sort of reframe your demons as there's lessons to be learned out of here, and that's exactly what you're talking about.
Your auto is just that if you can Mm how you look at bad and count has a toxic events and just go.Okay.What could I have done better?What?Can I how can I have avoided that or prevented that from happening?Once again, this is my preventive brain going gate if this keeps on happening on a regular basis, what are you doing wrong to make that happen but having that time to reflect is also critical.
Mmm, and that that requires just stepping away from the vet practice.I remember my old practice.We used to have a vet.She would.Dead lunchtime we just get out of the clinic for all our and just just you know, go to the beach or whatever else and that was her way of just sort of switching that side of things not talking just Vetti stuff and I feel like that's a really healthy way to sort of live life.
But what you said earlier guy about that the negative thing stick and you don't notice the positive things.I have a strategy on that at the at the end of us.If if I especially with night shift exhausted anywhere some overemotional I'm close to close to tears regardless of what happened the night before but if I had if I have that feeling of that was really tough that was you know, client shouted at me or we lost a patient that I feel I shouldn't have lost any of that down depressed feeling.
I'll sit in the car before I drive home and it's not you say anytime you literally need five minutes and just just think about the night and mentally go through things up.I've seen and done.So I'll start with us negative words and evaluate them as you say look at.Okay, so what actually happened they was at was it partially my fault could have done something better.
What could I do better next time?No, okay move on from it.Yes learn from it and then go through.Oh, but remember that dog there one that we saved all of that really lovely client you were so grateful and then inevitably it will be nine to one positive to negative.
Yeah, and by the end of that thought process will be actually there's a great Hmm.I just I'm just remembering my mind is jumping to the negative ones who actually had a fabulous shift.I'm going to go home what there's sort of statistic and it's probably really bad pop psychology thing about the really successful or happy people in higher positions often keep gratitude Diaries, like they reflect on things that made them happy through the day.
Yeah, and if you do that on a daily basis, apparently you are going to be a much happier person.I think there is actual evidence behind Hind absolutely, I don't do it but I've heard it's part of it's a performance thing really.
It's you got to know performers.You said Usain Bolt.He doesn't just rely on random occurrences and thoughts to make things happen like he adds a structure to his day.He had to destruction to his thoughts.He A structure to everything and yeah, like highly successful high-performing people have structures.
They have Diaries they had thing they have prompts.So I have a diary and it prompts me to think about like, what is my key message today?What how can I be today that can bring value to someone else who was a person that I can reach out to and thank and show appreciation to you.
What is the what is the person that I want to be today?And then you have the nighttime and that's reflection upon.What was the moment you cherished in the day?And you know like as a coach to yourself, what would you do better today?So and going through that process and it's hard to make it happen because it takes about 10 minutes in the morning ten minutes night, but I think I totally believe it makes a difference and it's been one of the things that have that is that actually helped me become more professional we about this before but the struggle that I have or had was the person that I was in the hospital as a veterinarian was a joker person used to joke all the time and say univariate things because it's funny and then and then like it was just I was really I was really well-liked and had like a great relationships, but then when I transitioned into management and then to directorship and to business ownership, you know, there are there are things that I and and I had to intentionally over the last two years change the way that I was in a more professional manager in a more professional manner and I needed a structure to that.
Yeah.Yeah, and and have you still been able to maintain elements of who you are prior totally like that's why it's still a process because I I still make jokes and still play pranks, but there are certain.
Is why I don't go so yeah.Yeah, you know, it's just one of those things like I've I've always been meaning to do like getting public speaking coaching but one of my biggest fears is that it would ruin my style which is rather chaotic and its own kind of way.
But I think as you said we're professional, so if you want to be a professional in public speaking or any other thing you need to have that structure and then work out which roles which rules you can bend.Mmm, it's okay.Sztyc, right?
It's probably time to start wrapping up right Gerardo and we got time for for the for the for two of the of the quick questions.Go for it.Yeah.All right Guy books.Are you Rita?Yes.Yes.I am.I what am I reading?
Yeah, what couldn't work?Why do I need to read?What should I eat about to what we all need to add to reading list this year.Look.I don't think anyone's gonna be surprised when I say that I'm a big Science Fiction and Fantasy now, So I know you think the Millie with any of the science sci-fi fantasy novels.
