Leadership, Mentorship, and a Lifetime of Giving Back (Dr. Mehdi Mobini)

What does it look like to live by the words "good thoughts, good words, good deeds" for nearly 50 years — across multiple countries, species, and universites?

Dr. Mehdi Mobini's answer is this episode.

This is the first in our new One Community series, created in partnership with AVTE — the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators. One Community is built on three pillars: leadership, innovation, and mentorship. Dr. Mobini embodies all three.

A veterinarian trained in Iran who came to Auburn during the hostage crisis with no money and no safety net, Dr. Mobini went on to become a small ruminant specialist, a veterinary technician program director, a six-year AVMA Board member, and one of the most consistent advocates for the veterinary technician profession in rooms where that voice has not always been welcome.

Learn more: avte.net/avtecore

Resources & Links

• Watch the video of this episode on YouTube
• AVTE — Association of Veterinary Technician Educators: avte.net
• AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA): avma.org
• American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners: aasrp.org
• Podcast Club Guide for takeaways and application

Vet Life Reimagined | AVTE One Community Series Episode 1 | Dr. Mehdi Mobini

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AVTE - One Community Series
One Community, created in partnership with the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators.

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Transcript

Mehdi Mobini: [00:00:00]  It kind of is a gratitude to me that shows me how you have to re- have a village to raise a professional

Megan Sprinkle: I'm so excited to introduce a new series on Vet Life Reimagined, created in partnership with AVTE, the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators, and their One Community initiative.

One Community is built on the belief that none of us succeed alone, that leadership, innovation, and mentorship are not just individual qualities, but collective commitments. It is a call to collaboration and engagement to building relationships beyond professional interactions and to creating a network that supports mentors and inspires.

Every guest in this series will embody those values, and our first guest is a perfect example of all three. Dr. Mehdi Mobini has been a veterinarian for nearly [00:01:00] fifty years, trained in Iran, educated further at Auburn University during one of the most difficult moments in Iranian American history, and shaped by a lifelong philosophy rooted in an ancient Persian tradition, good thoughts, good words, good deeds.

His career spans large animal medicine and surgery, small ruminant specialty work in sheep and goats, a field he helped pioneer in the southeast United States, veterinary technician program development at Fort Valley State University, extension veterinary work across Georgia, and six years on the AVMA board,

Where he served as one of the most consistent advocates for the veterinary technician profession. He has done mission work in Bangladesh, Jordan, Afghanistan. He helped validate the FAMACHA card, a simple, elegant tool now widely used across the US and other countries to manage parasites in small ruminants.

He has mentored students who wanted to drop out and watched them [00:02:00] become superstars, and he has done all of it with a quiet conviction that it takes a village to raise a professional. In this conversation, we talk about his remarkable journey, the state of veterinary technician education and utilization, what it really takes to lead at the national level and what he believes, with 50 years of evidence behind him, about what mentorship can do.

Let's get to the conversation with Dr. Mehdi Mobini

 when did you know that you first wanted to get into veterinary medicine?

Roots and Early Path into Veterinary Medicine

Mehdi Mobini: Well, I'm originally from Iran, so I didn't grow up, here in the US and, I immigrated later on in life. I know I liked animals because we had cats. We had, uh, in the house, and we would play with the, hens and roosters and all kind of animals, sheep sometime. during the summer month, I would go to my uncle who [00:03:00] had a farm, and he was raising dairy cows. So I was around the farms and, the way going to the university worked is that you had to take a national exam after your diploma, then you choose groups that you wanna go into. So I was interested in medical groups, so you kinda choose your, area of interest, and I was matched with, veterinary medicine.

Now, had an opportunity to change later on, but that was my interest, and I, uh, continued in veterinary medicine. of course, large animal, that was, that was where my interest was

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. Do you remember back when you had the opportunity to change, what was it that kept you there? Was there something specific

Mehdi Mobini: was either dentistry, that was the choices I was given, and staying in veterinary medicine. And I wanted to concentrate on the whole animal [00:04:00] versus a portion of the medicine. So I, uh, I chose veterinary medicine

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. Now, what is the training like in Iran? Is it, do you have to pick certain tracks? Do you do all species through vet school? What is vet school like?

Mehdi Mobini: When I, 

Veterinary School in Iran

Mehdi Mobini: when I was going to vet school, the one I went to, of course, after 49 years, things changes. but the one I was going to, it was a new veterinary school in, a south of the country, in a city called Shiraz, which has a very ancient history in the Iranian civilization. , Persepolis is probably most famous, , historic, figure in that city.

