Kevin Fitzgerald’s AVMA return spotlights kindness and community
CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: AVMA’s My Veterinary Life podcast has brought back Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald for an update that’s less about a single policy or product change and more about the values shaping a long veterinary career. In the January 8 episode, Fitzgerald — a small animal veterinarian, author, comedian, and longtime public-facing voice from Emergency Vets — reflects on his newly released memoir, It Started With a Turtle, and on 43 years in practice, emphasizing kindness, community involvement, and lifelong learning as core parts of veterinary medicine. That message also fits the broader tone of recent My Veterinary Life episodes, which have highlighted “be kind and be brave” approaches to spectrum-of-care decision-making, compassion under pressure in training, and service-oriented veterinary work in crisis settings. Outside the clinic, Fitzgerald’s public profile has long extended into conservation work, including prairie rattlesnake research in Colorado and ties to Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance efforts. (podcasts.apple.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the update is a reminder that influence in this field isn’t limited to exam rooms. Fitzgerald’s career has blended companion animal practice, public communication, conservation, and community engagement, echoing broader One Health themes also highlighted in Cornell’s recent “Bio-Diplomat” podcast with Dr. Steve Osofsky, which framed animal, human, and environmental health as tightly linked. It also lands alongside AVMA podcast conversations stressing access to care, courage in spectrum-of-care practice, and compassion in demanding clinical environments. That matters for teams thinking about burnout, professional identity, client trust, and how veterinarians can stay visible in their communities as advocates for both animal welfare and conservation. (vet.cornell.edu)
What to watch: Expect more attention on veterinarians who can connect clinical practice with public education, conservation, community leadership, and practical access-to-care conversations as the profession continues to define its role beyond traditional care delivery. (vet.cornell.edu)