Dr. Stacee Santi, veterinarian, tech founder, and author of Stop Acting Like a Girl, joins Dr. Andy Roark for a conversation that challenges the norms women are handed and how those expectations shape careers in veterinary medicine and beyond. From the ER to the boardroom, Stacee has walked the walk, founding Vet2Pet, navigating startup negotiations, and now stepping into authorship and podcasting with her new show Everyday Wonder Women. In this episode, she shares the pivotal moment that inspired her book title, how generational beliefs shaped her journey, and why so many high-performing women still hesitate to speak up or negotiate their worth. This one’s for anyone mentoring women in the profession, raising daughters, or trying to build a more inclusive clinic culture. You’ll walk away with new insight on how to empower quieter voices, rethink staff meetings, and encourage decisive leadership.

Stop Acting Like a Girl Book

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Every Day Wonder Women Podcast

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Dr. Stacee Santi is a 1996 DVM graduate from Colorado State University and the founder of Vet2Pet, a tech platform for veterinary practices that was sold to Vetsource in 2022. With over 20 years in small animal and emergency practice, Stacee offers practical solutions for veterinary teams in tech, workflows, client service, and leadership. She’s also the author of Stop Acting Like a Girl, a book that encourages women to break free from outdated expectations and embrace assertiveness, confidence, and ambition. Stacee has served on multiple industry advisory boards, was past president of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, and was named 2021 Educator of the Year by the Western Veterinary Conference. She lives in Durango, Colorado with her husband, 6 horses, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 4 chickens, and dreams of a baby burro.

In this episode of the Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark is joined by Dr. Emily Tincher, Chief Veterinary Officer at Nationwide Pet Insurance, to explore how veterinarians can personalize care for individual pets, their families and to the disease. They discuss new research, tools like The Pet HealthZone®, and the power of clinical empathy. According to recent PetSmart Charities research, nearly half of pet families are questioning whether care is worth the cost. This episode dives into practical ways to keep care accessible, affordable, and aligned with clients’ goals and realities. They explore how personalizing care goes beyond cost. It's about matching treatment to what the pet family can realistically do, whether that’s giving medications, handling mobility, or managing emotional stress. This conversation is packed with actionable ideas for any veterinary healthcare team in the exam room!

This episode is brought to you by Nationwide Pet Insurance!

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Pet HealthZone

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Veterinary Leadership Institute – Giving veterinary professionals the leadership skills

All Dog Breeds Guide | Browse Comprehensive Guides by Dog Breed

Outpatient gastrointestinal foreign body surgeries performed in a nonspecialized setting have good outcomes for dogs and cats in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - Ahead of print

52% of U.S. Pet Owners Have Skipped or Declined Recommended Veterinary Care | PetSmart Charities

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Dr. Emily M. Tincher is a collaborative leader who uses data-informed approaches to create sustainable systems that meet the needs of pet families, veterinary healthcare teams, and businesses. She is a second-generation veterinarian and a graduate of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and she has worked in industry roles and in small animal emergency and general practices. As Chief Veterinary Officer at Nationwide, Dr. Tincher manages strategy and operations for pet health programs, develops partnerships within the animal health industry, and directs engagement with veterinary teams.

Dr. Tincher is President of the Board of Directors for the Veterinary Leadership Institute and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Veterinary Innovation Council. She co-authored a chapter in Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, "Cost of Care, Access to Care, and Payment Options in Veterinary Practice,” and has become a sought-after speaker, most recently on spectrum of care topics, presenting at major veterinary conferences across North America.

Dr. Steve Marks is building a vet school from scratch, and he’s not afraid to do things differently. In this episode, Dr. Marks, founding dean of Clemson University's College of Veterinary Medicine, joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about what it’s really like to start a vet school in 2025. From juggling seven buildings under construction to planning clinical clerkships and raising funds for student housing, this conversation covers it all. Dr. Marks shares his vision for producing day-one ready veterinarians, explains why Clemson chose a semi-distributed model for clinical education, and unpacks the challenges of placing students in real-world practices. They also dive into corporate partnerships, vet student recruitment, and what future vet students should know before applying. Whether you're curious about vet school trends, love a good underdog story, or want to know what veterinary education might look like in 10 years, this episode is for you.

Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University

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Dr. Steven Marks is the founding dean of Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University, set to welcome its first class in 2026. With curriculum development, faculty hiring, and facilities planning well underway, Dr. Marks is leading efforts to address a critical need for veterinarians in South Carolina and beyond. Passionate about the human-animal bond and veterinary education, he is committed to building a values-driven program that prepares day-one ready clinicians and scientists. As a proud Clemson parent and longtime advocate for veterinary medicine, he’s excited to shape a college that aligns with the University’s mission and serves both people and animals.