So, the university was called Pahlavi University, was named after the late Shah of Iran, and, uh, it was an English-speaking university, so all lectures in all, , majors was in [00:05:00] English. And University of Pennsylvania, helped to open that vet school. So we were the third class in the vet school.

Our books were all English, the same books it was studied in the United States. So... it was primarily large animal. We had few small animal concept surgery and not much of a medicine, but large animal, it was very exclusive on cattle, horses, sheep, and goat.

food production and food security, , of course When I was born and going to university, that years was so important, and it's still important. But then it shifted now with the society who have pets and like pets and, so a lot of small animal education are needed, now together with production animal medicine.

But how much of a small animal is taught, can't say, uh, it's a lot, but [00:06:00] it's, it's an area of a emphasis and need in the country

Megan Sprinkle: Understood. So with your training, did you feel comfortable with all animals? What were your thoughts transitioning from vet school into a practice?

Mehdi Mobini: I was very Right with, with large animal portion, and that's what it caught my interest my subsequent increasing my expertise and learning processes was large animals. So I came to United States. I went to Auburn did a master residency, in large animal medicine and surgery.

So I stayed on large animal focus. I got my hand wet a little bit in a small animal when I was school, but not as much as, uh, I wanted to just continue and I, uh, didn't feel comfortable

Megan Sprinkle: So I went to Auburn for vet school, so I [00:07:00] do feel like it is a wonderful school. But landing in Alabama, of all places , uh, 

Coming to America

Megan Sprinkle: coming to the United States is, is probably a little bit of a culture shock. Do you mind sharing a little bit about that whole process, about deciding to come to the US? How did you find Auburn?

What was your experience adapting to a very different culture?

Mehdi Mobini: the university when I was going in Iran, it was a new school, didn't have that many local expertise faculty. A few that went to United States, and England and got trained and was teaching us. But majority of our professors were coming from overseas on a short-term, basis. So we had professors from Auburn, and we had professors from Pennsylvania.

We had professors from, uh, England, Scotland, Arabic countries, India, Pakistan. [00:08:00] and so a diverse group of professors, but when it got to deciding to come for education, of course, um, the US was on top of all the institutions. Everybody wanted to go. And, and in my particular case, we had a professor from Auburn, Dr.

Peter Soley. He was a physiology and pharmacology teaching us. so my point of contact, of course, was him as a mentor to tell me how to pursue, getting an admission, and he helped a lot. So he was the influencer that, made the path for, uh, me and another friend I had, actually were two of us that we came to Auburn.

I wanna address

Megan Sprinkle: Oh, sorry.

Mehdi Mobini: issue. of course, yeah, it was a new culture, uh, uh, a new shock. But in my particular situation, uh, I don't know how much you remember the history, and in [00:09:00] 1979 when I came to the US, there was also a hostage crisis that American, were taken hostage in Iran.

So-- that, uh, took about a year, and every day on the, uh, news, uh, it was a program reminding and, program on, on hostages and the situation. So it was-- As, as you can see, an Iranian at that time, it was, uh, it was a little difficult. So we couldn't have much visibility, say, where we were from, because of that situation.

And it, it got me in, in, in a little bit of challenges going through school, and that's where I had another mentor came to the rescue and that was Dean Tom Vaughn, he helped me to get a job and continue, because after three months we couldn't get any money from, our, our h-home country. So it was like [00:10:00] you're on your own.

So I'm indebted not only to Auburn for my education, but, but also to Dean Vaughn for his mentorship and help

Megan Sprinkle: I think a building is named after him, isn't it?

Mehdi Mobini: Yes,

Megan Sprinkle: isn't there a... Yeah.

Mehdi Mobini: large animal hospital is named after him. A great man. he's done a lot for the profession

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. Do you have any fun stories from him that you remember?

Mehdi Mobini: Uh, his firm handshake. He had a, he had a very strong, firm handshake, and that everybody remembers of Dean Vaughn, and his kindness and soft-spoken

Megan Sprinkle: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So you had experience in large animal, and I will say Auburn had an amazing large animal department. how did you start to specialize in, sheep and goats?

what was that path?