I used to read a hell of a lot of sci-fi.So, okay.Did you ever read any Raymond device novels magician and all of that?Yeah, right.I actually own like the whole entire series or something.Yeah.Yeah.So like I remember reading the first book when I was like 14, you know moved up to Makai my parents split up really struggled with all things fantasy and then this library and I was just like I really can't stand talk and it's just all too often language and she's like Dan read this book.
Yeah, so she grabbed the magician gave it to me and read it and I think I completed it within like a week or two.Yeah.And so to me, it's always had this very pivotal moment in my life.And then like I read the series and then obviously got into vet school stop reading it and then the last book came out in what 2013 right magicians end.
Yeah, and then I only just finally read the last book maybe a couple of weeks ago and I had this like almost Morning, the sense of morning of just going by 20 books of the series.It's like long.Yeah Game of Thrones.Yeah, that's it.That's it and that but then like it's been such a pivotal part of my life since I was like 13 now but coming up to 37.
So, you know 23 years of just reading this one series and just going holy cow.That's like being such a big part of my life, then they're not the world's most well-written books like that.There's some things that sort of fall apart near the end, but You know what?
It's still still I guess it's amazing what the value can put into those books and how much of an impact they have had on your upbringing and I used to read the Discworld novel series.Like I love Terry Pratchett and all his work.Yeah.So, you know, I kind of went through that, you know, the the five stages of grief after finishing that last book just going to what am I going to read now?
And then and like like someone who's been dumped and then going on to Tender try to find you the quickest thing and subtract.Going onto my fucking is going what did the next novel series the series?Yeah, I'm reading like the lies of Locke.
Lamora.All right that one yeah one.Yeah.Yeah, I like that.So I've started it.I'm about a third of the way through I'm enjoying it.It is quite good.I think I heard of that on a another podcast actually is a book recommendation and I thought because I don't read fantasy.
Yeah, I should give it a try.I did enjoy, but that When is there a follow-up to that yet?Which Delights of lies of Locke lamora today?No idea.I don't think there are they when I finished it does I was really Keen to do the next one and then it was still in the pipeline.
It wasn't what I should actually look again with check my iBooks and see whether there has been another one that's come out but ya know so that that's and like I think I've downloaded a couple of other other fantasy novel series just sort of pick up something different when you Bring up fantasy novels now because I had fond memories when I was a child reading fantasy novels as well David eddings.
Yes.Yes time was the first fence and I've read but I Alex and I robbed the business partners.We did the kokoda challenge, which is a 96 kilometers trail run and retrain the like nine months beforehand and we used to run close to like on peak-to-peak weeks.
We would do atk's a week.And that was a lot of time running like a lot and I went through and I listened to all of they've and Eddie ins all over again all of like both series and then also remedy Feist all over again.
And now when I think of fantasy all I can experience is bathe pain and blisters and yeah, so yeah, I don't know.I haven't picked up a fantasy novel sense.Hey Hugh, so there are two other books out there that have come out the red seat under red skies and the Republic of Thieves the other book that I finished.
It was like it was the to my rebound after the magician series was it's called The Magicians by Lev Grossman the the clothes magician.It's like dating the girl with the same name, right?It's so weird, but the magician's is meant to be like Harry Potter for adults.
Okay, but it ends up being like if Narnia series if the 90s series was set in real world.Okay, it's okay.It's worth a read.It's look I churned through it pretty quickly the first book and it's it's okay.
It's not bad.Once again.I was still mourning but I still said let's get through this now.I'm just on two large law firm of the more.I yeah, I should actually look at that.Thanks for that that Chris could be right next to it.All right.I did the last one.We always finish with this question.So you end up at a congress.
Anyway, because you're that because you're the small animal vet of the world's best small animal vet or whatever.They choose you to speak at a Congress and now drinking that wine.Yeah, and you've got roast of the world's veteran in new graduates in front of you.
You've got a couple of minutes two minutes to give them one bit of advice.What what's your advice?Oh good grief.I think one thing I mean I could talk to you about antimicrobial resistance in wine passionate about it.But if I could talk to new graduates because I know that 85% them all going to be clinical practitioners.
I would tell them get good at euthanasias like a great treated like an art and and find your style for a dry remember doing my first euthanasia and like a having to tell some we have to put their dog down and I was just like this almost semi blubbering mess and not knowing exactly what to say.
