dvm360 podcast reframes veterinary burnout around values

A new dvm360 episode, “From ‘I should’ to ‘Why?’: A different approach to burnout,” argues that veterinary burnout may persist not because professionals lack wellness information, but because they’re still operating from unexamined expectations and self-judgment. In the episode, Aaron Shaw and Jennifer Edwards urge veterinary professionals to move from reflexive “I should” thinking toward asking why a demand, habit, or standard exists in the first place, framing resilience less as another checklist and more as alignment with personal values and purpose. (dvm360.com)

Why it matters: That message lands in a profession still wrestling with workforce strain, retention concerns, and uneven wellbeing. AVMA’s 2025 economic report shows burnout patterns vary by role, with relief veterinarians trending upward in recent years, while broader AVMA-Merck wellbeing data found only about half of veterinarians were satisfied with the profession as a whole, even as many reported satisfaction with their own jobs. The same wellbeing research linked better outcomes to factors such as feeling that work contributes to others’ lives and having open, candid team communication, suggesting that meaning, culture, and expectations may matter as much as individual coping tactics. (ebusiness.avma.org)

What to watch: Expect more burnout coverage to shift from personal resilience alone toward team culture, moral distress, and values-based retention strategies. (aaha.org)