Mehdi Mobini: Well, 

Specializing in Sheep and Goats

Mehdi Mobini: [00:11:00] when we went to school in Iran, of course, the country had a lot of sheep and goats, and that was the main food item. and our education covered a lot of sheep and goat. and when I came, uh, to Auburn, of course, in the Southeast and even in the US, sheep and goat medicine It was something very new. we had a- I had a professor, Dr. Tom Poe, and he-- The second day I was there, he called me and he said, "Mobini, I have a case for you in, in the barn. Here is a sheep. That's your case." So from that point, I, you know, I kind of got an interest in that species in the US and, with the opportunity that came on later on when I finished my master and residency, of course, therio was big in Auburn.

I trained, and at that time, cattle, embryo transfer and artificial insemination, [00:12:00] was just beginning, uh, especially embryo transfer. Then after I graduated, I went to faculty at Tuskegee and, , taught in vet school there. And sheep and goat was a major interest of the entire university, and it was an opportunity.

So I, I kind of took that opportunity in embryo transfer and reproduction, and I've done many, many first things there. Laparoscopic AI in- artificial insemination in, in goats and embryo transfer. So it kind of led me more to be interested and of course the students, you know, they were motivating. They wanted to do it. So I had a good group of students who were, uh, who were very, enthusiastic and, um, working with me on the projects. And I, remember we did the first embryo transfer, workshop and, procedure at, at Tuskegee with the students. [00:13:00] It was a great experience

Megan Sprinkle: That's fascinating. I feel like large animal has a lot of advancements in technology. So what have you kind of, other than embryo transfer, and artificial insemination, those are two great examples. Are there other types of technology and things that you've kind of seen evolve over the years?

Mehdi Mobini: Well, 

Advances in Large Animal Medicine

Mehdi Mobini: the invent of ultrasound, I think it was big in large animal reproduction and to some extent laparoscopic artificial insemination in sheep, a little bit in the goats because it's, it's more difficult 'cause they're not docile. They won't just lay down and let you do whatever you want with them. So they carry on and cry like a kid. li- So, um, uh, I think those two were, uh, of the new, areas. And then a lot of hormonal manipulation that came later on in reproduction, which has significant, advancing effects [00:14:00] in animal production

Megan Sprinkle: Uh, this is very fascinating to me. I'm very naive in this area, so I almost don't even know what to ask. But for people that don't know very much about sheep and goats, I'm very - curious about any stories that you have that kind of show the uniqueness of working with these species. Uh, like you gave a great one about how goats are not very cooperative.

What, what other stories do you have?

Mehdi Mobini: Oh, stories about the male goats or bucks. you gotta watch them. You don't turn your back on them. I re- I remember, I remember I always taught the students, "Don't turn your back on." em And we have as a faculty also, um, know, other faculty in the department and, and one day we were in the barn and, we were working on a big, buck, and the buck got loose, and there was a faculty member on the other end of the barn, and it was kind of bent down, and, [00:15:00] uh, he was doing something else, and the buck went straight to him, and then lifted him up and, and, uh, attacked him from the back.

So that was

Megan Sprinkle: Oh, no

Mehdi Mobini: one of the thing. That was, was funny, but the good thing is he, he didn't get hurt. It was, um...

Megan Sprinkle: Okay

Mehdi Mobini: Yeah. That's a story that never leaves my mind when I work with the bucks. I always remember that

Megan Sprinkle: Oh my goodness. The other thing is, and I don't know if it's still true today, but we definitely went through a period where there were a lot of backyard, farms where people had goats. Like goats are all over social media. They think they're hilarious. And a lot of these animals, these backyard farms are going to small animal veterinarians who really don't know what to do with these animals.

W- have you experienced that too, like people that are getting a few goats that are in the backyard kind of situations?

Mehdi Mobini: Oh, [00:16:00] yes. Uh, in the Southeast, uh, around in 1994, '95, it just kinda took off, uh, the produc- goat production. You can't, can't have sheep unless you have a hair sheep because of the wool. In summer, it's just intolerable for wool sheep. And, of small animal veterinarians needed a continuing education.

And so I, I was quite involved with, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, which is an association, puts a lot of CE programs, for, even the small animal veterinarian. So I did quite a bit of kind of, uh, activity in my career, not only concentrating on, reproduction, also in common diseases and procedures and parasite, management, which is a major obstacle to small ruminant production, in the Southeast and throughout the US.

So yeah, quite a bit. And it's [00:17:00] still, a lot of workshops are put for that purpose because as you said, the access to veterinarians in the rural area and limited resource farmer, is not there and, that brings what I do now. You know, when you get to certain age and go through certain, procedure.

