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Burnout is a universal challenge in veterinary medicine, but does the practice environment change the experience? In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Emily Li, an Emergency and Critical Care specialist based in Melbourne, Australia.

Emily’s interest in mental health was forged on the front lines of emergency medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Driven by her own lived experience and the challenges she saw in the clinic, she dedicated her Master’s thesis to comparing burnout drivers among general practitioners and emergency veterinarians across Australia.

During this episode, we discuss how workplace structures and workload predictability impact both groups. We also explore what surprisingly does not differ between general practice and ER burnout, and why Emily believes systemic changes, rather than just individual resilience, are the only way forward for the profession. Emily shares a grounded, evidence based perspective on the real drivers of exhaustion and highlights the importance of the person in environment fit.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
https://youtu.be/ycynLHKEEHc

Resources
Follow Dr. Emily Li on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-li-b59309137/  

Read Dr. Li’s papers: A comparison between veterinary small animal general practitioners and emergency practitioners in Australia Part 1 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10993158/) and Part 2 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10932987/)  

Thank you to our sponsor Hill’s Pet Nutrition
For more information about Hill's products and nutritional philosophy, please visit HillsPet.com or HillsPet.ca.

Thank you to our sponsor Co-Vet
For a free trial of Co-Vet, please visit https://www.co.vet/. And follow Co-Vet on social media: Instagram: @covet.ai, Facebook: @coVetAIApp, LinkedIn: @CoVet 

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For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

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To access Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s free resources including handouts, posters, meditations, and quizzes, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/resources 

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Medical error is one of the most challenging and least discussed realities in veterinary medicine, yet it has profound implications for the mental health and career longevity of the professionals involved. In this episode, Dr. Rochelle Low, veterinarian and Global VP of Quality and Patient Safety at Mars Veterinary Health, joins us to explore why patient safety is actually a vital pillar of team wellbeing.

Drawing from her research on the "Second Victim" experience and her 2025 global study of over 64,000 safety events, Rochelle shares how a systems-based approach can shift the focus from individual shame to collective learning. We discuss the emotional trajectory teams face after an adverse event, why errors are often rooted in system design rather than personal failure, and the specific types of support, like peer connection and psychological safety, that help professionals recover and stay in the field.

Rochelle also reflects on a personal medication error case and how an immediate, supportive leadership response shaped her own professional identity. This conversation offers a powerful and practical lens for anyone in veterinary medicine who wants to move past "blame and shame" to build a culture that truly protects both our patients and our people.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
[Link pending]

Resources
Connect with Dr. Rochelle Low on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochelle-low-53ab0091/  

Read Dr. Low’s research papers:

Veterinary healthcare needs to talk more about error: For the wellbeing of our patients and medical teams: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9708451/ 

Patient safety events cause harm across a variety of veterinary care settings: a global retrospective analysis: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/263/7/javma.24.08.0523.xml 

Personal resilience, good leadership, and a psychologically safe culture play a mitigating role on the impact of patient safety events: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/263/3/javma.24.09.0620.xml 

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For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Resources
To access Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s free resources including handouts, posters, meditations, and quizzes, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/resources

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In this bonus episode, Dr. Sonja Olson guides you through a meditation designed to cultivate equanimity and radical acceptance; powerful tools for maintaining emotional balance, compassion, and clarity amidst the challenges of veterinary practice and caregiving roles.

This 10-minute meditation offers practical strategies to reduce reactivity, stay grounded in difficult interactions, and nurture resilience in both your professional and personal life. Through gentle guidance, you’ll explore ways to bring kindness and calm to yourself, your patients, your colleagues, and even those you find challenging.

Take a few minutes to pause, breathe, and reconnect with a sense of balance. Perfect for your breakroom, office, or anywhere you need a moment of calm. Share this meditation with a colleague who could use the support, and check out additional thoughts and teachings from Dr. Sonja Olson on her YouTube channel. 

Resources
Visit Sonja’s website: https://www.sonjaolsondvm.com   

Visit Sonja’s YouTube channel @KindfulMomentswithDrSonja: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1KtsXn4EfTgAs_vDh4rxxQ

Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter 

Online Resources
To access Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s free resources including handouts, posters, meditations, and quizzes, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/resources 

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Psychological safety is essential in veterinary medicine, yet many professionals report experiencing aggression, bullying, discrimination, or sexual harassment at work.

In this episode, Dr. Jolanda Jansen, communications advisor, researcher, and co-owner of St. Anna Advies in the Netherlands, talks about her 2025 study examining harassment and transgressive behavior in Dutch veterinary clinics. Nearly 70 percent of respondents reported experiencing at least one form of misconduct in a single year.

