dvm360 podcast reframes burnout around hidden mental roadblocks

A new dvm360 podcast episode is arguing that veterinary burnout may persist not because teams lack awareness, but because common mental habits, like unspoken expectations, assumptions, and self-judgment, keep people stuck in draining patterns. In the February 18, 2026, episode, “Mental roadblocks wearing veterinary professionals down,” hosts Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, and Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, describe these as “energy blocks” and frame the shift from “I should” to “why?” as a more useful way to examine stress and decision-making in practice. (dvm360.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the episode lands in a workforce environment where burnout is still widespread despite years of wellbeing programming. Merck Animal Health’s fourth veterinary wellbeing study found ongoing concerns around exhaustion, work-life balance, and staffing shortages, while dvm360 and AVMA coverage has increasingly emphasized that burnout is not just an individual resilience problem, but also a workplace culture and systems issue. That makes this episode notable less as a standalone wellness tip and more as part of a broader push to help teams identify the hidden beliefs and default reactions that may worsen stress inside already strained practice settings. (merck-animal-health-usa.com)

What to watch: Expect continued emphasis on practice-level wellbeing strategies, including culture, communication, and workload design, rather than burnout advice aimed only at individual coping. (dvm360.com)