I had a disc surgery, so I can't work with large animals. Large, large animals. But I still can work with sheep and goat and, telemedicine, telehealth is a big need in the rural area. I do that and, um, I get majority of my calls are sheep and goat, producers that don't have access to veterinarians and they want guidance

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. On that note, we need more veterinarians in these areas. How would you communicate the appreciation of what you do that might encourage someone who's going through vet [00:18:00] school and they're trying to figure out what they might do? What are some things that you really love about working with sheeps and goat that might encourage somebody to be more curious and open to exploring it?

Mehdi Mobini: Well, working with this species, it's much lighter when your body don't have the capacity to deal with larger animal. they're good species to work with. They're good producing animals. A lot of people have them as pets. A lot of people raise them as meat, milk, and wool. there are opportunities there.

The challenge is that you don't make money working on those species. So you go to school with a large debt, you're coming out of school, and you can't, afford to just do, a small ruminant. So that's why a lot of small animal, veterinarians become a [00:19:00] key to maybe fill that gap. And if they can...

See, I tell people, "Take your sheep and go to the clinic," 'cause if you call a farm call, you can't afford it. At least you can get a veterinary service if you take them to the clinic. And in a lot of towns, the small animal clinics are where they can take them. And there's not that many large animal clinics left

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. So I mean, you- you've done a lot in your career, and they're, v- very different.

I, I don't even know all the connections. How did you develop a veterinary technician program? How did you get, involved there?

Mehdi Mobini: Oh, 

Building Veterinary Technician Programs

Mehdi Mobini: that's a that's an interesting story. Um, I left Tuskegee after eight years and I, I went into a practice. I thought that, well, I wanna give a practice a try. I was working on the side. I was doing some, um, relief work and, and my [00:20:00] area in the university teaching, I was in the teaching hospital, so it wasn't just didactic teaching.

There were a lot of clinical work. And after six months, I thought I missed university. So, I looked for places and, in Georgia, I found an opportunity working in a veterinary technician program which, was associated with the College of Agriculture. And that College of Agriculture had a main sheep and goat research center, in the university system.

So, that led me to that program and It was a two-year program, and they wanted to make it an emphasis in large animals. So that also gave me an opportunity to introduce some courses in a four-year BS program, because the two-year program, you don't, don't have a leeway what courses you [00:21:00] wanna, wanna teach.

You have a very set program, limited number of time, years. But a four-year program, you have the same didactic veterinary education, hands-on and knowledge skill, but then you could add more. So I, developed that program into putting reproduction courses, introducing some research, project courses, animal disease, herd health management, several courses like that to make it a large animal oriented, because university had a cattle farm, a few horses, and a lot of sheep and goats.

So that would have been a good resource for students to use and practice while they go to school. So that's the way it got me there. But then after couple of years, because of opportunities in the university, I kinda left the program and went to, research and extension side of [00:22:00] the, uh, and I become the extension veterinarian for State of Georgia for small ruminant. then I did... got involved with the research, with the small ruminant, especially in reproduction and, disease and herd health management and parasite control. So I did that for a number of years, and then there was a need in the program they needed help, so they came to me and they pulled me back into the program as a program director and a department head.

because it was a four-year program, our scope was not just veterinary technology. The two-year program in university just went away, and we concentrated on a four-year program, and we had an opportunity to get funding to build a, large animal surgery facility and a small animal facility and expand it.

So I had an opportunity to, make those functional. [00:23:00] And then, uh, it, it led me to get into the nitty-gritty of a changing the curriculum and, Uh, in my mind, improving the curriculum, and that's what I got into. And then I had an opportunity with several other schools that wanted to open a four-year program and work with them.

And then after five years, I left that and went into, associate dean for academics or assistant associate. The title didn't matter. I was in charge of academics of the College of Agriculture, which veterinary technology was part of that program in- with animal science and other, majors.

And I still have an oversight over the program. I kept it. So that was how I got into veterinary technology education

Megan Sprinkle: when you are building a curriculum, like, what's important to think [00:24:00] about when it comes to education in general? Because you- you've done a lot of teaching, but, like, what are some key things that maybe you think people don't understand or might miss that are-- they're so important when it comes to veterinary education?

