From Brooklyn Streets to Vet Practice Owner: How to foster Diversity (Tarron Herring)

Vet Life Reimagined guest is Dr. Tarron Herring. Less than 2% of veterinarians are black, and Dr. Herring has overcome many obstacles to achieve his childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian. His passion for preventative medicine took him to Banfield after vet school at Tuskegee. He has been recognized as one of the best veterinarians across Banfield Pet Hospital’s 900 locations nationwide, achieving “Top 10” doctors of veterinary medicine several times. He is currently a veterinary practice owner of PetVet365. 

Resources: 

• Video episode on YouTube
• Tarron's book, You Are Powerful: God Will Restore Your Marriage
• Tarron's book, 

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Transcript

Megan Sprinkle: [00:00:00] Welcome to Vet Life Reimagined. About 2% of veterinarians are black, even fewer are black males. But our guest today is here to represent, raised by a single mother in Brooklyn, Dr. Tarron Herring's, childhood and early adult adolescence was full of challenging circumstances. But he had the dream to become a veterinarian from a young age.

I'll let him share his full story, but I hope this conversation shows possibilities in veterinary medicine in a whole new way. He is now living a long dream of practice ownership. In May. He opened Pet Vet 365 at general practice in Philadelphia. He is also a motivational speaker with a particular heart to encourage men.

He is an entrepreneur, father of three girls, educator and author of several books, which we will link in the description below. So let's get to this powerful conversation with Dr. Tarron Herring. When did you know you wanted to get into veterinary medicine? 

Tarron Herring: Around the age [00:01:00] of, uh, nine in current of how that developed was I witnessed a, uh, dog in a neighborhood.

Getting hit by a car and just, you know, the seed planted in me that I wish I could do something for that dog. And so after that, just, you know, my mom, she would always watch animal shows and so it, that was a, a connection point for me and my mom. We would sit down and watch animal shows and that kind of helped, you know, to fuel the fire and the desire to go into veterinary medicine.

But you know, the environment that I was in wasn't necessarily an, an environment where I had access to veterinarians. And so, uh, it was always kind of like this big dream and I wasn't sure if I could reach it and to hold onto it as long as possible. And I recall going to one veterinarian [00:02:00] in the neighborhood in Brooklyn and just trying to get some exposure.

I just, and said, Hey. I don't want to be paid. I just want to like exposure and I'll clean your kennels. I'll sweep, I'll do whatever you want. Can I just, you know, shadow and I got turned down and now that I'm a, a veterinarian, I can understand some of that. There's some legal aspects that go that right?

But at that point in time I didn't quite understand it and so it kind of put a little damper for a little bit and I wasn't quite sure if I would be able to. To achieve this big dream that I wanted, you know, and it wasn't until I got into college that I met my, my first veteran. 

Megan Sprinkle: No, that speaks volumes to you being able to kind of put this picture together without it being so clearly put in front of you.

And I, I love that it, it was also a connection with your mom who, you know, based off what I know so much about you right [00:03:00] now is you probably had a very unique relationship with her, and to the extent that you feel comfortable. Again, as I was saying before we hit record, I think it's important for people to know what's possible and not to count themselves out.

You had a very unique upbringing. You kind of talked about being in some unique situations. Do you mind sharing a little bit about how you grew up? 

Tarron Herring: Yeah, so around that same age, my mother and father separated, um, and it was a, a pretty traumatic. Separation for, for me. I remember kind of hearing the argument and then my father leaving, opening the door and uh, I recall running to him and holding onto his leg and I mean, daddy, please don't leave.

And him rejecting me, kicking me off of his leg and saying, go to your mother. And that was, uh, a long, that was the last time I saw my father for about [00:04:00] 20. Plus years. So that situation, and there's many that have gone through the same situation of growing up without a father and, uh, father figure. And so what happened in that situation, as I was seeking identity and I was seeking guidance and leadership, my mother did best that she could, but as a a boy, you need to get from man.

Your life. And so that actually triggered me to go into and see in the environment that I was in, right? I went in and joined a crew. Crew that then snowball effect, right? And so I ended up getting into some true, some things that I shouldn't have done right. And I ended up getting a uh, um, and from that point on, that triggered something in.

That I needed to change, but I wasn't quite ready for it. So I still was kind of hanging out at the same [00:05:00] Paul. And it was to a point where, you know, I got kicked out envelope on my first high school. So it was a journey, but I'm grateful for it be kind, shaped me, uh, um, building me the spirit of perseverance and not giving up, you know?

