Veterinary specialist, speaker, consultant, and mental health & wellbeing advocate, Dr. Marie Holowaychuk joins host Brendan Howard in this week's episode of the veterinary business success show. 

Dr. Marie's pathway into veterinary medicine started at a young age, as she grew up working in her mother's companion animal clinic in Canada. Before being accepted into veterinary school, Marie had already worked as a kennel cleaner, receptionist, technician’s assistant, and veterinary assistant! However, despite her upbringing in general practice and love for it, Dr. Marie always felt like she had a calling for more. 

After graduating from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 2004, Marie moved to the USA where she discovered her love of emergency and critical care. Following this passion, Marie went on to qualify as a board-certified specialist in small animal emergency and critical care from North Carolina State University in 2008. This love of emergency medicine, combined with Marie’s passion for teaching led to her accepting a teaching position as the Assistant Professor of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College. Marie stayed in this role for 5 years before moving to Calgary in 2014 to continue to practice small animal emergency and critical care whilst also locuming and volunteering on several committees.

However, despite doing what she loved, Marie still found herself burnt out and after getting into a car accident, Marie realized she needed a change. Instead, Marie put more of her energy into her personal and professional wellbeing. She obtained her Compassion Fatigue Training from the University of Tennessee School of Veterinary Social Work, completed a Mental Health First Aid Training with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and gained her 200-hour yoga teacher training qualification. 

Now Marie is on a mission to change the pathway in veterinary medicine by raising awareness about mental health and wellbeing within the profession. Listen in to learn a little bit more about Dr. Marie Holowaychuk and how she could give you the tools to develop your wellbeing.