Mehdi Mobini: Well, 

Rethinking Veterinary Education

Mehdi Mobini: you've got to train the students as you teach on critical thinking, good analytical skills, and build them a whole around person versus just teaching them the subject matter. And I think that goes also, to the curriculum you build. It should be around critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

 three major aspect of any education majors. So I was trying to concentrate on that while building the curriculum. And, We do a [00:25:00] good job in, in veterinary schools teaching them the core curriculum. But I think, business management, if you're talking about veterinary school, that's a big part of it. in addition to, critical thinking and, problem-solving and communication skills. So, as it relates to veterinary technician education, unfortunately, the timing of this program doesn't allow you, uh, in a two-year program do really that in addition to skills and knowledge base and hands-on skills that you have to teach them.

So that's the challenge. And then we try to build up advancement. I think that becomes more of a challenge. How do you advance in an education system?

Megan Sprinkle: advance on the education side or the students?

Mehdi Mobini: after you graduated in a-- as a

Megan Sprinkle: Oh,[00:26:00] 

Mehdi Mobini: technician to advance, 

Megan Sprinkle: So career pathing

Mehdi Mobini: career, career pathing, right? what you can do as a two-year veterinary technician versus a four-year veterinary technician and how we can, set the curriculum that allows that advancement.

You build that in s- advancement some sort of way in it. That's the challenge I think we're facing. we are measuring the two-year veterinary technician graduates with the same exam as a four-year veterinary technician graduates. And it's not only the exam, it's what we are teaching them is the same, and we measure them the same when they're accreting the programs. I think that is area it needs to be looked at when we want the veterinary technician to have a career ladder and utilize them better in our, veterinary team environment.

Megan Sprinkle: [00:27:00] Completely agree, and this whole podcast is basically career pathing, right? Like understanding what is possible in veterinary medicine. So I know you said that this is kind of the challenging part, but, I also know that someone recommended you for this podcast because you helped them in their career pathing.

So what have you seen? Like, are... Do you have examples of people that you have seen do really well in either laddering or, or pathing of some sort?

Mehdi Mobini: You know, 

Career Pathing for Technicians

Mehdi Mobini: in the whole education scheme, if you get a two-year program, your advancement is limited unless, unless the... the challenge that I bring to the table for veterinary technician educators. Create four-year programs who can use the two-year that they already have because they have [00:28:00] the skills and hands-on skill and knowledge as it relates to veterinary medicine.

What they're lacking is a core curriculum as it relates to communication courses, , critical analytic courses, math courses. So build some sort of program that they can improve, by going to brick and mortar schools, but maybe something online. That's the area I think we need to look at, 'cause we can utilize the veterinary technicians a whole lot more if we could elevate them and build that into the practice.

And the other part of it is we need to have veterinary technician students and veterinary students in school to work together. You gotta build that, working relationship through the veterinary school education, and so there'll be an appreciation what the veterinary technicians go through and can do, [00:29:00] uh, so they can be more utilized in practice

Megan Sprinkle: I have heard someone talk about programs where the veterinary students do clinics with the veterinary technician students, and I've only heard good things, and it makes total sense because then you're learning those skill sets of communication, teamwork, and, you know, where everybody can be best utilized.

So have you also seen that work, like an example of where that worked really well?

Mehdi Mobini: yes. The, the challenge is that the veterinary schools have to create veterinary technician programs or work very closely with veterinary technician programs to make that happen. Uh, we have, I would say, majority of the schools who do that, they have a veterinary technician program in their school. And I know several of them that they carry that model. But I think we need to be [00:30:00] thinking about how other veterinary schools can get involved and creatively create that environment they don't have the, program in the veterinary school

Megan Sprinkle: that may be a lot of work, and change is hard to implement from my understanding in academia. what do you think would be the biggest needle mover to go to more of those models?

Mehdi Mobini: I think AVMA has started some sort of collaborative work with, veterinary technician educators, NAVTA, uh, licensing boards like AAVSB. And I think within that context, we have to get involved at AAVMC and just try to see what pathway we can create that gives us Two things.

One is that currently we don't have, we don't have enough veterinary technician graduates. We [00:31:00] talk about utilization, we talk about enhancement and, and upward movement, but we don't have enough... of the states you have three veterinarians or four veterinarians for one veterinary technician. if we can't supply the number needed, it's hard to achieve, what we are trying to do as far as utilization and recognition. so the traditional way we are going not gonna give you that number. Studies have shown that. So it needs to be a group team effort to look at that seriously. And AVTE, of course, is, my mind, a place to get it started. And there's some work being done, but as you said, it takes a while

Megan Sprinkle: On that note, you brought up your work with AVMA. One, how did you get involved with AVMA and what was your role? with veterinary technicians because they don't always have a [00:32:00] lot of advocates in some of these areas to help with these changes and having a voice, which is a wonderful opportunity that you're there and, and you can do that.

