Dvm360 podcast reframes burnout around purpose, not just advice

Veterinary burnout remains a live issue, but a new dvm360 podcast episode argues the problem may be less about awareness and more about follow-through. In the November 19, 2025, episode “From ‘I should’ to ‘Why?’: A different approach to burnout,” cohosts Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, and Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, said veterinary professionals are already surrounded by wellness advice, CE, and reminders, yet many still struggle because cultural norms and personal barriers make change hard to sustain. Their central idea: moving from external “I should” goals to a more personal “why” may help people take action that actually lasts. (dvm360.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this framing lines up with a broader shift in the industry from individual resilience messaging alone toward workplace and systems-level prevention. Recent dvm360 coverage of burnout has highlighted organizational responsibility, and Merck Animal Health’s fourth veterinary wellbeing study reported that high exhaustion, work-life balance concerns, and staffing pressures are still major stressors for veterinary teams. The 2025 AVMA economic report also found veterinarians were generally satisfied with their jobs, lifestyles, and compensation, but only about half were satisfied with the profession overall, suggesting a disconnect between day-to-day work and larger professional strain. (dvm360.com)

What to watch: Expect more workforce and wellbeing coverage to focus on whether practices can translate personal insight into concrete workflow, culture, and retention changes, rather than adding more wellness content alone. (dvm360.com)