The Joyful DVM Podcast: Empowering Veterinary Professionals

Dr. Cari Wise, DVM, MAEd, Certified Life Coach•cariwise.com

After graduating from veterinary school over twenty years ago, struggling to create balance, and failing to protect her mental health and emotional wellbeing, Dr. Cari Wise finally ditched all the rules and forged her own path forward. If you're a veterinary professional looking to up-level your life and your career, or maybe looking to go in an entirely new direction, then the topics we discuss on the Joyful DVM podcast is absolutely for you.

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Episodes

#9 What 2020 is Teaching Us in Vet Med and Beyond

No doubt, 2020 thus far has been quite a ride... and we're only halfway through. True end of the world? Maybe. Getting back to normal soon? Not even an option. As I looked back at just some of the things 2020 has brought us and considered the way we humans have reacted, I see the silver lining. Do you see it? Many of us are missing it because of our current suffering. Our fear, uncertainty, and grief keep us from recognizing what else is happening. The world is changing. People are finding the c...

Jul 14, 2020•26 min•Ep. 9

#8 Infinitely Worthy: How a World of Possibility Opens with Just One Belief

The noise and action of the world can drown out what is real. In this short and sweet episode, I offer truth and encouragement to veterinary professionals, and every person, who might need a gentle reminder that they are enough. Your worth is infinite. Your value is priceless. Your potential is limitless. Your purpose is real. Your dreams and goals are needed in this world. Don't give up. Resources: Vet Life Academy Music Credit: Music by Lesfm from Pixabay...

Jul 07, 2020•6 min•Ep. 8

#7 The Impact of the Toxic Veterinary Work Environment

The quality of veterinary clinic culture is directly related to the gap between expectation and reality. The 5 components of culture in veterinary organizations include: Leverage Schedule Pay Policies Leadership At the time of employment and onboarding, expectations in all of these areas are created. What we experience, then, either aligns with expectations or does not. When it doesn't, a gap between expectation and reality is created, trust is eroded, and culture suffers. A suffering culture is...

Jun 30, 2020•28 min•Ep. 7

#6 Talking To Clients: Vet Med Word Vomit

Have you ever been talking to a client and you see them zone out so you switch gears to try to deliver your message a different way, all the while watching for any signs of comprehension or consent? Or have you been delivering unexpected news and find yourself in an explanation loop... rationalizing, justifying, convincing... all while that little voice in your head screams, "Just Stop Talking!". It's all pretty common. There are four main reasons we talk to veterinary clients: Conversational Ga...

Jun 23, 2020•19 min•Ep. 6

#5 Measuring Success In VetMed

It's no surprise we try to measure our success in Vet Med. We are constantly looking for indications that we are doing it right, or doing it wrong. Unfortunately, success in Vet Med can't be measured by tangible things. So, in the absence of tangible measures of success, we create our own: Clients who are happy and patients who get better mean we're doing it right. Clients who are angry and patients who don't respond to treatment mean we're doing it wrong. But, it doesn't work that way. In this ...

Jun 16, 2020•15 min•Ep. 5

#4 The Importance of Developing Emotional Resilience in VetMed

What's the hardest part of veterinary medicine? Most of us wouldn't identify getting bitten, being pooped on, learning to take well-positioned radiographs, or figuring out how to draw blood on fractious cats as the hard parts of our jobs. The hard part is feeling stressed out all the time, and we believe that stress comes from things like cranky clients, conversations about money and euthanasia. The good news is that it doesn't. We can develop Emotional Resilience and it all starts with understa...

Jun 09, 2020•18 min•Ep. 4

B1 | Be Willing To Get It Wrong

Many of us don't speak out or take action in our lives not because we don't agree that change is needed, but because we are afraid of doing it wrong. The fear keeps us living small and accepting the status quo. Our human brains rationalize those choices. It seems very logical... But we forget, the best part of our human brain provides the capacity to evaluate our own thought patterns and to purposely develop new ones. This is the skill we learn and practice every day at the Vet Life Academy. It ...

Jun 05, 2020•16 min

#3 Tips For New (and not so new) VetMed Grads

Our purpose as part of a veterinary hospital, whether we are veterinarians or veterinary technicians, or veterinary practice managers, is to serve clients and treat patients. That is all. That is why veterinary hospitals exist. Unfortunately, most of us spend an abundant amount of time focused on things that do not fall into the purpose of our role... simply put, we don’t stay in our lane. This shows up as gossiping, commiserating, and judging. When we consider the impact of gossiping, commisera...

May 28, 2020•14 min•Ep. 3

#2 The Upside of Imposter Syndrome

In this episode, I take a look at the UP SIDE of Imposter Syndrome in VetMed. Imposter Syndrome is really a state of believing that you're a fraud and that your accomplishments were more likely accidental than the intentional result of your performance. I dig deep into the phenomenon, share why it’s both very common, and very normal, in the Veterinary profession. Topics include: What Imposter Syndrome is Why Imposter Syndrome occurs When Imposter Syndrome started for most of us Why VetMed provid...

May 25, 2020•20 min•Ep. 2

#1 Joyful DVM- Who, What & Why

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Joyful DVM Podcast! Joyful DVM is a personal development organization created to support veterinary professionals and teach the life skills traditional veterinary education is lacking. The Joyful DVM vision is to empower veterinary professionals and change the belief that relentless stress, anxiety, depression, and the high rate of suicide are inevitable consequences of VetMed careers. A different outcome requires a different approach and a different persp...

May 21, 2020•12 min•Ep. 1

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