articles + Books

These books are handpicked to offer diverse perspectives and practical insights with the Amazon link for a detailed overview and reviews. Many audiobooks are included with a Spotify Premium subscription. Consider these resources for personal enrichment and professional development, I hope they can serve as valuable resources in your quest for knowledge, growth, and excellence in all areas of your life. Create a new habit - try listening to an audiobook while walking. The B

MacGyver was the television character who could escape almost any situation with ingenuity, a Swiss Army knife, a paper clip, or whatever happened to be lying around. He was remarkably resourceful, and veterinary medicine creates plenty of MacGyvers of its own. For much of my veterinary career, I was a MacGyver, and I was pretty good at it. Give me a difficult case, a broken piece of equipment, a staffing issue, an unhappy client, or something that just was not working proper

How an old teaching made me rethink the way I treat myself. Years ago, I had a habit that many veterinarians will recognize. On my days off, I would often call the clinic to check on my hospitalized cases. The conversations were usually brief. Had the dog eaten? Was the cat more comfortable? How was my post-op doing? Once I received a reassuring update, I could finally relax and enjoy the rest of my day. At least that is what I told myself. Looking back, I realize those calls

For years, I carried a small slip of paper in my wallet. It had just one sentence written on it: “What does this make possible?” I didn’t reach for it on the good days. I pulled it out when things felt heavy. A case didn’t go as planned. A client was upset. The team was stretched thin, and everyone felt it. You know those days. The ones that follow you home long after the clinic lights are off. In veterinary medicine, we are trained to notice problems. That is part of what ma

Last week a veterinarian told me about a complex GDV he managed beautifully: great teamwork and calm communication with a worried family. The dog went home happy to be reunited with the owners. A huge win. When I asked him how he celebrated, he looked at me as if I had suggested he cancel the rest of his day. “I didn’t. I just moved on. There were still lots of appointments.” That right there is the pattern. We solve. We move on. And then we quietly wonder why it never feels

After sharing my recent blog on meaning and purpose in veterinary medicine, I received many responses from you. A few simply said, “This really made me think.” Those responses tell me this isn’t an abstract topic. It’s alive. And for many veterinarians, it feels like unfinished business. In my previous blog, I described meaning and purpose as practical anchors rather than abstract ideals. Meaning is the story you tell yourself about why your work matters. Purpose is the direc

Ever notice how some veterinarians seem to bend but not break? They face the same long hours, tricky clients, and unexpected emergencies, yet something about them feels steady, hopeful even. Meanwhile, others feel like they’re slowly unravelling under the same weight. It’s not about toughness or talent. It’s about anchoring. Those who thrive have a strong sense of meaning and purpose guiding them forward, while those who struggle often feel adrift, working hard but without a

The Pleaser Saboteur: Why Saying Yes Might Be Saying No to Yourself The Case of the Reluctant ‘Yes’ It was 5:45 p.m., and you were this close to finishing your records when a tech poked their head in. "Hey, Dr. Smith — could you squeeze in one more quick ear infection?" You smiled, nodded, and said yes , even as your brain whispered no . By the time you finally left, the parking lot was empty and your dinner was cold — again. If th

Which Saboteur Is Driving Your Burnout Bus? The Quiz: 10 Questions. Choose one response per question that feels most like how you...

Imagine finishing a challenging day of surgery, staying late to check post-op, only to wake the next day anxious about the day’s caseload...

The Universal Upset Patient Protocol We have all experienced the sting of an emotionally charged client. If you are like I am, a...

As a Veterinarian or RVT, your days are filled with challenges—clients relying on your expertise, patients who can’t tell you what’s...

New Year – Same Old You. Time to Outwit Your Inner Saboteurs Tis the season for New Year's resolutions- do you ever wonder why you have...

Mental Fitness Coaching: A Path to Resilience and Balance The Veterinary profession is waking up to another pandemic: the pandemic of...

Your day already feels like semi-organized, nonstop chaos: 20-minute appointments, texting clients, telehealth to manage the urgent...

We all entered the veterinary profession knowing some of its many challenges. Schooling was intense; we learned new skills, signed our...

Imposter syndrome is defined as a feeling of inadequacy despite our many successes. Often, we assume that we are less intelligent or as...

Imagine this: you have just had a busy day. You performed a successful surgery, managed a challenging anesthesia and led a productive...

We've all had bad days at work. We know that practice is a series of challenges—some harder than others—and that Veterinarians and RVTs...

George is my mechanic. OK, I like cars, and George is my guy. I rely on his expertise and marvel at his calm confidence. He rarely lets...

In our busy clinical lives where every moment counts there is a powerful tool that often gets overlooked - the pause button. Amidst the...

Change your thoughts and change your mind Never underestimate the power of your thoughts. Research has shown that we have between 20,000...

Let's face it - we are well trained problem solvers. In fact, we are rewarded for it. Solving problems has become a reflex and now as a...

There are 10 Saboteurs. They are the inner voices that generate negative emotions as we experience life’s everyday challenges. When...

This toolkit will hasten your recovery when a bad event, or bad days, or unexpected problems happen - and they will. These are a few...

Originally published in The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Magazine Volume 42, No. 1 January/February 2023 Veterinary teams are...