December 07, 2025

151: Why Do I Still Feel Like Such an Imposter? (This Is What Getting Better Feels Like). With Dr Marie Holowaychuck, Dr Kerri Nelson and Dr Rob Webster

57 minutes

Am I a useless vet?

Sounds like a silly question that a new grad might ask, right? But imposter syndrome doesn't care about your credentials.

It whispers that you're a fraud, that you got lucky, that one day everyone will realise you don’t belong.

Or maybe you don’t feel like an imposter - but you beat yourself up after a case goes wrong. You replay every missed diagnosis. You hold yourself to an impossible standard, and when you fall short (even slightly), the inner critic shows no mercy.

Sound familiar?

In veterinary medicine, where perfection often feels like the baseline and the emotional toll runs deep, these patterns can be exhausting.

But here’s the truth: you’re not the only one who feels this way.

In this raw and honest conversation, we unpack:

Why imposter syndrome isn’t just a new grad thing - it can resurface anytime you step into something new, no matter how experienced or accomplished you are (Just keep listening if you don’t believe me)
What confidence really looks like - not knowing everything, but being willing to try, learn, and grow
Why perfectionism is often at the root of imposter - and what to do about it
Making peace with the inner-critic
Why vulnerability matters
A simple mindset shift that can make all the difference
And practical strategies to manage imposter feelings

You’ll hear real stories, mindset tools, and the reminder that feeling “useless” says nothing about you.

If you’ve ever questioned your abilities or felt like you're just pretending to hold it all together - this episode is your mirror.

You belong here. And it’s time you believed that too.

Our guests are:

Dr Marie Holowaychuck - a board-certified emergency and critical care veterinarian and the founder of Reviving Vet Med, a global initiative dedicated to equipping veterinary professionals with practical tools for mental health, resilience, and work–life balance, and the author of A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to be a Veterinarian.

Check out her new book here.

Dr Kerri Nelson: Experienced ER vet, mentor and former medical director. First time mom-to-be! (She has an epic blog about over-achieving - here.)

Dr Rob Webster: Co-Chief Executive Officer of Animal Emergency Australia, the leading veterinary emergency-care group down under, where he oversees clinical standards and consults on complex emergency and critical-care cases. A board-certified specialist in emergency and critical care since 2014. Jiu-jitsu tragic.

Check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cutabove.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go all in on surgery with our collaboration with Sydney University's CVE Surgery Course.

Find out how we can help you build you in your vet career at ⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠.

Get case support from our team of specialists in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.

Join us in person for our epic adventure CE events at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vets On Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Next up: Japan snow conference!)

Topics and Time stamps

04:28 You're not alone

09:56 What is a syndrome?

15:49 Defining Imposter Syndrome

19:44 Maybe It's Just Kinda Normal?

22:10 So What Can We Do About It?

27:22 The Eternal Internal Critic

30:22 Talk It Out

35:59 Vulnerability As A Weapon Against Imposter

39:03 This Is What Getting Better Feels Like

40:18 Perfectionism - The Root of Imposter

49:28 At Least You'er Not a Psychopath!

51:04 The Best People Are Filled With Self-Doubt

51:56 Mistakes Happen

...more

View all episodes

By Dr. Hubert Hiemstra

4.8

1414 ratings