Dr. Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a topic that hits home for a lot of veterinary professionals: the fear of the unknown when it comes to career change. Have you ever thought, “I don’t know if I want to keep doing this forever, but I have no idea what else I would do”? You’re not alone, and this episode is for you. Natalie shares her own journey from practice ownership to angel investing and consulting, and together they dig into the spotlight effect, that nagging feeling that everyone is watching and judging your choices. They talk about why so many veterinarians struggle with identity outside of clinical work, how to know if you’re ready for a new chapter, and why your skills go far beyond the exam room. If you’ve been wrestling with burnout, self-doubt, or just curiosity about what comes next, this conversation will give you both comfort and courage to think bigger. Gang, let’s get into this episode!
VANE: https://vane.vet/
Natalie Marks on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-marks-dvm-cvj-54b0429a/
Marks DVM Consulting: https://marksdvmconsulting.com/
Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/about-uncharted-veterinary-conference-2026
Dr. Know-It-All Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/product/dr-know-it-all-card-game/
Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/
Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop
All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark
Guest Bio:
Dr. Natalie Marks obtained her bachelor's degree with High Honors in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1998, and then proceeded to obtain a Masters in Veterinary Medicine and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree with High Honors from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She became a Certified Veterinary Journalist in 2018.
She has been a veterinarian at Blum Animal Hospital since 2006, co-owner until 2018 and current associate. Prior to 2006, Dr. Marks worked at Allatoona Animal Hospital just north of Atlanta, GA. Her media experience began in print when she created several monthly veterinary columns in multiple community magazines and was a frequent guest speaker for the German Shepherd and Bernese Mountain Dog clubs of Atlanta.
Upon her return to Chicago, Dr. Marks became very active in the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, serving on the executive board. She was also a past board member of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association and an active volunteer to the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Animal Hospital Association.
Dr. Marks has received many prestigious awards in her career. She was awarded the Dr. Erwin Small First Decade Award, presented to a veterinarian that has contributed the most to organized veterinary medicine in his or her first decade of practice. In 2012, Dr. Marks was awarded Petplan's nationally-recognized Veterinarian of the Year. In 2015, she was awarded America’s Favorite Veterinarian by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. And, most recently in 2017, she was awarded Nobivac’s Veterinarian of the Year for her work on canine Influenza.
Dr. Marks is also very passionate about educating in all aspects of media, both locally and nationally. She has appeared on Good Day Chicago, WGN-Pet Central, NBC Morning News, ABC, CBS, NPR, WBBM, Northwestern University media channel and many local websites. Dr. Marks was featured nationally on the Today Show and CBS Nightly News during the canine influenza epidemic of 2015 and in multiple issues of JAVMA. She is a guest contributor in multiple media campaigns for Merck, Zoetis (formerly Pfizer), Boerhinger-Ingelheim, Ceva, Trupanion, Aratana, ScopioVet, and Royal Canin.
Dr. Marks is a regular columnist in Today’s Veterinary Business, Healthy Pet magazine, and Pet Vet, and has been published in Veterinary Medicine magazine, DVM magazine, Dogster, and Vetted. She is on the Advisory Board for Health Magazine and also was the host of numerous veterinary broadcasts for the Viticus Group (formerly WVC).
She is a desired national and international lecturer for many of the same companies at VMX, WVC, AVMA and regional conferences, and most recently was a featured speaker at Ceva Sweden’s Derm Day and the Royal Canin Global Symposium.
Dr. Marks finds the ideal combination of teaching/mentoring and improving the emotional health of pets in the Fear Free movement. She sat on the Fear Free Executive Council and is a national educator helping other private practitioners develop these techniques. She also led her practice to become the 7th nationally and first practice in Illinois to become a Fear Free Certified Hospital. She is an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional.
Finally, Dr. Marks is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor and consultant, and one of the newer members of VANE, the Veterinary Angel Network.
When Dr, Marks is not working, she treasures her time with her family and her three wonderful children: Sophia, Evan and Madeline. Dr. Marks loves traveling, scuba diving, cooking and spending time outdoors, especially anywhere there is a beach!
https://marksdvmconsulting.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-marks-dvm-cvj-54b0429a/
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