381 - New Mother, Same Tech? How to Support Pregnancy and Parental Leave

Dr. Emily Singler, VMD, jumps right in with a question every practice owner should be asking, are we truly supporting our people through pregnancy and parental leave, or just hoping it works out? In this episode, she and Dr. Andy Roark unpack how smart veterinary parental leave planning, thoughtful postpartum support, and clear communication help protect team morale, reduce resentment, and keep great people in veterinary medicine long term. You will walk away with practical ideas for accommodations, keeping in touch during leave, and making the return to work feel supportive for both new parents and the rest of the veterinary team. This conversation is really about building a healthier veterinary team culture where everyone feels valued, supported, and excited to stay in the profession. Gang, let’s get into this episode! Pregnancy & Postpartum Considerations for Veterinary Teams on Amazon Dr. Know-It-All Card Game Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. Emily Singler is a 2001 graduate of Penn State University and a 2005 graduate of University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Her career in veterinary medicine has included experience in shelter medicine, private practice, mobile practice, relief work, mentoring veterinary students, and veterinary writing. She is a mom of four kids and 1 dog. Dr. Singler is the author of Pregnancy and Postpartum Considerations for the Veterinary Team , published by CRC Press in 2023. Her book was written to provide information and insight for veterinary professionals as they navigate their transition into working parenthood and as a resource to guide veterinary leaders who support expectant and working parents. She is also Certified as a RETAIN Parental Leave Coach through the Center for Parental Leave Leadership. She uses the expertise gained from this certification to advocate for the needs of veterinary professionals who are expectant or working parents and to educate veterinary leaders on ways to better support parents in the workplace. Mentioned in this episode: Office Hours w/ Dr. Andy Roark Inside the Uncharted Veterinary Community, Dr. Andy Roark hosts Office Hours where veterinary leaders can bring real-world challenges and get practical guidance from someone who understands the realities of practice life. These sessions give veterinarians, practice managers, and team leaders a chance to ask questions, workshop difficult situations, and gain perspective on issues like team dynamics, communication, burnout, and clinic operations. Instead of navigating leadership challenges alone, members get direct access to Andy’s insight along with the support of a community of veterinary professionals working through many of the same challenges. Register for Office Hours here! Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop Owning a veterinary practice comes with challenges no one teaches you in school. The Uncharted Practice Owner Summit, hosted at NAVC SkillShop in Orlando, is a hands-on leadership workshop designed to help owners strengthen their teams, improve operations, and make confident business decisions. This small-group, working session focuses on real-world tools and honest conversations, not passive lectures. Spots are limited. Register now! Register for Uncharted Practice Owner Summit at NAVC SkillShop here! On Demand Team Training Bundle Great medicine can still lead to tough conversations with clients. The Team Training Bundle gives your veterinary team practical tools to handle angry clients and communicate clearly in the exam room, so every interaction builds trust instead of tension. Flexible, on-demand training makes it easy to strengthen communication across your entire clinic. Learn more about the Team Training Bundle here! Register for the Dont Get Sued course!

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381 - New Mother, Same Tech? How to Support Pregnancy and Parental Leave is an episode from The Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast by Dr. Andy Roark.

This episode is 38:07 long.

This episode was published on Feb 19, 2026.

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