1st Edition
A Compassionate Calling What It Really Means to be a Veterinarian
A Compassionate Calling offers an unflinching and deeply personal look into the realities of the veterinary profession.
Dr. Marie Holowaychuk, a veterinary specialist with experience in academia, emergency and referral hospitals, and general practice, weaves candid personal stories with evidence-based insights from published research. In 40 concise and thought-provoking chapters, she explores the hidden curriculum of veterinary school, the toll of on-call work, the emotional impact of euthanasia, the challenges of practicing during a pandemic, and many other important topics. Marie also tackles pressing issues like diversity, equity, inclusion, and the evolving dynamics of pet insurance and corporatization in veterinary medicine.
Despite nearly 90% of pet owners viewing their animals as family members, few truly understand the challenges veterinarians face daily. This book pulls back the curtain to address questions such as:
- Why don’t many veterinarians recommend the profession to others?
- How do distressing events, like euthanasia and moral stress, affect veterinarians’ mental health?
- What do veterinarians wish pet owners knew about the emotional and mental toll of caring for their animals?
With its blend of heartfelt storytelling and practical insights, A Compassionate Calling is essential reading for pet owners, aspiring veterinarians, and anyone curious about the veterinary profession. Practicing veterinarians will also find comfort and connection in its honest exploration of the joys and struggles of veterinary life.
Dedication
Preface
PART ONE: Journey of a Veterinary Critical Care Specialist
Chapter 1: Pursuing a Lifelong Calling
Chapter 2: Between Pre-Vet and Practitioner
Chapter 3: The Path to Veterinary Specialization
Chapter 4: The Challenges and Realities of a Residency
Chapter 5: Adventures in Veterinary Academia
Chapter 6: A Departure from Academic Life
Chapter 7: Transforming Overwhelm Into Opportunity
Chapter 8: From Crisis to Compassion
PART TWO: What I Learned About Veterinary Medicine Along the Way
Chapter 9: The Road to Becoming a Veterinarian
Chapter 10: Veterinary Education's Debt Crisis
Chapter 11: The Hidden Curriculum of Veterinary School
Chapter 12: Meeting the Demand for Veterinary Specialists
Chapter 13: Stories from Veterinary Intensive Care
Chapter 14: Navigating Euthanasia in Veterinary Medicine
Chapter 15: Ethical Dilemmas and Moral Stress
Chapter 16: The Paradox of Compassionate Veterinary Care
Chapter 17: Compliments, Complaints, and Client Incivility
Chapter 18: Examining Toxicity in Veterinary Practices
Chapter 19: The Burden of On-Call
PART THREE: What We Now Understand About Veterinarians
Chapter 20: Professional Identify
Chapter 21: Playing the Veterinary Victim and Martyr
Chapter 22: The Hidden Struggles of Perfectionism
Chapter 23: The Human Side of Veterinary Mistakes
Chapter 24: Mental Health in the Veterinary Profession
Chapter 25: Recognizing Mental Health Stigma
Chapter 26: Confronting Compassion Fatigue
Chapter 27: Addressing Burnout Among Veterinarians
Chapter 28: Finding Balance With Boundaries
Chapter 29: Unveiling the Tragedy of Veterinarian Suicide
Chapter 30: Realities and Resilience Amidst the Pandemic
PART FOUR: What the Future Holds for Veterinary Medicine
Chapter 31: The Rise of Veterinary Corporatization
Chapter 32: Insights Into Pet Health Insurance
Chapter 33: Transformative Technologies Including Telemedicine
Chapter 34: Striving For Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Chapter 35: Redefining Veterinary Education for a Dynamic Profession
Chapter 36: Exploring Veterinary Frontiers Outside Clinical Practice
Chapter 37: The Unsung Heroes of Veterinary Medicine
Chapter 38: Responding to the Veterinary Workforce Crisis
Chapter 39: Paving a Path to Self-Care and Self-Compassion
Chapter 40: Reshaping Veterinary Culture to Value Team Wellbeing
Author’s Note
Acknowledgements
References
Biography
Dr. Marie Holowaychuk is a veterinarian, speaker, and wellness advocate dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary profession. A board-certified emergency and critical care specialist, she brings over 20 years of clinical, academic, and consulting experience, combined with a passion for fostering sustainable, fulfilling careers.
After completing veterinary school in Canada and advanced training in the United States, Marie spent five years as a faculty member at the Ontario Veterinary College, followed by relief work across North America. During her career, she not only witnessed but personally experienced the emotional and mental toll of veterinary practice, including burnout and compassion fatigue. These challenges led her to focus on wellness, burnout prevention, and workplace culture.
As the founder of Reviving Veterinary Medicine, Marie provides evidence-based resources to support self-care, effective communication, and professional resilience. She is a certified coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and wellbeing facilitator. A sought-after speaker, she has delivered keynotes, workshops, and seminars worldwide, inspiring veterinary teams to prioritize their wellbeing.
Marie is also an accomplished writer, having published numerous articles and book chapters on veterinary medicine and mental health. She hosts the Reviving Vet Med Podcast, where she explores workplace challenges, personal growth, and strategies for creating a healthier profession.
Through her writing, speaking, and coaching, Marie is committed to fostering a culture of compassion, resilience, and support in veterinary medicine, helping professionals build careers—and lives—that are both meaningful and sustainable.
"Veterinarians are more than just the professionals who administer our pets’ rabies vaccines. They have hearts and, like all hearts, these can be broken by the sheer weight of the life and death cases, the needless tragedies, the human indifference to animal suffering, that many cope with on a daily basis. Dr Holowaychuk unpacks what it means to be a vet and what a vet needs to be productive and happy in what is truly both a compassionate and a challenging calling."
– Grant Hayter-Menzies, author of Freddie: The Rescue Dog Who Rescued Me
"With over 20 years of experience as an Emergency Clinician myself, I have found many of the work-related experiences shared by Marie within these pages to resonate deeply with my own. In 2016, I began experiencing physical and psychological symptoms that I now recognize as PTSD and clinical burnout. Navigating this challenging and uncertain period required patience, self-reflection, and the support of a compassionate community. During this time, I discovered a new direction for my energy and teaching skills: becoming a qualified, ethical advocate for the health and well-being of all veterinary professionals. Fortuitously, I was introduced to Marie through a mutual acquaintance—her residency mentor—who recognized our similar backgrounds and shared professional passions. In Marie, I found a highly intelligent, empathetic individual and an inspirational mentor who has guided me on my journey to becoming a qualified veterinary educator.
This meticulously crafted book reflects my perception of Marie as a champion of veterinary wellness. She skilfully combines an academic approach, offering research data and evidence-based resources, with authentic storytelling that invites relatability. Marie candidly shares her life experiences that have shaped her into a dedicated advocate for holistic wellness among veterinary professionals. Her initiatives focus on increasing awareness, building practical skills, and supporting teams and leaders in maintaining their health, thereby fostering practice cultures that prioritize wellness for caregivers, veterinary patients, and businesses alike.
What a gift to have Marie’s heart and wisdom shared in these pages so that all those in and around veterinary medicine can be healthier for it!"
- Dr Sonja Olson, DVM, Veterinary Wellness Educator, Heartstorming Wellness LLC, USA
