Caira Joseph is Unstoppable

Those working in the field of veterinary medicine are brilliant multitaskers.

After all, you’ve got to be!

Whether it’s giving a wiggly puppy their first vaccinations, talking to clients, or overseeing the day-to-day operations of an animal hospital, vet med professionals are masters when it comes to juggling multiple balls in the air.

Caira Joseph makes it look easy.

At just 27 years old, she is already the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Vets On Call Network (VOCN), a veterinary technician, and a soon-to-be mother! Even more incredible, she does it all while living with gestational diabetes.

Despite being terrified upon receiving her diagnosis, Caira finds she can now connect more deeply with pet owners who also have beloved fur babies with diabetes.

“This first two weeks are the scariest when your pet is diagnosed with diabetes, but the good news is that it will get much better,” Caira tells us.

Vet Candy is paw-sitively thrilled to introduce this unstoppable woman to our readers. In this issue, Caira shares why she loves her job at veterinary telespecialty platform, VOCN,  so much, recalls the most agonizing decision she ever had to make, plus gives us a sneak peak into the five things you’ll find in her bag (hint: some are delicious).

Introducing, the amazing Caira Joseph!

Overcome Your Fears and Forge Your Own Path

Naturally, learning that she had gestational diabetes was a scary moment.

In addition to having to take insulin in the morning, Caira also wears a monitor that checks her glucose throughout the day. However, rather than succumb to worry and fear, Caira instead always tries to look on the bright side. This quality – coupled with self-determination and plenty of patience – it what she credits for her life success.

And what a success story it is.

As mentioned, Caira Joseph is the COO of VOCN’s veterinary telespecialty services. In a profession where leaders are often men, Caira has forged her own unique path. She leads the charge, helping to run the business side of things and connecting veterinary specialists with general practices with a goal to make veterinary specialty consultations accessible to all. 

“One of my biggest challenges working in a start-up as COO is wearing many hats,” says Caira, “Some days I work on our marketing plans and other days I am selling our services to corporate veterinary groups, but the good news is that I never get bored!”

VOCN is  a veterinarian-owned, nationally recognized provider of specialty telemedicine solutions for quality-focused practices and was founded by Caira’s father, Dr. Richard Joseph, who is a renown veterinary neurologist.  VOCN gives veterinary hospitals access to consultations with more than 40 skilled, dedicated, board-certified veterinarians each with a minimum of 10 years of clinical experience.

The Hardest Decision She Ever Made

Nowadays, Caira is excitedly preparing for motherhood.

Looking back, all the trials and tribulations she experienced leading up to her career and personal life victories were worth it. When asked what the most agonizing career decision she had to make was, Caira recalled dropping out of the Mercy College Vet-tech program and switching to a business major.

She explains:

“This is one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, and I really was not sure if it was the right choice for me. After I made the decision, I knew it was the right choice. I have always dreamt of different businesses I could own. In the end, I still got my vet tech degree from another program and now have a business degree as well.”

Smart move, Caira!

Often, things have a way of working out for the best when you follow your heart.

Caira’s final words of advice?

“Always make sure to save some time for you during the day, even on the most stressful days.” For her, that means walking the dog, listening to music in the car, and making memories on road trips.”

5 things you will always find in Caira’s bag:

1.         EOS ChapStick in flavor raspberry: “I hate having chapped lips but I don’t like to wear a lot of makeup. EOS is a lip balm with a little hint of color and raspberry is my favorite flavor.”

2.         I love drinking water and I am always on the move,  but I hate plastic bottles.  Instead of plastic bottles I always carry a stainless steel water bottle with me because they are not only safe they are durable and infinitely recyclable. 

3.         Aveeno lotion (unscented): “Being a vet tech, I am always washing my hands which makes them very dry. This stuff is great to keep them moisturized.” 

4.         Pack of cashews: “Cashews are low in sugar and rich in fiber, heart-healthy fats, and plant protein. I love their buttery taste!”

5.         Hippeas - chick pea puffs: “I am a vegan and I avoid gluten and these have been my go-to snack throughout my pregnancy.”