And so I was introduced to a program, uh, for inner-city youth. It's called Sponsor for Educational Opportunities. And when I was introduced to that program before then, I was kind of just struggling trying to hold on. My grades weren't the best, right? But in this, they helped to prepare you for higher education, but I also introduced you to things like business.

And so I was so grateful to be, uh, introduced to this program because at that point I was introduced. Someone named Theresa. She was one of the instructors there. And, um, she changed my life forever. She spoke life to [00:06:00] me that I had value, I had this and that I could achieve, uh, this dream that I had. And so, uh, from that point on, she really kind, kind of helped to mentor me and helped to get me into college.

And I got into Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. That's kind of how, um, the beginning started. 

Megan Sprinkle: That's a huge deal. And then, you know that the college years, of course are, are the crucial part to prepare for veterinary medicine. And you, you mentioned that it wasn't until college, until you met your first role veterinarian.

So who was that and were they small animal, like what did they do and how did that kind of shape your thoughts around what your career could look like before you got into vet school? 

Tarron Herring: Yeah, abso, so I met two, uh, three veterinaries actually at Lake University. Uh, but before then, you know, as uh, an African American [00:07:00] child going into a profession where there is, you know, I never really saw, if I saw a veterinary, they didn't look like me.

And so, uh, holding onto that was, was definitely a challenge. But when I, to Link University, I was in. Introduced to three vegetarians and one of them were practicing at the time, they were actually instructors for things like biology or science and chemistry. So it was Dr. Royer, Dr. Ford. And, and so by meeting those three individuals, it really helped me.

Dr. Ford is Caucasian. He really rocked his arms around me. That I wanted to be a veterinarian. All three of the veterinarians really, uh, poured into me in their own unique way. He really took me underneath his wing and, and introduced me to different programs that I could use it to. And he played a major role in, in me being able to, [00:08:00] to move forward to veterinary school.

So, uh, that was the first time that I, I got to see and, and say, Hey, you know. I can actually do this. You know, there's a ve that look like me and they're, they're doing, so why can't I, you know, and my wife, who's my college sweetheart, we met in college and I was so motivated to this dream that I took 21 credits my first year.

Anyone who goes, uh, into college, 12 credits your first semester, because they wanna make sure that. You can get through this. I went bonker and my book bag was busting at the seams. Uh, and I really, really motivated to, to achieve this thing. I was so motivated in that I would literally go to class in the morning, and most time you would finish class by about four.

I would then [00:09:00] just grab a bite to eat, maybe take a. Brief nap and I will go right back to the classroom and study from six o'clock, seven o'clock until four, five o'clock in the morning. And I would do that every day, including the weekends. My wife can can verify that. And so it was pretty insane. 

Megan Sprinkle: Were your dates, study dates then?

Tarron Herring: Our dates were pretty much study dates, yes. I was my wife's tutor. 

Megan Sprinkle: Well, and I'm sure that dedication is, is probably what caught the attention of, of these veterinary mentors that you discussed was like, man, he is serious. So, you know, that also probably gave them a lot of confidence that this is the kind of attitude that you need to make it as a veterinarian.

Now, when you were, you know, you had this dream in your mind. Of being a veterinarian. [00:10:00] Did you picture small animal veterinarian in private practice? What did that look like to you? 

Tarron Herring: Yeah, that's a question and uh, I'm glad you asked that. So, in school of veteran medicine, and I'm grateful for the education that I got there and the unique challenges that I was able to be exposed to there.

And so I was the emergency student. So I got exposure to things early on parvo and things like that. But I found myself having this passion towards the end of vet school for ophthalmology, and I did internship with, uh, Dr. N White when phenomenal, phenomenal ophthalmology. I got to study underneath her for a little bit and so sure.

But even to the point where in small animal, they asked me if I could. Teach the ECG students, uh, a little bit of [00:11:00] ophthalmology. And so I did that for a little bit, which was awesome while I was in vet school. So, and my senior re uh, presentation was on all things eyes, right? And so I'm on the stage and I'm walking back and forth.

I'm doing my thing right. And, uh, you know, Megan, I, I couldn't be any further from ophthalmology. I still do, uh, love eyes and I still do get excited about eyes, but I have fallen in love with preventative medicine and that's where I'm kind of, uh, at right now. As well as things like, uh, mentorship and develop, um, of young doctors as well.

