Beyond band-aid wellness: A systems approach to veterinary burnout

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, cohost of dvm360’s The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success, to the show to chat about the physical and mental challenges veterinary professionals face in the industry, plus the need for systemic changes to address burnout and injuries in veterinary clinics.

In the episode, Shaw highlights not only the need for systemic changes to address injuries and burnout in veterinary clinics but also a cultural shift that includes open communication, physical exercise, and rest breaks to help professionals recharge. Shaw also stresses the importance of peer support and healthy break-room options to help create a sustainable work environment for everyone in the clinic.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA: What I find interesting, too, from the [continuing education] space, [is that] now that I work in this full-time, it doesn't seem to be as [much of] a priority as it used to be when [the COVID-19 pandemic] hit [and] we were on lockdown. It seemed like, because…in terms of the choices that attendees had to sit in on a session—whether it be a medical, nonmedical, wellness, practice management—without a doubt, there was a very large amount of individuals taking wellness courses because I think we needed it…with what we were going through.

But interestingly enough—Aaron, curious to get your thoughts on this…this is just my lens. I have no data to support this, [but it] just seems the volume of attendance…in those wellness courses [is] not nearly as good as it should be. Yet, here we are. We know it's a huge problem in the veterinary space. We know that we need to recognize it, but those [who] probably should be sitting in those courses are not sitting in those courses.

Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS: Yeah, 100%. I think that COVID[-19] was a moment in time where, like it or not, health was on the front page everywhere, all the time. So it's really hard to ignore that. Maybe the silver lining is that those conversations…at least put the conversation on the table so people had things to talk about beyond just [the pandemic] itself, [and] just kind of reflecting on how we feel and how well we're taking care of ourselves generally. I think that…for human health—I'm sure there's a correlation with vet medicine, as well—when things are going well, nobody thinks twice about it. It's like we only think about our health when we're sick; otherwise, [we] just kind of plug along. Not that I would encourage anybody to get sick. But man, if you want to appreciate being healthy, get the flu for 4 or 5 days…curled up with a fever and negotiating with your higher power how you promise to be better forever if you can just feel better.

I think my personal mission is to help people achieve their potential, and I recognize that I'm coming in saying, “You may not feel injured right this moment. You may not feel burned out. You may feel like you're doing OK right this moment,” but man, what a great opportunity. If that is you…double down. Invest in this so you can have a long, thriving career. Don't wait to be like far too many of the people I talked to who are kind of burning out, on edge, considering other options. [I] just talked to somebody yesterday who's in academics [and] had switched careers. Specifically, she's like, “I just can't. My body couldn't take it anymore. So here I am.” And she's happy with where she's at. But that story is really common, and…there's an opportunity to do something better than that.

Want to hear and learn more from Shaw? Check out The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success on dvm360.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.