AVMA spotlights error culture in new ‘Mistakes Happen’ series

AVMA’s My Veterinary Life podcast has launched a new series, “Mistakes Happen,” led by Dr. Jen Brandt, the association’s director of well-being. The series appears designed to build a shared vocabulary around mistakes, psychological safety, and how veterinary teams respond when things go wrong, rather than treating errors as isolated personal failures. That framing fits with AVMA’s broader wellbeing work, which has increasingly emphasized workplace culture, communication, and inclusion as part of professional sustainability. (avma.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the topic lands in a profession already under strain. AVMA’s 2025 economic report says wellbeing remains one of the profession’s most important issues, and burnout scores in 2024 remained in the moderate range on the ProQOL scale. Separate research and industry commentary suggest mistakes are common, often tied to communication breakdowns, and can affect both patient safety and team wellbeing. One 2019 study of incident reports from three veterinary hospitals found serious errors causing permanent harm or death were uncommon, but a survey of 606 veterinarians found nearly 74% had been involved in at least one near miss or adverse event. (ebusiness.avma.org)

What to watch: Watch for whether AVMA turns the series into practical tools for clinics, such as communication frameworks, team debriefing guidance, or broader training around psychological safety and just-culture principles. (avma.org)