So that's kind of what things are right now. 

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. Well, not all veterinarians love eyes, so that rare case that comes in, I'm sure they're happy to give it to you. To follow his interest in preventative medicine. In 2007, Taryn joined a Banfield practice in Maryland. [00:12:00] Interestingly, it was a male dominated practice.

He describes the practice as a fun environment where they would play tricks on each other. 

Tarron Herring: So it was lots of fun. We did lots of silly things. The days were very, very interesting. But how I fell in love with preventative medicine is. I just have this passion or a mentor telling me that, you know, when you're doing your exam on a patient job is to find what's wrong.

And soon I settled that thought in my mind and took this approach with my patients that I wanna prevent them from getting sick as much as I possibly can. And it's the best way for me to do that. Approach them with the thought that there's something wrong. I need to prove myself wrong, that they're 100% healthy.

So every time I approach [00:13:00] my patient, I'm taking detail. You know, I'm really putting a lot of focus. And what I've found was that I then started to see that, uh, you know, I'll use my own dog, uh, family dog as an example. Through preventative blood work, we were able to, ID was in renal failure. We would not have dev, you know, discovered that without doing that routine blood work that was then able to extend his life.

Right and give him more during, give more time with him. He eventually passed away due to it. But the fact that we were able to catch that and give additional life is, is something that really drove me. I really want to do this more for more of my patients, if that makes sense. Oh yeah, sure. I hope I answered that question completely.

Megan Sprinkle: Oh, no, you did. Yeah. It does sound like your first environment, you know, as a veterinarian WA was a very [00:14:00] fun environment as well as you had these opportunities to kind of see. How you can impact the life of your patients and through that, your clients, as well as being able to be on that very front line of watching and making sure that you catch things as quickly as possible and try to, again, keep them as healthy as long as possible so you don't have to worry about more emergency situations.

So I, you know, and, and you even shared that one story with me when we first spoke about the cat that presented that was pulling its hair out and understanding that there's a lot to what we have to do. I is understanding our clients in this, in this situation of our patient. I think you're, it looks like you remember that this case.

Do you wanna share that real quickly? It sounded like it was an impactful case for you. Yeah, 

Tarron Herring: absolutely. And so. Along those lines by approach, um, [00:15:00] veteran patients, I approach them with a holistic approach. Right? So now am I doing an exam, as I said, from the router to the tutor, um, and Clyde, who really pickles article.

I say that, which is awesome. So I hope to kind of break the ice, but also understanding that there. A human component comes with this, right? And a lot of veterinarians, we laser focused on our patient that we're not really paying attention to that human that is attached, right? And of our colleagues will say, if we from, why don't you go into bat Med?

Well, oh, I didn't, I don't like people. And, and the truth of the matter is. Think you have to deal with people. And so with that particular patient, you know, uh, I like to have conversations with her about when I see these conditions that can be connected to [00:16:00] stress, uh, about how their home admin is. Right?

And so in this particular case, this cat was pulling its hair out. You know, it turns out that the, the home environment was a stressful. You know, I had to have a conversation with the owner about a way for me to treat your is to also have to play a partnership and play a role, and the system at home has to improve, right?

Many of us just like, Hey, you do with your home stuff and. And best of luck. I do think that it is important. And then we have a duty as veterinarians for this holistic approach. I'm not saying diagnose the owner. What I am saying is need to find out what's happening at home so that their understanding and have a better chance of treating out patients appropriately.

And so I'll have a real conversation and say, Hey, you know. Unless the environment at [00:17:00] home improves you, dealing with anxiety improves, it's gonna be really hard for me to treat my patient. So whatever, you know what you need to do in that situation, wanna bring it to your attention that in this partnership, that's the role that I need you to really work on.

Right? And so you'll be surprised, you know, a lot of us off. Afraid to have that conversation because we're afraid of what the owners wanna stay, and I will be very honest and transparent. I haven't had a single owners not thank me for that because ultimately they want to do what's better, but they don't realize that, Hey, I might be contributing my pet stress.

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. I mean, and especially when it comes to cats, right? It could be the small, well to us. Yeah, it seems like the smallest thing. And it's also nice to hear that from all your years of being a veterinarian, no one has gotten upset [00:18:00] with you or defensive. It is more of a, oh, okay. That makes sense. I get it now.