And then this this vet who I worked with.She just said look go at the back write down exactly what you want to be saying.Yeah, and then sort of recited and then practice it and then use that at the next time you're doing a euthanasia.
So have it down pat of exactly what you're going to be saying and then what you want to finish up with and to me that really helped because I don't know about you guys, but for me the usually the only time whenever you start getting gifts is when you euthanize someone's pet.
Mmm and if you do a good euthanasia, I feel like that's what people remember you for.I remember living in New Zealand and having little old ladies.Up to me just going I hear you're really good at killing cats and I'm just like cool.Yeah.Well if that's what you're going to marry my so be it and so like I would tell people about like how we're using an anesthetic overdose and it's going to go up into the brain the brain goes to sleep and the rest of the body follows through and you might see a few things here and there and sort of explain that out and then I always tell the client like I always line the animal up with a cannula and aniline and I go cuddle fluffy because like fluff he's going to freak out if anyone else but you be there and then start giving it sometimes if I have a very generous Clint practice owner, I line up the cannula line with leftover Alf accent and follow that through with the Chaser of lethal Bob and then just sort of be there with the client know when to step out of the room allow them to mourn their pet and then walk them out.
Like that's that's their life that you're often holding like a lot of like special of the law ladies is then pet that you're holding is their child and You treat that body as as you would want to your own and then I often will say look, you know go home don't dwell on exactly how we got to this situation right here right now.
Think about all the years you've had with fluffy pour yourself a cup of tea or something stronger and then just think about the good times and then often you do a follow-up call later on down the track and I find I feel like if there's anything I like every time I've had a new grad come through or A student come through that's the one thing I always stress them is be good at euthanasias find your own style.
Don't try and imitate what I do, but just find a style that works for you and just go with that and just be authentic with what you do.Yeah, great.Doesn't it?That's a two minutes spilled in front of Congress.But I love this question every time somebody gives an answer I got.
Oh, yeah that that is the thing.That is they were so good.Various answers just like the just like the whole podcast.It's I love eye level.Yeah, I love it all the diverse people and we get to meet I'm gonna ask you guys a question.
What podcasts are you guys listening to you go?I listen to a lot of performance podcasts performance.Okay formats and Leadership.So, how could I how can I improve me in the areas where I struggle not necessary?
Well at this stage, I feel okay with my clinical I and involved with clinical training.So I keep up-to-date that way but I always think there's room to to to improve and improve efficiency and productivity not through working more but through working faster sometimes more like actually working with more Focus then also actually deciding what's important, you know, celebs It's named Jack you eat less less chatter more names for now.
Well, it's been a Richard is the the world leading performance coach.I listen to a lot of his stuff.He actually has a really good podcast called hpx that's hpx and he picks the best of all the podcasts so, okay, and it's a really broad one.
It's not just all about performance, but it's about Mind Body Health.It's actually been really good because it helps diversify what I listen to.To and in there is all leadership and building teams and my one of my most important roles is is developing teams.
So because if I want to move on to bigger and better things than I need to make sure that it was someone there who can do my job better than what I can do Yeah Yeah, Mmm.Everything else you do you recommend tell you Robin stuff's really good.
But hpx is is in been Richard has is the stuff that Actually, I think it's made the biggest bang for buck.So cool.Mmm Q.I'm a big fan of Tim Ferriss just because again, it's quite diverse.It'll be so I do a familiar with this stuff.
So just I feel like someone's recommended his work to me before.Yeah, so he just interviews again High performers or six very successful people, but that's from all Fields.So we anything from him.I'll I really liked it.It got quite often will speak to you writers.So So you mentioned the disc will Terry Pratchett recently.
So the most recent episode was with man forget but whether it was it also actually right Neil Gaiman, I just want it.Yes, because I thought Neil Gaiman share Tim Ferriss has podcast with him.Yes, Neil.You should listen to that if you're not so he talks about Terry Terry quite a lot.
Yeah, but when they work together and so that's really good.And yeah, so I like Tim Ferriss I like his stuff the hardcore history series if you haven't come across that that Tacular that's hours and hours of podcast and they but seriously I listen I listen when I drive to work.
I've got quite a long commute.Yeah, they three for our episodes and I can't wait for the next one.That's really speak to look at.Listen.I'm a bit of a Podcast Addict.So there's a probably two of my most regular favorites recent ones.I recently discovered the the Paris review.