We discuss why younger professionals and support staff are particularly vulnerable, the role clients and colleagues play, and what practical steps leaders and teams can take to create safer, more respectful workplaces. This conversation offers insight and actionable guidance for anyone committed to strengthening culture and wellbeing in veterinary medicine.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
https://youtu.be/vv8TWIYS_IE

Resources
My Workplace Is Not a Safe Place: Transgressive Behavior and Workplace Harassment in Veterinary Clinics in the Netherlands: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12474498/  

Connect with Jolanda Jansen on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anna-advies and https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolandajansen/ 

Instagram: @stannaadvies and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stanna.advies/ 

Visit Jolanda’s website: www.anna-advies.nl   

Register for our 4-week online program Becoming a Veterinary SuperCommunicator: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/supercommunicator  

Thank you to our sponsor Hill’s Pet Nutrition
For more information about Hill's products and nutritional philosophy, please visit HillsPet.com or HillsPet.ca.

Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Resources
To access Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s free resources including handouts, posters, meditations, and quizzes, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/resources 

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Email: [email protected] 

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Stress is an inevitable part of veterinary medicine, but understanding how our brains respond can transform the way we manage it. In this episode, Dr. Sonja Olson, a veterinary wellness coach, former emergency veterinarian, and certified neuroinformed and mindfulness coach, shares her expertise on neuro-informed stress management.

We explore what happens in the brain and nervous system during chronic stress, how neuro-resilience can be cultivated, and practical, science-based strategies to regulate the nervous system in real time. Sonja also discusses the role of social connection, environment, and daily practices in building long-term resilience, helping veterinary professionals thrive both personally and professionally.

This conversation offers evidence-based guidance and actionable tools for anyone in veterinary medicine looking to reduce stress, improve wellbeing, and foster a healthier, more sustainable career.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
[Link pending]

Resources
Connect with Dr. Sonja Olson on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonja-a-olson-dvm

Instagram: @sonjaolsondvm and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonja.olson.754 

Visit Sonja’s website: https://www.sonjaolsondvm.com   

Pre-orders Sonja’s book (due to be published August 2026): www.routledge.com/9781032753928

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For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Lunch & Learns
To learn more about the Lunch & Learn sessions offered by Reviving Veterinary Medicine, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/lunch-and-learns-for-veterinary-teams/. 

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Thriving in veterinary medicine is not just about clinical skill. It also requires managing stress, sustaining energy, and aligning your career with your values. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Amy Grimm, a veterinarian, certified coach, and founder of Burnout-Free Me. Her work empowers high-responsibility professionals to break free from hustle culture and create sustainable success without sacrificing health, relationships, or wellbeing.

Amy shares her personal journey through burnout, the early warning signs veterinarians often overlook, and evidence-informed strategies for nervous system regulation and stress management. You will learn how mindset shifts and integrating life beyond the clinic can support long-term fulfillment and resilience.

Whether you are a practice owner, team member, or emerging professional, this conversation offers practical tools, actionable insights, and inspiration to feel more balanced, engaged, and energized in your veterinary career. 

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
https://youtu.be/ptof_mVKN9s

Resources
Please visit Dr. Amy Grimm’s website: https://daringdvm.com/  

Sign up for her newsletter: https://burnoutfreeme.kit.com/welcome 

Access her Burnout Fix Resource: https://burnoutfreeme.kit.com/burnoutfix  

Listen to the Burnout Free Me podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daring-dvm/id1685789557  

A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to Be a Veterinarian: https://acompassionatecalling.com/ 

Now available on Audible: https://www.audible.ca/pd/A-Compassionate-Calling-Audiobook/B0G1ZGBQLM?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp 

Thank you to our sponsor Hill’s Pet Nutrition
For more information about Hill's products and nutritional philosophy, please visit HillsPet.com or HillsPet.ca.

Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Additional Resources
To learn more about Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s offerings including lunch & learns, critical incident group debriefing, and online programs, please visit our website: https://revivingvetmed.com/ 

Questions, Suggestions, or Sponsorship Opportunities
Email: [email protected] 

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Feeling seen and valued at work is more than a nice-to-have, it’s essential for preventing burnout and fostering healthy, thriving veterinary teams. Appreciation goes beyond praise; it’s about recognizing contributions, supporting one another, and creating a culture where everyone feels they truly matter.

In this episode, I speak with returning guest Jolene Watson, Canada’s Networking Expert®, Registered Veterinary Technologist, Executive Coach, and best-selling author. Drawing on her experience in veterinary medicine and leadership coaching, Jolene shares how appreciation affects burnout, highlights the often-overlooked emotional labour in veterinary workplaces, and explains workplace appreciation languages.