Thank you so much for pointing that out. Yes. It's 

Tarron Herring: about a pro, right? And it's about about how you say things, right? And it to that. If you don't establish trust, right? It makes having those very important conversations hard. And so one thing make sure that I do is I establish trust with my pet owners. And that looks different for different, you know, but if we don't take the time to really deal with that human component of it.

Then it could be really, really challenging. You know, some of our colleagues are very, very abrupt, hate and civil if we're very abrupt. That can really make it challenging. 

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. Well these are also. Things that I think are important when it [00:19:00] comes to being a leader too. So building trust with the people that you work with.

And you mentioned that's something that you're very passionate about now, and I, I can see that was a big trajectory for you within Banfield, is that you really became quite a leader and maybe those business skills from high school, uh, came into play too. You were not only successful on the, the human leadership side, but also from a business perspective.

So do you mind sharing a little bit of, of how your career grew and, and how you became the leader that you're proud of today? 

Tarron Herring: Yeah, so it's definitely been a, a long journey and I'm grateful for this journey. You know, I step into leadership roles, a director of. Veterinary quality for a number of years and being able to really help develop young doctors and support.

You know, I, I really [00:20:00] enjoyed, uh, enjoyed spending time with my people and, uh, I remember once saying, take people with you. Right? You're on a journey. Take people with you. And so what many of my doctors would, I, I wouldn't go in and say, uh, hey, just fix that. Fix this. I will go in and I would genuinely have a conversation with them and many of the doctors I still am in contact with even to, to move on and, uh, do a few different things with a profession.

But just talking with them and the type of support I provided for them. Not only it impacted them as a veteran, impacted them on this journey called life. And so I always lead with my heart and I went on to held roles like director of operations, director of inflation, director of strategic partnerships.

Uh, a lot of it was a lot of fun, [00:21:00] you know, all these things. Uh, I really enjoyed doing. It's all helped kind of me to, uh, the individual that I am, where now I'm stepping into actual ownership, which is a little different, right? But all those are playing a role in what I'll be able to do now with, uh, practice ownership.

But I think that sometimes we try to fit people into what we think they should be. And what pros I've always taken is. I want to help you, the best you. And so whatever that looks like, whatever your dream is, I'm not here to say, Hey, I should do this. I'm here to help you really lean into how you see things and what your dream, right?

So how could I support you to do that? 

Megan Sprinkle: Yes. Which is all that we're trying to discuss here on the podcast as well. So excited that you agree in trying to find [00:22:00] everybody's unique path. Before we get too far, because I'm not quite sure where this fell for you, and I think that also helps us know how to lead others, is to kind of reflect on our own challenges through our career and, and you were open with me and you mentioned that you have gone through burnout.

Do you mind sharing a little bit about when that was, kind of what happened? Because I think it's nice to see people on the other side, um, who have gone through some of these hardships. So do you mind sharing a little bit about that? 

Tarron Herring: Absolutely. That's actually a big part of my testimony. 

Megan Sprinkle: Taryn was early in his career at the time, only four years in still full of massive zeal to save lives and be the best veterinarian that he could be.

He was promoted to chief of staff in a Banfield hospital that he described needing some love and care. And sadly, this was also the time he was dealing with two deaths in his family. That hit him very hard, starting with his father, [00:23:00] 

Tarron Herring: my father, who I had, you know, just rekindled this relationship with.

Finally found him and he was saying, Hey, I'm so sorry. I said, listen, I forgive you. Tell me who I am. Right? Unfortunately, he got diagnosed with cancer, uh, passed away soon after that. So that left a void. Uh, as veterinarians, we try and push through and, and, you know, not really emotions, right? But then I had soon after that, another death.

And, uh, a brother that was sudden, he had a heart attack and passed away. And so. Those two deaths. Uh, and you couple that with the approach of, I'm just gonna push through. Right. I'm not gonna focus on that. I, I'm trying, I'm gonna be okay. I just need to keep doing what I'm doing and keep moving forward.

Right? Well, uh, [00:24:00] one day it all kind of came to it head and along with seeing these patients, I'm, I'm giving my heart every day. I'm in my soul every day. Uh, I remember being in an exam room and it was a simple case of an ear infection and, uh, for the life could not recall the Titis external. I was stuck staring at the screen and one of my great client, uh, was with me for a long time, said, are you okay?

