This week we’re joined by Alistair Strutt (@struttyinscrubs), a final year vet student passionate about mixed practice, large animals, and documenting life on placements through his placement journal videos.

We get into the realities of final year vet school — placements, burnout, self-doubt, balancing life outside vet med, and learning to grow through uncertainty.

In Episode 5, we sit down with Kemely — a new graduate ECC intern at ARH Essendon Fields — to talk about the reality of stepping straight from vet school into emergency and critical care. From 12-hour shifts and ICU patients to overnight work and the steep learning curve of being a new grad, this episode gives a real look into life inside emergency medicine.

Kemely also opens up about burnout, imposter syndrome, clinic culture, supporting owners through grief and euthanasia, and the experiences that shaped her journey into becoming a veterinarian. A raw, honest, and insightful conversation about what life in vet med really looks like behind the scenes.

In the fourth episode of the podcast, we’re joined by final-year veterinary students Jasleen Bath and Meghna Vanamali. We explore their journeys as international students and dive into the realities of clinical rotations and life in vet school. The conversation unpacks the pressure of OSCEs, the fear of failure, and how perfectionism shapes the veterinary student experience. We also touch on the emotional side of the profession, including how personal experiences with pet loss can influence empathy and clinical practice. Throughout the episode, they share honest reflections, lessons learned, and advice for students navigating the path to becoming a veterinarian.

In the third episode of the podcast, we sit down with Associate Professor David Beggs from Melbourne Veterinary School. We discuss his journey through veterinary medicine, from growing up on a sheep farm to becoming a leader in cattle health and welfare. David shares insights from years in practice and academia, the importance of animal welfare, lessons in teaching the next generation of vets, and advice for building a long and rewarding career in the profession.

In the second episode of the podcast, we explore the experiences of two final-year veterinary students on the Production Animal track. They share stories from clinical rotations, including farm visits, surgeries, and the emotional realities of vet training. We also discuss the practical skills they’ve developed, the challenges of remote placements, and their advice for future vet students.

In Episode 1, we kick things off by sharing how we met and what led us down the path to veterinary medicine. We unpack the reality of the journey—from the financial pressures to the challenges of placements and managing time—while reflecting on some of the biggest struggles we’ve faced along the way. Despite it all, we dive into what we love most about the profession and why it continues to be so rewarding.

Welcome to our introduction to Pulse Check. Sit back, relax, and let your pulse slow as we dive into the veterinary world, hearing stories and insights from professors, students, and professionals alike.