Dr. Alex Sigmund, DACVO, joins Dr. Andy Roark to share his journey from uncertain pre-vet student to rising ophthalmology star and social media sensation, better known as The Vet Eye Guy. In this episode of the Cone of Shame Podcast, Alex opens up about falling in love with ophthalmology during vet school, navigating the competitive world of residencies, and building a wildly popular educational Instagram presence. From his passion for teaching to the moment he realized his bite-sized videos were making a global impact, Alex talks candidly about the heart behind his content—and why he’s determined to make eye care more approachable for veterinarians everywhere. If you're curious about becoming a specialist, growing your online voice, or just love a good origin story, this one's for you. Let’s get into it!

The Eye Vet Guy on Instagram

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Alex is a dedicated veterinary ophthalmologist with a passion for educating pet owners and veterinarians about animal eye health. With a background from UGA and the University of Tennessee, Alex shares insights from a diverse career treating various species, including dogs, cats, and exotic animals. Based in Atlanta, Alex offers teleconsultations and engages with a growing community of animal lovers.

Dr. Jimmy Barr, Chief Medical Officer at Antech Diagnostics, joins The Cone of Shame Podcast for a deep dive into the future of veterinary diagnostics. With a background as a criticalist and former CMO of Blue Pearl, Dr. Barr brings a clinician’s perspective to the evolving landscape of diagnostics. He and Dr. Andy Roark discuss how innovation is shaping veterinary medicine, from AI-assisted radiograph interpretation to predictive diagnostics and molecular testing. They explore the role of spectrum of care in diagnostics, the surprising tests veterinarians still perform in-house, and how AI can serve as a cognitive aid rather than a replacement for clinical judgment. Plus, Dr. Barr shares what he wishes he had known about diagnostics when he was in practice. If you’re curious about where veterinary diagnostics are headed and how they’ll impact patient care, this episode is a must-listen!

https://www.antechdiagnostics.com/

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As Chief Medical Officer for Mars Petcare’s Science & Diagnostics division, James (Jimmy) Barr, DVM, DACVECC, oversees the quality organization and leads delivery of medical care for the global Antech veterinary diagnostics business. Additionally, Jimmy serves a key role in connecting Science & Diagnostics with the Mars Petcare ecosystem and the veterinary profession.

Most recently, Jimmy was Blue Pearl’s Chief Medical Officer, a position he held since 2018, growing the Clinical Affairs team and taking it to new levels of medical leadership and excellence. While serving as CMO of BluePearl, Jimmy helped establish the Board of Chief Veterinary Medical Officers which is an important collective of over 60 top veterinary medical leaders from across the profession representing various industry segments. Jimmy currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Chief Veterinary Medical Officers.

Jimmy holds undergraduate and veterinary degrees from Louisiana State University and completed his residency in Emergency and Critical Care at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. Jimmy worked clinically at BluePearl starting in 2007 and served on the faculty at Texas A&M University before serving in BluePearl leadership.

Jimmy enjoys outdoor activities and woodworking. He is married to another veterinarian, Medora, and has two dogs, two cats, and two human children. Jimmy is based out of the SDx office in New York.

Dr. David Haworth joins Dr. Andy Roark to unpack one of the most talked-about shifts in veterinary medicine: the rise of mid-level practitioners. In this episode of the Cone of Shame Podcast, they dive into the connection between regulation and innovation—yes, you read that right—and how smart, clear guidelines can actually fuel progress. The conversation then shifts to Colorado’s landmark ballot initiative, paving the way for mid-level roles in vet med. Dr. Haworth shares his perspective on what thoughtful implementation could look like, why engagement from veterinarians is critical, and how we can build a future where access to care improves without compromising quality. If you're curious about technician utilization, veterinary policy, and what this all means for the profession, this episode is for you. Let’s get into it!

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David Haworth, DVM, PhD is an Executive Vice-President at Embark Veterinary, responsible for Research & Development, Business Development and Corporate Strategy, as well as a highly sought-after advisor and consultant to some of the largest and smallest organizations in the animal health and wellness space. He serves on numerous boards including DOG TV and Chairs the Scientific Working Group of the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI). Prior to Embark, he was the co-founder and president of Vidium Animal Health, a genomic diagnostics company, and helped lead it to a successful acquisition. He is also a former President of PetSmart Charities in the US and Canada, where he managed the largest strategic grant-making organization in animal welfare as well as the former President & CEO of Morris Animal Foundation, providing millions of dollars in grants for veterinary medical research. Prior to his work in non-profits, he served in multiple positions at Pfizer Animal Health (now Zoetis, Inc.), the largest producer of veterinary pharmaceuticals and vaccines in the world, ending as the Director of Global Alliances within the Business Development group and before that a Director in Pfizer Animal Health's Research & Development division. Prior to joining Pfizer Animal Health, he was an associate veterinarian at a small animal and emergency clinic in Washington State. Dr. Haworth received his bachelor of science in biology from the College of William & Mary and his doctor of veterinary medicine and doctorate of philosophy from Colorado State University. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Colorado State University's Animal Cancer Center. He has two adult children and splits his time between Denver, Colorado and Bozeman, Montana with his wife of over 30 years and their Golden Retrievers, Bridger and Breckenridge.