Mehdi Mobini: well, 

Advocacy at AVMA

Mehdi Mobini: dur-during my life at the university, I've done a lot of service-oriented work, and so I wanted to give back to the profession and do that, with veterinary medicine. I, I volunteered in Atlanta Olympic Games. That was, an amazing experience. The university system came because it was done in Atlanta, they needed volunteers, with, languages.

So I speak, Farsi, so I, I volunteered and I was, the interpreter for Farsi-speaking, countries that were in, in the Olympics. so, I found an avenue through... And that's, advice to a lot of people I talk to. They wanna get involved. I tell them, "Get involved in a smaller, in your local [00:33:00] associations."

And I found an opportunity to get involved with, uh, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners. It was a small group that has started and, through that association, I-- and as you know that at the AVMA, we have committees and councils which 

allied 

organizations have representative on those.

So I served on Animal Welfare Committee, I serve on Legislative Advisory Committee, and, that opened the door for me. And then the state association, had openings and actually they came to me, said, uh, "We would like for you to, work with us from your district." And so I got involved with the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association and learned a lot through the process. and then at the same time, there was opening in, the Small Ruminant Practitioners board, so I served on their board. I ran for the position served on the, [00:34:00] on their board. So it kind of opened the horizon for me and learned a lot as far as giving back and volunteering. And, after my finished my term on the Georgia um, there was an opening in the AVMA House of Delegates from Georgia because each states have a delegate and, and alternate delegate. I became alternate delegate first, and then I served as a delegate. And, There was an opening at Committee for Veterinary Technician Education and Activities, CVTEA, while I was in the House of Delegates, so I, uh, applied for that, and served on CVTEA for two years. And I was encouraged to apply for a board position after my term ended at House of Delegates. So I did, , apply for that, and that's the way I got on the AVMA board. But then I had to give up the CVTEA because you [00:35:00] can't be on the AVMA board and be on a committee. So, um, uh, but I've learned also a, a lot during two years I was CVTEA to give me leverage to bring the technicians' issue to the board.

and the board has really took that project, to heart as far as how can we, uh, utilize technicians, promote them, elevate them, and give them their value in the practice team and utilize them. And then with the VPA that came up, we concentrated more on utilization of technicians and the whole technician utilization came to the surface.

So why we're not utilizing this group of educated, trained professionals and trying to create something different that basically does what technicians can do?

Megan Sprinkle: That echoes what I have heard. [00:36:00] So, yes. A- and with the focus back on veterinary technicians and utilization, which is great to hear that they're focused on it, what have you seen are the actions or next steps? Like, what physically have they done to push that value and mission forward?

Mehdi Mobini: When you say they, you refer to

Megan Sprinkle: AVMA or, the committee or, powers that be

Mehdi Mobini: Yeah. There, there is a task force, uh, created that is looking at, the next steps, and I think there's quite a bit of progress, and it's ongoing. on the work of a task force not to be specific, surveys was done so we can understand what needs a tech- veterinary technicians are. And, and then as I said before, a group was also created between AVMA, AVTEA and AAVMC, [00:37:00] which is the licensing part to just kind of see how that work can continue. but again, um, it's very challenging, and I think AVTEA the technician education has to take that lead and make some strides, Cause here we have two-year degree, four-year degree, VTS, and so how we can strengthen and make it a, a ladder for, uh, elevation within those groups and their utilization, I think the education team can do a whole lot, to take the lead on that

Megan Sprinkle: On that note, for veterinary technicians that might be listening to this and they're wanting to know what's ahead, what's possible for them, because the other thing, of course, that we see is the longevity of people in these [00:38:00] positions. We want to increase the longevity. That's part of the whole process too, right?

What would you say to veterinary technicians?

Mehdi Mobini: I would say just hang in there. Work is being done. It may be slow, but everyone recognizes their value, what they bring to the team. they need to be given more responsibilities in the practice on a uniform basis, and they need to be compensated accordingly. that's the challenge the profession is, is facing. And I think the profession is trying to address it, but it's not an easy task to take up

Megan Sprinkle: I think that's fair. You seem to be in places where the work is [00:39:00] meaningful, It takes time. And I think this is good too that 'cause maybe not everyone gets to see what's happening inside of AVMA. And so to know that there are people who care, that believe they're valuable, and they believe that there is need for change, hopefully is encouraging.

