Reviving Vet Med

Send us Fan Mail With veterinary medicine at its busiest and workplaces more stressful than usual, taking time to rest and reset after a long work day is prudent. Work-life separation is necessary for preventing burnout and can be facilitated by spending time outside, taking a shower, or practicing meditation at the end of a shift.    During this BONUS episode, we offer a relaxing meditation inten...

Send us Fan Mail  It seems clear that veterinary team members are feeling burnout more than ever before. Increasing demand for high quality animal care, a shortage of veterinary professionals, and a broken system are all likely contributors. The question that is often asked is: whose responsibility is it to manage or prevent burnout among veterinary professionals amidst these trying times?    Duri...

Send us Fan Mail While very few people dispute the importance of self-care, many argue “there just isn’t enough time!” Especially during the summer, we are pulled in many different directions whether it’s work (covering for coworker vacations), child care (while school’s out), vacation (if we actually get around to scheduling it), family functions (reunions, barbecues, etc.), and the list goes on!...

Send us Fan Mail A team debriefing after a distressing situation such as a difficult euthanasia procedure, an intense client conversation, or another traumatic episode allows the team consider the experience and how it has impacted them, as well as what might be done differently next time. Performing a team debrief within 24-72 hours of the inciting incident can help to reduce the emotional reacti...

Send us Fan Mail Mindfulness, or focusing attention on the present moment, has dramatic beneficial effects on physical and mental wellbeing. Which is why celebrities like Katy Perry, Jerry Seinfeld, and Oprah admit to meditating regularly. Professional sports teams and millions of other people are also adopting daily meditation and mindfulness practices. And with fMRI capabilities, we are able to...

Send us Fan Mail You’ve probably heard that “sitting is the new smoking”. A 2011 study followed 800,000 people and their sitting habits and found that people who sit the most, compared to people who sit the least, have a greater risk of disease and death. And unfortunately, with electronic medical records demanding more of our time in veterinary practice, much of our day can be spent sedentary whi...

Send us Fan Mail Now that we are two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to take a step back to assess the impact of these extraordinary times on the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Recent research conducted by Merck Animal Health in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Association brings newfound awareness and understanding to the impact the pande...

Send us Fan Mail Everyone has witnessed or been the victim of an online critic or cyberbully attack. Veterinary team members are more vulnerable to these incidents with public access to online review sites and social media pages. These situations can have devastating consequences for individuals and deeply impact the wellbeing of the entire veterinary team.  During this episode, I review the diffe...

Send us Fan Mail Despite a slight improvement in caseload and staffing within most veterinary practices, veterinary team members are still experiencing persistent or habitual burnout. This phenomenon is becoming more prevalent and requires awareness and intentional steps to allow individuals to recover.  During this episode, we review the research regarding the different stages of burnout includin...

Send us Fan Mail Research consistently demonstrates the benefits of volunteering, especially among individuals who believe others will benefit from their contributions and that they are being appreciated for their efforts.  During this episode, and in honour of International Volunteer Day, I review the positive impact of volunteering on mental health and wellbeing, and share strategies for optimiz...

Send us Fan Mail Every 10th Reviving Vet Med podcast will feature a BONUS episode! Our first BONUS episode is a 25-minute gratitude meditation, just in time for the holiday season. Gratitude is one of the most powerful human emotions and can lift your energy or mood after experiencing anger, frustration, grief, or sadness. You are invited to practice this meditation anytime you wish to relax or in...

Send us Fan Mail Recent veterinary wellness studies have tended to focus on the negative aspects of veterinary work, with little mention of the positive components.  Eudaimonic wellbeing is having fulfilling work that contributes to the greater good and can promote career satisfaction among veterinary professionals.  During this episode, I review the research around job characteristics that contri...

Send us Fan Mail Veterinary team members are struggling with burnout more than ever before, thanks to an excruciating caseload and staffing shortages. More and more veterinary professionals are choosing to leave their jobs, further exacerbating the burnout of those left behind.  Research shows that one of the biggest reasons that employees leave their jobs is because they feel unappreciated or und...

Send us Fan Mail The statistics regarding veterinarian suicide have been the focus of studies in recent years. However, it's time that the focus shifted away from the statistics and towards what we can do as a veterinary profession to support the mental health and wellbeing of all veterinary team members.  In this episode, I share practical strategies for reducing stigma, fostering mental hea...

Send us Fan Mail Veterinary professionals often using coping strategies like binge-watching Netflix, drinking a bottle of wine, and eating unhealthy foods to deal with work- and life-related stressors.  Unfortunately, these coping strategies are not health-promoting when used repeatedly, and over time they can become harmful.  During this episode, the difference between coping strategies and self-...

Send us Fan Mail It can feel so good to vent and tell someone our frustrations. In fact, airing our grievances can feel like self-care in the moment, as it brings a sense of connection and stress relief.  However, studies demonstrate that venting can have harmful effects on our stress levels and relationships, especially when it is not done productively.  During this episode, I share ways that ven...

Send us Fan Mail People-pleasing is something that many veterinary professionals (and others) struggle with. While it might feel better in the short-term to say yes and appease others, putting the needs of everyone else first erodes wellbeing over time.  During this episode, I discuss how to know if you are a people-pleaser and share five strategies for reducing this tendency.  Video Version https...

Send us Fan Mail Working in the veterinary profession isn't easy. And sometimes that is because we are butting heads with someone we work with. While it's not expected that we get along with everyone all the time, sometimes toxic behaviours need to be addressed, for our own wellbeing.  During this episode, I share some of my experiences dealing with difficult co-workers, including an eas...

Send us Fan Mail Unconscious bias (also known as implicit bias) is a prejudice or judgment that is present but not consciously recognized. Every person has unconscious biases that we attribute to another person or group of people, which thereby impact our instinctual decisions and reactions. And it happens without us realizing it!  In honour of Pride Month, in this episode we discuss the many diff...

Send us Fan Mail Good mental health isn’t about being happy all the time. In fact, a mentally healthy life includes the full range of human emotions – even the uncomfortable ones like sadness, fear, anxiety, and anger. These emotions are a part of being human and pushing them down doesn’t make them go away. On the contrary, one of the best ways to quiet our emotions is to give them a voice. Join m...