Perk Up @ WVC
A morning coffee and conversation with the 2026 U.S. Bright Mind Winners!
Perk Up Details
Mandalay Bay | Las Vegas
Sunday, February 15
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Coffee Served
A morning coffee and conversation with the 2026 U.S. Bright Mind Winners!
Mandalay Bay | Las Vegas
Sunday, February 15
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Coffee Served
Each year, The Bridge Club’s Bright Minds Awards recognize individuals who are moving veterinary medicine forward — through innovation, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the profession.
At Perk Up at WVC, you’ll hear from the 2026 U.S. winners representing:
Industry Influencer – Driving thought leadership and progress across veterinary medicine
Wellness Champion – Prioritizing people, culture, and sustainability in our profession
Practice Game Changer – Transforming how veterinary teams operate and thrive
The Veterinary Viewfinder is more than a podcast—it’s a trusted forum where the veterinary profession takes on the conversations many shy away from. Since 2016, the award-winning weekly show has been co-hosted by Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, blending bold leadership with grounded, technician-driven perspective.
Together, they do exactly what they promise each week: tackle the toughest topics in veterinary medicine. From controversial industry issues and breaking news to cultural shifts impacting teams, clients, and care delivery, Veterinary Viewfinder doesn’t just report on what’s happening—it challenges listeners to think differently about why it matters. The show regularly spotlights key opinion leaders and provocateurs across the profession while offering practical, solution-oriented insights for navigating an increasingly complex veterinary landscape.
Dr. Ernie Ward is widely known for his willingness to confront difficult subjects head-on, bringing a veterinarian’s voice that prioritizes progress, accountability, and long-term sustainability for the profession. Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, ensures those conversations are balanced with the lived experience and leadership lens of veterinary technicians, elevating team-based care and operational realities that are often overlooked.
Dr. Ward and Mossor have been nominated as Bright Mind Influencers because they consistently push veterinary medicine forward through honest dialogue. By creating space for challenging conversations, amplifying diverse perspectives, and encouraging thoughtful action, the Veterinary Viewfinder has become an essential platform for professionals who want to stay informed, engaged, and part of shaping what comes next.
Leilani Saad, RVT, Founder and CEO of Animal HealthLink, has been named a Practice Game Changer nominee for transforming one of veterinary medicine’s most exhausting pressure points—after-hours care—into a solution that protects professionals, patients, and practices alike.
After years on the emergency clinic floor, Leilani found herself in 2020 facing the same heartbreaking crossroads as so many veterinary professionals: the real possibility of leaving the profession she loved. At the same time, reports of critical workforce shortages across veterinary medicine were becoming impossible to ignore. Rather than becoming another statistic, Leilani chose to investigate the root causes driving people out of practice.
What she uncovered was clear. Veterinarians were burning out under the weight of on-call responsibilities, while veterinary technicians—particularly those with young families—were leaving due to physical strain and emotional exhaustion. Drawing on her deep ER triage experience, Leilani had a pivotal insight: her expertise could be used to create a new care model that supports veterinarians, retains technicians, and reassures worried animal guardians.
That insight became Animal HealthLink, a veterinary teletriage company that enables RVTs to triage cases remotely from home while dramatically reducing the burden of on-call care for veterinarians. When a practice subscribes to Animal HealthLink, after-hours calls are routed directly to its call center, where an RVT uses photos, videos, and proprietary triage algorithms to assess each patient. If a true emergency is identified, the on-call veterinarian is dispatched and the RVT manages all logistics. Importantly, approximately 75% of calls are not emergencies, allowing veterinarians to rest while pet owners receive trusted guidance and follow-up the next business day.
Originally designed to support rural practices struggling with on-call coverage, Animal HealthLink has since expanded to serve urban general practices as well—reducing unnecessary emergency room visits and easing ER wait times. The company is uniquely staffed entirely by RVTs who have stepped up to confront the veterinary workforce shortage head-on.
Today, Animal HealthLink operates across Canada, the United States, and Australia, has successfully triaged more than 500,000 calls, and maintains an exceptional 99.99% safety margin. Urban general practices report a 150% ROI, while rural practices have experienced improved recruitment and retention as veterinarians are only contacted for true emergencies—restoring balance and sustainability to on-call care.
As a Practice Game Changer nominee, Leilani Saad exemplifies how recognizing burnout as a system-level problem—and designing a compassionate, scalable solution—can reshape veterinary medicine for the better.
Melyssa Allen has been nominated as a Bright Minds Wellness Champion for her dedication to advancing mental health, psychological resilience, and human-centered care through education, mentorship, and applied clinical insight. With a strong academic foundation spanning biology, psychology, and clinical psychology, Melyssa brings a uniquely integrative perspective to wellness—grounded in both science and compassion.
Melyssa holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, equipping her with a deep understanding of the biological, emotional, and behavioral factors that influence well-being. Her interdisciplinary training allows her to bridge the gap between physical health and mental health, a critical connection for professionals working in high-stress caregiving fields.
As an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Central Florida College of Health Professions and Sciences, Melyssa plays a meaningful role in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. Through teaching and mentorship, she emphasizes self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and sustainable professional practices—helping students build resilience alongside clinical competence.
What distinguishes Melyssa as a Wellness Champion is her commitment to normalizing conversations around mental health and empowering individuals with practical tools to navigate stress, burnout, and emotional fatigue. Her work reflects a belief that wellness is not a luxury or an afterthought, but a foundational element of professional success and personal fulfillment.
As a Bright Minds Wellness Champion nominee, Melyssa Allen exemplifies thoughtful leadership, academic excellence, and a deep commitment to fostering healthier individuals and stronger professional communities.
Perk Up at WVC is more than a panel — it’s a chance to hear from those shaping the future of veterinary medicine and to reconnect with why you do what you do.
Free to attend. Seats are limited.
