Beyond the medicine: What new veterinarians need to succeed
Episode 429 · Sep 08, 09:00 PM
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New veterinarians face a steep climb in their first years out of school: building clinical judgment, finding their voice with clients, and figuring out how to shape a sustainable career. In this episode, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA sits down with Anthony Coronado, DVM, vice president of emergency services for Thrive Pet Healthcare, to talk through what actually helps new graduates find their footing, from trusting their training to knowing when to ask for help.
In this episode
- Career foundations: Coronado discusses his path from general practice to emergency medicine to national leadership, and his advice for new grads — trust your training, lean on mentors, ask for help.
- Clinical judgment: Common early-career missteps, from skipping foundational workups to letting bias creep in, and why you treat the patient, not the test.
- Client communication: Presenting the full range of appropriate care without presuming what a client can afford.
- Documentation: Why accurate medical records aren't optional, and how AI and note-taking tools can ease the burden.
- Emotional intelligence: Managing conflict, building psychological safety, and reducing burnout on a veterinary team.
- Owning your career: Why growth is something you pursue, not something you wait for.
About the guest
Coronado began his career in general practice before moving into emergency medicine, a shift driven in part by financial pressure. From there, he progressed into leadership and partnership roles, helped develop programs at a national level, and now serves as vice president of emergency services for Thrive Pet Healthcare.