So I think that i- that is a good start

Mehdi Mobini: Yes, definitely. And believe me, uh, six years I've been on the board, saw progress, but not to the speed that maybe veterinary technician like to see. But the board was working hard. The entire AVMA team is working hard to make that reality

Megan Sprinkle: I think the other opportunity too for the entire team to do their part in supporting veterinary technicians. And you have seen a, a lot of different leaders and you have been a, a leader in many [00:40:00] different areas. What do you think is the most successful thing for someone to be a good leader? Like what is your definition of a good leader?

Lessons in Leadership

Mehdi Mobini: I think you need to be a good listener first, and then you need to have the courage to go outside your comfort zone and speak if you're really passionate about an issue. And you need to be a good collaborator and supporter as well

Megan Sprinkle: Those are all really good. I, for some, getting outside of your comfort zone, we, we work in a profession where everyone is very, very smart, and it can be hard to speak up sometimes. Was there a time when you had to speak up about a topic that might not have been the... Everybody agreed on it?

Mehdi Mobini: Oh, oh, definitely. When you're around the table, it's always, bring issues out and there's gonna be pros and [00:41:00] cons. There are supporters, there are nay-sayers, and at the end of the day, you have to look into a compromise to move, move things forward. Sometime you have to take your position back to support somebody else.

It's just give and take, like anything in politics. So in a board, uh, I said, Not everybody's in support, but at the end of the day, the board works together for betterment of the profession, and that should be in your mind as you are the table

Megan Sprinkle: I think all of those characteristics also can go into, uh, mentorship, which, mentors, leaders, . who has been the biggest mentor for you? I know you mentioned Auburn, but a- any others throughout your career that you particularly remember?

Mehdi Mobini: Well, when I was young, within your [00:42:00] family, you have your parents, of course. my father, wanted me to get a good education. I didn't grow up, uh, in a wealthy family, but took advantage of the opportunities. I had a mentor when I was, uh, the fifth or sixth grade, and that was a person on a Peace Corps that came to Iran. Uh, his name was Peter Milonas, and the Peace Corps group, they would have English classes and then activities for youth. And I-- that's where I learned my English, and I got involved. And, when he left, he kept communicating with me. He write me letter encouraging me. He saw something in me. And, then when he left, I came to the US, and I found him in the US through Peace Corps, and I went and [00:43:00] visited him. And so that mentorship stays with me. And of course, I had an uncle that he really supported me, uh, and he was a big mentor. And of Auburn, as I said, every step I had a mentor.

In the veterinary college, I had a professor. He was, encouraging me and saw something in me and encouraged me to go and get higher education than DVM. And my mission was to go back and teach at the university, in Iran, but the events after the hostage crisis and life has kind of changed things. And, we stayed and got involved in veterinary medicine in the US. And now, hopefully with the World Veterinary Association, I can give back and [00:44:00] use my knowledge to help others. that's what I'm looking for.

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah, I know that you have helped veterinary professionals come over to the United States. Is that with that organization that you've been able to do that?

Mehdi Mobini: Uh, not through the organization. The World Veterinary Association is the, combination of different world veterinary organization groups looking at the profession. and so of course, there's opportunities for sharing of knowledge when you work with different group from different part of the world.

Global Veterinary Work

Mehdi Mobini: But I've done some mission works in developing countries. I've done volunteer work in Bangladesh. I have done work in Jordan. I've done work in Afghanistan. I, uh, had a opportunity to, write a book on Diseases that could be [00:45:00] diagnosed through a simple manual with pictures and simple, uh, know-how, what-- how to deal with them in Afghanistan as part of the construction efforts of the, um, US after Afghanistan war. So, And I learned a lot from other countries. You know, we have the most advanced veterinary education in the world, but there are things we can learn from others. Uh, a lot of things. And one of the things I learned was working with a group in South Africa, they had developed... We talked about sheep and goat. one of the biggest constraights to sheep and goat production is parasite resistant to medications and parasite control. So they developed a simple card, we call them FAMACHA in South Africa, that they took the color of the eye mucous member of a eye as a measure of anemia and correlated it [00:46:00] to which is a blood-sucking parasite in sheep and goat. So, basically, instead of doing fecal work or doing a, uh, pack cell volume, you can just open the eye and compare it to the different colors on the card and determine if you're dealing with a anemic and what is the degree of anemia. Uh, we had an opportunity to validate that card with a group of scientists from several universities, and, uh, I was part of that, research team that validated it, and it's widely used in the US.