And, um. I stopped and I said, uh uh, back. And I went out into the treatment area and I, it was almost like I was in this glass box and everyone was moving around me, but I couldn't, it was like I was paralyzed and it was at that point that I [00:25:00] reached out to and medical director and. And explained to her the situation, and she came and ported me.

Then she said, you need to take a break. And I was, I said, no, no, no, no. I gotta just keep working. I gotta just keep, I, I don't wanna give up on my patients. I, I can't leave my team. And she said, you need to get well. And, um, I thank her so much because. I was able to take time. I was able to process what happened, right.

And I was able to come back better. But because of what I went through, I was, I, I consider myself to be a survivor of that. 'cause we know in our profession it breaks my time. I hear about a SLU using another colleague, but it's a very real to address and we need to pay attention to. [00:26:00] We need to support our people in a way where we understand that it is okay to step away and to process and deal with that frustrations that heavyweight.

Um, I'm also a very religious and that helped tremendously as well, and my mentor also were as well. And so that, uh, she was able to, to talk. With me about scripture and stuff like that and into that. But, uh, that played a tremendous was as, as well. And so when I talk to Doc about overcoming compassion fatigue and burnout and tragedy, uh, that it's a process.

It takes time. I think sometimes we tell ourselves a story that, oh, this should be a quick right, this bounce back ability. I got the ability to bounce back. I can do this. I see these patients all [00:27:00] day. I can get through this, right? And the truth of the matter, some of these things are so heavy and so go so deep that you need to really walk it out.

And that is okay. That doesn't make you a weak person, make you less of a doctor. You know, it actually sets you up for success. Other side. Um, I, I'm better off. Now and I can handle things much better and differently. I am more compassionate. I think that as veterinarians we do need to have that, especially as male veterinarians.

Uh, we do need to have that passion, um, that really helps us to address the patients and those that we see every day and the doctors that we work with. 

Megan Sprinkle: When you say you have more compassion, uh, it sounds like you, you are meaning in the context of, of your maybe your clients, or do you mean more compassion towards yourself or, or both?

Tarron Herring: In all, all the [00:28:00] above. Yeah. Right. More compassion for, for myself. So I give myself more grace, give myself more space to feel my family, you know, how I approach my daughters. I approach them from a position now of seek to understand and when it comes to my patient owners, again, that seek to understand and hey, you know, it's okay that you may not completely sure of how important diet is, right?

And stuff like that and exercise. And so it's given me this muscle. To approach such a place of love. Right. Uh, because I've had to develop this muscle of self-love, right. And so now that I love myself much better, it's made much easier to love others through their times, [00:29:00] through their challenges, through those sticky points.

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. And you mentioned especially male veterinarians, and you have become very. Dedicated to supporting males in general. I, I think you, you've dedicated a lot of supporting other men and I, I think there's, I mean, I, this is coming from a female, but there's, there's a lot of lack of support. I, I think from general and, uh, you know, it's unique from you too because you, you started out with kind of.

Lack of, you know, male support. Uh, so you, you know, what that's like and the importance of it. And, you know, I also think it's kind of funny that your first job, you landed with a bunch of men. Um, so you were able to, to get some male counterparts though. And I even, I asked you a, a question in our. Her pre-call about the lack of men that are coming into veterinary medicine too.

And I was like, you're the perfect [00:30:00] person, I think, to ask this question. It was like, why do you think that is? And so from your perspective, someone who is very passionate about supporting, you know, men in general and, and looking at, at the evolution of our profession and, and we're just getting less and less men in this profession, why do you think that is?

And what are your thoughts around that? 

Tarron Herring: Yeah. Yeah, it's definitely a concern for me 'cause you respond, there's fewer male, uh, entering the profession. I do think that it's something that we need to pay attention to, but in reference to why I think there's this shift, I think that one, the profession itself has shifted into a very emotional streamline.

Where, for example, fear Free. You know, you take your time with Fear [00:31:00] Free, you have to lean into it a little bit differently. And one of the things that as I travel around and I speak to capa, there's this part, um, and not every male is going to willingly say this openly, uh, but there's, we've, our culture.

Tells right that we can't show emotion. So if something happens, we need to be strong. You need to man up and you need to push through. Even I remember being a young kid and, and you know, and my uncle would be like, you better not cry. Wipe your face and get back out there. And that stays with us for a long time and into our adult lives as a.