You’ll learn practical strategies for showing appreciation as a colleague and as a leader, how to make appreciation an integral part of team culture, and simple ways to boost morale, communication, and retention in your practice. Whether you’re a team member or in a leadership role, this conversation offers actionable guidance to strengthen connection, engagement, and wellbeing across your workplace.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
[Link pending]

Resources
Connect with Jolene Watson on social media: https://www.facebook.com/ClarityCoachingandDevelopment                       https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolene-watson-5881612a  

Visit Jolene’s website: https://www.jolenewatson.com/veterinary  

Take the Workplace Appreciation Quiz: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/survey/appreciation 

Thank you to our sponsor Scribenote
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Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Resources
To access Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s free resources including handouts, posters, meditations, and quizzes, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/resources 

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Email: [email protected] 

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Creating safe, supportive, and high-functioning veterinary teams goes far beyond clinical skill: it starts with leadership, culture, and the everyday interactions that shape how people feel about speaking up, learning, and coping with errors.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Luiz Santos, a veterinary anesthesiologist, educator, and PhD researcher whose work explores humble leadership, psychological safety, safety climate, error disclosure, and the second victim phenomenon in veterinary practice. Luiz shares how leadership behaviours, team culture, and even seemingly small acts of incivility can profoundly impact both patient safety and the wellbeing of veterinary professionals.

You will learn what humble leadership really looks like in practice, why psychological safety is essential for learning and growth, and practical strategies for fostering safer, more resilient, and more compassionate teams. Whether you’re a practice owner, manager, or team member, this conversation offers evidence-based insights to improve communication, support wellbeing, and strengthen safety in every veterinary workplace.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
https://youtu.be/b9zXfiDkZic

Resources
Follow Dr. Luiz Santos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ls522/  

Impact of humble leadership on attitudes to error disclosure: the mediating role of psychological safety and safety climate in Australian veterinary practices: https://bmjleader.bmj.com/content/9/4/394  

Navigating veterinary error disclosure: An examination of humble leadership and safety attitudes in veterinary practices in Australia: https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/vetr.5816 

The Power of Mattering (Book by Zach Mercurio)

We Need to Talk About Error: https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1136/vr.103331 

Discerning the effect of the relationship between disclosure and responsiveness on depression, anxiety, and compassion fatigue among veterinarians: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/261/4/javma.22.08.0359.xml 

A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to Be a Veterinarian: https://acompassionatecalling.com/ 

Thank you to our sponsor Hill’s Pet Nutrition
For more information about Hill's products and nutritional philosophy, please visit HillsPet.com or HillsPet.ca.

Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Additional Resources
To learn more about Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s offerings including lunch & learns, critical incident group debriefing, and online programs, please visit our website: https://revivingvetmed.com/

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Strong mentorship and a culture of support are essential for thriving, sustainable veterinary careers. Beyond clinical skill, how teams grow, learn, and care for one another depends on guidance, connection, and intentional professional development.

In this episode, we speak with Alyssa Mages, BS, CVT, co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Empowering Veterinary Teams® and Director of MentorVet Tech. Alyssa has spent over 20 years fostering professional growth, mentorship, and team empowerment across the veterinary profession. She shares her insights on how effective mentoring relationships, supportive leadership, and team development initiatives can enhance wellbeing, resilience, and job satisfaction.

You will learn what mentorship truly looks like in veterinary practice, why it matters for both individuals and teams, and practical strategies for creating a culture where every team member can grow, contribute, and feel valued. Whether you’re a practice owner, manager, or team member, this conversation offers evidence-informed guidance to strengthen professional growth, wellbeing, and collaboration across your team.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
[Link pending]

Resources
Follow Empowering Veterinary Teams on Instagram @empvetteam or visit their website: https://www.empoweringveterinaryteams.com 

MentorVet Tech: https://www.mentorvet.net/tech 

Ready, Vet, Go: https://readyvetgo.co/ 

Thank you to our sponsor Scribenote
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In a profession defined by constant care for others, veterinarians often struggle to make time for their own recovery. What if stepping away, even briefly, could be the key to sustaining joy and longevity in practice?

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Heather Gunn McQuillan, veterinarian, educator, and founder of Nature Space Resort and Retreat Centre and AwareVet Veterinary Consulting. After nearly two decades in clinical practice and academic leadership, Heather now helps veterinary professionals restore balance through nature-based wellness retreats.

She shares how mindfulness, rest, and intentional time in nature can promote resilience, health, and emotional recovery, and why immersive retreats can create lasting change. You will learn how to integrate mindfulness and rest into daily life and how community and connection can revive your passion for veterinary work.

Whether you are feeling depleted, curious about retreats, or looking to reconnect with yourself and your purpose, this conversation offers inspiration and practical guidance for sustainable wellbeing.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
https://youtu.be/zMh4X8V2ErQ

Resources
Learn more about Heather’s retreats and offerings on her website: www.naturespaceresort.com 

Follow Nature Space Resort on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatureSpaceResort 

Thank you to our sponsor Scribenote
See how Scribenote works: https://www.scribenote.com?utm_campaign=RVM&utm_source=rvm-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=MARK-402

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For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Programs
To learn more about Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s offerings including lunch & learns, critical incident group debriefing, and online programs, please visit our website: https://revivingvetmed.com/

Questions, Suggestions, or Sponsorship Opportunities
Email: [email protected]

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