And I, developed a curriculum to teach our extension agents and producers, uh, how to use the system in the herd. So a lot working overseas. Uh, the, the profession [00:47:00] is so wide, reach all over the world, and I think we have a responsibility to teach less fortunate countries if we are talking about food security throughout the world.

Megan Sprinkle: Because it impacts everybody. It impacts us all.

Mehdi Mobini: Exactly

Megan Sprinkle: And I remember learning that in vet school, the FAMACHA, I remember that. So that's, that's really fascinating. And things don't have to be complicated for them to work, right?

Like, often simple is, is better.

Mehdi Mobini: and we have to have an open mind and try.

Megan Sprinkle: Mm-hmm.

Mehdi Mobini: And I know we are. As veterinarians, we always experience, we always look for different ways, we always, Do things outside the box. So being involved through international program and helping the disadvantaged and learning from it works for them, is a noble [00:48:00] idea

Megan Sprinkle: absolutely. Well, our time has flown by, so I have a couple of last questions for you. And one of them is the One Community concept from AVTE, it's built on the idea that none of us succeed alone, and we've talked a, a lot about that today. What's one moment that reminded you that no one succeeds alone?

Gratitude and Reflections

Mehdi Mobini: I would use my own example in life. If I didn't have group of people to support me and mentor me, I wouldn't have been here today. And I use that concept of the supporting and offering help to my potential students. I've, I've taught in vet school. when you're teaching in vet school, you have the brightest of the brightest, the way the, uh, the [00:49:00] system works here, admission process works. I really had students that I was associated with that went and become successful, veterinarian and researchers. So I always learn. That encourages me, the influence they have in my life, and I always keep contact with them and, and try to learn from them. in the veterinary technician education is a different-- You have the students who have an interest and love to become a profession to work with animals, and you have to create an environment and nurture them more, and I learned that in teaching the veterinary technology program. I 

Megan Sprinkle: had 

Mehdi Mobini: students that they wanted to drop out, I just kind of helped them to hang in there and guided them because you're [00:50:00] dealing with students who are going to graduate school to become a veterinarian versus somebody out of high school who wants to be- go to veterinary technician program. And I have had several examples that they are superstars now in what they do, and that association and their coming back, it kind of is a gratitude to me that shows me how you have to re-have a village to raise a professional

Megan Sprinkle: I love that. And then my last question is, uh, it does not have to be stuck to your career or the profession, but when I mention gratitude, what is something you're very grateful for right now?

Mehdi Mobini: I'm grateful for the opportunity [00:51:00] that I received in immigrating to US. I'm grateful for my family who supported me. when I came to the US, I was me and my wife, and we went through a lot of hardship, and my wife stuck with me, encouraged me, and, and I did the same for her. we both, got an education, got a job, and, and make it here with the support of our family and friends from home. So I'm always grateful to them. So having, having, mentors, having supporters, uh, gave me a lot of gratitude in life, and I'm trying to be helpful. I follow, a Persian ideology. Is a, is, is a, uh, ancient Persian ideology of living through good thoughts, good words, and good deed, I try to follow that, uh, in life

Megan Sprinkle: Good thoughts, good [00:52:00] words, good deeds. It sounds simple, but when you hear what his philosophy has produced, an international career spanning a generation of students who almost gave up and didn't, six years on the AVMA board advocating for a profession that doesn't always have a seat at the table, and a village he has quietly built his entire life.

It sounds like a philosophy worth striving for. Dr. Mobini was nominated to share his story here with us today because he has impacted the career path of many others. This episode is the first in our new One Community series created in partnership with AVTE. Every guest in the series will embody the building blocks of One Community: leadership, innovation, and mentorship.

If today's conversation resonated with you, stay tuned. There is so much more to come. If you wanna learn more about AVTE and the One Community Initiative, the link is in the show notes. And for key takeaways, reflection questions from today's [00:53:00] conversation, head over to the Sprinkle of Wisdom Substack for the Podcast Club Guide.

I'll of course link everything below. Please subscribe and share this episode with someone in veterinary medicine who you think would appreciate it, and until next time, keep reimagining what's possible in veterinary life