So that there's this lack of emotional intelligence, and I'm not saying aren't intelligent. They're very intelligent. What I mean by that is that emotional component, [00:32:00] we actually bury that. We push that down and we don't really deal with or focus in or lean into those soft skills. Okay? I need to be more compassionate.

I need to love a little bit more. I need to be more incentive. Like if you tell a man you need to be more static, they're gonna, they may take that offensively, right? And so our profession as it's pivoted to have more women in it, which is awesome and great, has developed this muscle, this area that requires more emotional intelligence.

You need to more compassionate with the owners. You need to be more sensitive. That, and those are all terms that actually are turnoffs for most males, right? Oh, what do you mean I gotta be more sensitive? What do you mean? You know, I just want, you know, treat and go home. I don't wanna deal with that. The other aspect of it [00:33:00] is when it comes to Marie.

I do think that there's an area that we need to really look into as far as veterinarians being paid, um, and valued as they should. I do think there's a number of situations where veterinarians are undervalued and males don't take that very well. I think women are a little bit more, um, understanding. We don't have that patience.

And there's so many other opportunities of, of making money, uh, in other ways. So, uh, there's a lot that goes into being a veterinarian. It's not an easy job at all. Sometimes I feel like I'm a psychologist, right. But I think that we need to reignite that, that fire, and if that makes sense. 

Megan Sprinkle: It does, and I just have to comment.

You say women are sometimes more patient. You, you make that sound like a good [00:34:00] characteristic sometimes that we're, we're criticized for that 'cause we're not advocating for those wages and things, but so, you know, you're, you're saying teaching more emotional intelligence and soft skills might help. But if, if.

If some of these things that are, you know, changing in the profession and I, I see that it definitely can be more an emotional profession than it was a, a decade ago because our, our patients are now being seen as family members and so it becomes more an emotional situation because, you know, pets are seen in, in a more emotional way.

So if, if some of the problem is just, it just doesn't sound like something they wanna do, how might we encourage people before, you know, they're already in vet school and we need to teach these skills. Like how can we make it sound like still something that in our, or going to thrive and feel [00:35:00] good in, if that makes sense.

Tarron Herring: Yeah. Yeah. We need to improve how we present veterinary medicine. To your point, wanting to present. Correct. You know, we're seen as part of the family and as a result of that, there's this massive emotional component that comes with it, and males just ideally. I don't like to deal with that. Right. But I do do think that we can approach this and improve this by one, speaking about the many avenues the profession offers.

You know, for a very long time, I really thought that there was only one avenue and it's to go into clinics in some way, shape, form, or fashion. But there's so many different aspects. Veterinary medicine. So many things you can know. I have a [00:36:00] classmate that is not just a veterinarian, but she's an attorney.

Right. And she's loving what she's, you know, talking about coming to nutrition. Yes. Like, you know, men like to be fit, Jim. Things like that, that's masculine. It, that's an approach it can take. I think that would've went over well. I competed as a natural bodybuilder at one point. And so nutrition was massively important that time and even to this day, it's still something that is important even even though from time to time I go on this, stop binge pepper wings, don't tell anyone, but speaking more about what's out there.

And our profession is such a vast, and so by doing that, it will then allow males to see how they fit into that. We're going and speaking to a group of high schools and I, when I go and I speak to students, I [00:37:00] often talk about the many aspects of veterinary medicine, right? And I was showing some models to talk about an anatomy, and a young man came up to me and he just so shocked, he said, wait a second.

I actually have a business where I'm doing 3D models, actually counting out being a veterinarian because I couldn't connect those dots. You just, you mean I can create these? Yes, yes. You can create models, right? And be a veterinarian. Seems like this is you just like, you just blew my mind. You know? I really had cut it down and thinking about.

Being a veterinarian and I was just gonna go and just do business. Right? So I think by doing that, we will little by little improve male turnout, an interest in veterinary medicine. And I, in addition to that, I [00:38:00] think that we need to expose the youth to veterinary medicine. The other aspect of that is that a lot of individuals and children in the inner city, they have no idea.

When I go and speak in the city, they go, you're a black veterinarian. What do you, I don't understand, do that. So exposure, I think also plays a, a key role in turning that route. 

Megan Sprinkle: Well, I promise I did not know what you were gonna say, but I'm glad to hear that since again, that's the mission of that life reimagined.

