A burnout rethink asks veterinary teams to start with why

Version 1 — Brief

dvm360’s Vet Blast Podcast is spotlighting a more reflective approach to burnout in veterinary medicine, arguing that the problem isn’t simply a lack of wellness information, but a gap between knowing what to do and being able to do it. In the November 19, 2025, episode and companion commentary, Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, and Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, urge veterinary professionals to move from “I should” thinking to asking “why,” with a focus on identifying personal values, barriers to change, and practical next steps that fit real clinic life. (dvm360.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the message lands in a field where burnout remains a persistent workforce issue, even as awareness has grown. AVMA’s 2025 economic report said average veterinarian burnout scores in 2024 were unchanged from 2023, while a large JAVMA-linked survey found that work-life balance, effective coping strategies, and positive clinic culture were among the strongest predictors of better wellbeing and lower burnout. That suggests education alone won’t move the needle unless practices also address culture, workload, and whether teams can realistically act on the advice they’re given. (ebusiness.avma.org)

What to watch: Expect more attention to burnout strategies that go beyond individual resilience and tie personal wellbeing to clinic systems, mentorship, and workplace culture. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)