In this episode of VetMed Mind, hosts Rachel Teichberg and Shawn McVey sit down with Dr. Leslie Bauer—Medical Director at Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists in San Antonio. A dvm360 Veterinary Hero Award winner, Dr. Bauer shares her journey from a second-grader who dreamed of becoming a veterinarian to a 23+ year ER career devoted to elevating emergency medicine and the people who practice it.Dr. Bauer opens up about early imposter syndrome, working solo overnight shifts, and the long road to confidence—and why normalizing vulnerability is essential for retention and growth. She also details how she helped transform a “broken” hospital into a collaborative, training-centered center of excellence, and how Thrive is building a university-style ecosystem of interns and residents across multiple specialties (including ER as a true specialty track).In this episode, you’ll learn:How to navigate imposter syndrome without losing your love for the workPractical steps to build confidence: mentorship, movement, community, and reflectionWhy ER medicine deserves a seat at the governance table—and how advocacy changes cultureHow Thrive’s House Officer programs and ER Academy are shaping career-long ER vetsHiring and retention wisdom: set expectations, avoid crisis hiring, overcommunicateA powerful reframing: work is part of life—find joy in the profession you worked so hard to joinTo learn more about Dr. Bauer's work:Website - https://www.thrivepetcare.com/The VetMed Mind is a podcast project about sharing inspirational stories, lessons, and successes from the fantastic people of the veterinary industry.Key Topics Discussed: Background & career pathEarly calling to veterinary medicine (second grade)UGA College of Veterinary Medicine; dairy cattle focus early onER “bug” during first-year vet school while working nightsRotating internship at UPenn; move to San Antonio, TXEarly-career challenges & mindsetImposter syndrome; fear of mistakes and outcomesOvernight solo ER shifts; perfectionism; confidence gapDifficulty separating case outcomes from self-worthCoping strategies & growthWalking/exercise; “walkabout” as stress managementMentors/peers/therapy; normalize talking about doubtFocus on wins to counter negativity biasLeadership & ER advocacyElevating ER from “stepchild” status in vet medAdvocacy with data (surveys) to leadership/shareholdersPush for parity in benefits, governance, and collaborationHospital turnaround & culture buildingJoined Thrive; repaired a “broken” hospital via ownership mindsetStrong MD–PM partnership; accountability and continuityVisibility of value (P&L, intern impact) to avoid being “sold again”Thrive roles & programsMedical Director, Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists–San AntonioDirector, House Officer Training Programs (interns/residents)National Director, ER AcademyTraining ecosystem & cohort methodsER-track internships at 4 sites; mentorship safety net~95 house officers across specialties (IM, surgery, cardio, radiology), plus exotics and equine interns“University-style” model across locations with connected cohortsIn-person orientation; weekly didactics; case presentationsSymposium & continuing educationHouse Officer Symposium: RACE-approved CE, specialty-level contentCross-site networking; build relationships likely to carry into careersProfessional fulfillment & recognitionJoy in client communication and emergency decision-makingdvm360 Veterinary Hero Award (Emergency category)Team’s celebratory prank when award announcedMindset & resilience guidanceBe kind to yourself and staff; avoid snarkRemember your “why”; work is part of life—find joy in itConfidence comes with reps and support; don’t leave before it gets betterHiring, retention & management practicesSet and model clear expectations; avoid crisis hiringContinuous communication to surface issues earlyChoose the right people to prevent churnCulture rituals & operating cadence“Best business/best personal” check-ins (24 doctors)Pathway/strategy planning cadence for continuityDaily use of VGP tools and frameworksER’s position in specialty hospitalsER often contributes 30–50% of revenue but historically underrepresentedNeed for integration, respect, and leadership seats for ER