So share the podcast and maybe we can help, but, but it's so funny that you say that, and I kind of wonder if, if one of the guys who came up to you about the 3D models is someone I've had on the podcast that I've had two guy veterinarians who have gone into where their complete jobs are 3D modeling. In relation to veterinary medicine and one of them, he majored in bioengineering.

[00:39:00] So yeah, he came from an engineering perspective into veterinary medicine. He's a veterinarian and, and now he does this, and I've interviewed so many. Men who are extremely entrepreneurial, they've started businesses, you know, all sorts of things. I have to actually go back and see what my proportion is from, uh, girls and boys for my guests.

I actually feel like it, it might be somewhat even because I, I really do, I find people with s career as, and they just, you know, they're just whoever they are. But yeah, like there are so much different things and it is so much fun to highlight all these different areas of veterinary medicine that can a appeal to so many different backgrounds.

Again, I think that's one of the neat things about our profession is there's so many different options to live out. Yes. Your what's what you're passionate about. 

Tarron Herring: Absolutely. And I can't tell you, and you know, I'm bridging to the choir [00:40:00] here, but colleagues have found those unique paths. Actually lip filled life.

So it is definitely possible. We just gotta put it out there and make people aware that it's available. Yeah. 

Megan Sprinkle: Well, um, I, I love this story that you shared with me so much, and I think it, it's somewhat of a, a good segue because it is talking about emotions because I think pets bring out some of these emotions in us like we've been talking about and even for ourselves.

And I love that you shared with me that your favorite dog is a pug. And do you mind sharing a little, a brownie and your history with pugs? 

Tarron Herring: Yes. Yeah. If a pug comes into the room, hands down, I'm going for the pug, you know, and it fills my heart. And so I was doing a surgical exter and I had Brownie with me.

And Brownie would love to go. Walking around being [00:41:00] the surgical patients and letting them know, Hey, everything's gonna be all right. You're going to get through this. And, um, you know, one day one of the technicians came in, uh, she had, uh, adopted, uh, two boys from Cambodia. And, uh, when they saw, when one of them saw, they said dog, and it was one of the first words that they've ever said.

And, uh, so it was a very emotional time. She crying. Everyone's like, oh my God. Um, but at that point in time, I knew Brownie's purpose was to go with that family, but now every pug to me is Brownie. So I, I really love pugs. I pretty soon, you know, I talked to my daughter, it was about type of breed we're gonna get, and I told them, you know, there's no negotiations.

Um, because my daughter has allergies, but I said once she goes to college, it's pug city. Although I'm up battle because my youngest wants to be a [00:42:00] veterinarian. Um, she loves dalmatians, so she has a million dalmatian stuff, so we may have to battle that one out.

Megan Sprinkle: Well, maybe a dalmatian and a pug will get together. They're, they're very different, but this is something they don't know. I'll have to see. 

Tarron Herring: And the magnitude of issues in both. Right? 

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. Good thing you're a veterinarian. 

Tarron Herring: Be 

Megan Sprinkle: well. Thank you so much for sharing. This has been an amazing conversation. The time has just flown by.

Yes. Thank you. Um, the last question I wanna ask though is what is something that you're very grateful for right now? 

Tarron Herring: I'm very grateful to con, to move forward. So many people give up and they give in. And throughout my life there's been ups and downs, [00:43:00] but I've also, uh, wanted to take an approach of failing forward.

So you can't prevent yourself from falling down, right? But you can prevent yourself from up. And so I always fight to get up. Continue to move forward. And so I'm grateful to be able to continue to, to move forward and grow and, uh, meet amazing people along journey like yourself. I'm, I'm able to continue to, to do things with people that I love.

Megan Sprinkle: I hope you enjoyed this fascinating veterinary story. We can make an impact in so many places. Check out the show notes for lots of resources. Please make sure you are subscribed on your podcast app. Subscribe on the YouTube channel and follow me on LinkedIn where I hang out the most. You can contact me on LinkedIn on the website@vetlifereimagine.com and brand new is that you can text me to send me a text [00:44:00] message.

Find the link at the top of the show notes below that says. Send us a text message. I wanna thank our longtime sponsors, fire Consulting and Will Hughes who support the podcast over on our hosting platform, buzz brought. You can support the podcast too. Just check out the show notes for a link, and I hope to see you next time on VE Life Reimagined.