Let's just the Paris review is writing it.So it's from with back from the 1940s or 50s or something.Interviews with all this really hard to how they write in their writing style and and then reading excerpts of their writing.So that's that's what I'm feeling more creative and less management minded.
Yeah, that's probably enough for now, but no I'll constantly on the search for for new and good podcast.Have you got any look?I'm a podcast faint the ones I just for me.It's a lot of comedian podcast.Like I said, I gained inspiration from our these guys are able to take Certain Concepts weave it into a story and then when people over some of them bomb spectacularly and others do it reasonably.
Well, so like I'm a big fan of lot of will Anderson's podcast.So we'll all safiye.He does Toph off and who else alright that's that that was literally me pressing the wrong way.I'll see ya I'm a big fan of De little dumb dumb club now, it is not fair everyone putting that out there now, There's lots of f-bombs.
It's lots of see bombs.It's just it's just bananas, but you know what?I love it because we sort of live in this very constrained world of language you can use and these guys just don't give a rat's and they just let loose at each other.They get comedians on it's pretty much just them ripping on each other.
Okay, and I generally enjoy that that to me is just a stress reliever the offshoot of that one was Fitbit.So are you guys familiar with deal Rook Geisinger he won?Logi for best new comer last year and he's currently at Melbourne comedy International International Comedy Festival.
He pretty much him and his this buddy Ben Lomond as they're sitting around a hundred and twenty kilos each and it's pretty much their journey to try and lose that way to mind that the premise is that it's whoever can get on under a hundred kilos gets $1,000.Oh, yeah.The journey sort of evolved from there and more it's more about met the mental health Journey that occurs along the way.
Oh, that's cool.Yeah really recommend that that's brilliant.All right, let's get something for you probably want to listen to in front of kids.Okay, my bad, but guys think is me time.That's what I would like us this American life and all of that stuff and you know various sciency podcast, but they're the ones that I've genuinely enjoy and look forward to on a regular basis.
Yeah.It's a spectacular medium.Yeah.Well Castle every year.Research and and homework.So yeah, my zone.Our time is actually watching YouTube Star craft videos.
So I'll write the Korean videos series that they are they are professional computer game players and it's okay.So so so this is a nerdy your side, but when we were going through vet school mean to other bodies, we just played Starcraft like the original Star crafter like we would come land.
Computers up and then just play that and that's how much we're into it.And then on thinking sometime in final year, we made a bet with one of our buddies Rob Wilkins.I don't know if you've ever met him.He's got a big old beard usually would wear sunglasses in class and just like what's going on with you buddy, but he was one of my housemates and we made a bet with him that he to play against one of our mates in Starcraft and if he lost he would shave off his beard so and like we know we were pretty okay, but Rob was very much all over.
Starcraft and so we had a Korean classmate going through vet school.And so we as we get milk cake, how could he would start countries like I'm all right.All right.Come come and Sub in as Jimmy.It's a Jimmy was flying from his house and then Rob just like what the fuck is going on here in the final dinner.
We put the photo of me and keep playing.Montage and he's like, yes, it's very nerdy.But that's what God does through grad school when I was when I was in 4th year when I was part of the uqv you say in president and studying and so forth.
I got this was actually my Segway out of a plane via computer games.I played.Wow.What a war crime.Oh, yeah.I got a couple characters up two levels.XD my GPA for that whole entire you dropped one whole GBA don't want to blame it on YouTube videos that you're gonna blame it on where I blame it on Wow, and I'm surprised I passed that year, but then at the end I actually gave up gaming like like as much as I used to play and now what it is is I live vicariously through professional Starcraft players are enough fair enough.
Yai.Yai.I just don't have the time for that anymore.I think that's something that Definitely I gave up while trying to juggle everything else pretty child.Now that Elliot's come along.I was like, yeah, I'm a chance nose ends there soon enough feel battle with video games will be keeping Iliad or for the computer games from five bed.
I think I think we'll play Starcraft with okay.Alright guys much for jumping on that was it was heaps of fun?Thank you.It's fun.I can't wait to thank you for having me.I'm like, I'm like, how could someone who's like into We help then if you feel worthwhile in the situation, but it's just it's just fun shooting.
It was a picture of the world's best small animal bed officially.They still haven't seen the new ones.
Sugar relationship with small these hey, it's not creepy at all.

Dr Guy Weerasinghe