When your clinic hits chaos, nothing hurts morale faster than a disappearing team member who slips away from the treatment floor when they are needed most. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle a real mailbag case about “Brenda,” a well-meaning but frustrating employee whose habit of vanishing during busy times leaves teammates overwhelmed and resentful. They dig into why this happens, how leaders can respond with compassion and accountability, and what veterinary managers can do to reset expectations and protect team culture. Let's get into this episode!

Set sail with us at the Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026, live at VMX on January 16 in Orlando. This exclusive one-day event is designed to help veterinary leaders turn ideas into action, build confidence in their next steps, and connect with a powerful community that believes in the future of vetmed. Spots are limited to keep the experience intentional and high-impact, so don’t wait, register today.

Step into leadership with the support and skills you need at the Uncharted Team Leads Summit. This one-day, interactive event is designed for veterinary supervisors and leads who want to strengthen communication, boost confidence, and guide their teams with purpose. You’ll learn how to handle team venting in healthy ways, explore practical AI tools, and shape your role so it works for you instead of the other way around. With small-group workshops, RACE-approved CE, and a community that understands the realities of leadership in vetmed, this summit is the perfect place to grow. Reserve your spot today: Team Leads Summit 2025

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Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Stephanie is a former practice manager who lives on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. With over 20 years of experience both on the floor and in the office, Stephanie is passionate about staff education, team culture, management and training. Stephanie loves to geek out about technology, especially Practice Management Software. She has experience as a practice manager in both private and corporate practices, ranging in size from one to seven doctors. She has experience as a consultant and trainer with AVImark software, paperlite/paperless transitions, practice management and staff training.