Dr. Sandra Faeh, Chief Medical Officer for NVA General Practice and past president of the AVMA, joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a question many seasoned veterinarians face: what’s next after years in practice? When your clinical skills are sharp and your days are full, it can be hard to imagine what growth looks like. Dr. Faeh shares how NVA General Practice is helping doctors at every stage of their careers stay curious and engaged through mentorship, leadership training, and hands-on programs at their new PetOne Veterinary Training Center. From orthopedic workshops and ultrasound support groups to bringing in-hospital training directly to teams, this episode is packed with ideas for keeping your spark alive in veterinary medicine. Whether you’re mentoring others, exploring leadership, or just want to fall back in love with learning, this conversation will remind you that growth never has to stop. Gang, let’s get into this episode!

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Dr. Faeh serves as the first Chief Medical Officer at NVA General Practice as well as the Immediate Past President of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

With over 25 years of experience as a small animal practitioner in the Chicagoland area, she has a passion for organized veterinary medicine, mentorship, and equipping others with the tools for success. After earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, she became the Managing Veterinarian and part-owner at Elmhurst Animal Care Center, along with three small animal hospitals in the Chicago suburbs. Dr. Faeh served as President of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, President of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, and Vice President of the AVMA. In July 2023, she was elected by industry peers to serve as AVMA President-Elect for the 2023- 2024 term, followed by the AVMA President for the 2024-2025 term.

At NVA General Practice, she also serves as the co-creator of their Mentorship Program. This hybrid program offers mentorship to new NVA General Practice veterinarians, providing hands-on and in-person surgical and dental support, as well as virtual medical and surgical lectures and case rounds. The program has helped over 500 new DVMs navigate the complexities of veterinary medicine and the struggles of healthy work-life balance.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, spending time with her husband and three sons, walking her dogs, Tobe and Rigi, and riding her horse, Ace.