Launchpad: What Veterinary Training Didn’t Prepare Me For

Early in my career in the emergency room, I prided myself on staying calm in the chaos. When the lobby was packed and emotions were high, externally, I would steady my voice and focus on practicing medicine. Internally, however, it was a different story. I was reactive, triggered by difficult clients, and frustrated by staff dynamics. Negative reviews would leave me feeling crushed, and I would replay conversations in my head long after my shift ended. 

I carried resentment home with me, but I assumed this was just part of being a veterinarian. I thought the job was making me feel that way.

What ended up changing things for me wasn’t a new procedural skill or advanced certification. It was something they don’t teach in veterinary school. I watched a webinar on compassion fatigue that sparked my curiosity. I scheduled some one-on-one sessions with a master-certified life coach, and it changed my life. 

The most powerful lesson I learned was that my thoughts create my feelings. My feelings of frustration and resentment were the result of my thoughts. Not the client’s behavior. Not the patient’s outcome. Not my colleague’s tone. My thoughts.

A declined estimate is a fact. A poor review is a fact. A tough case is a fact. Anger, shame, and frustration come from the story we tell ourselves about those facts. When I thought, “The client doesn't respect me,” I felt defensive. When I thought, “I’m not good enough,” I felt defeated.

When I shifted to, “This is hard, but I’m capable,” I felt steady and clear.

I can’t control how others behave. I can’t control every medical outcome. I can control what I choose to think, and that determines how I feel and how I show up. I was able to move out of a victim mindset and back into ownership. 

The ripple effects were enormous: My shifts became more enjoyable, I connected more deeply with clients, and I became a safer, calmer leader for my team. I stopped letting one hard moment hijack my entire day.

We spend nearly a decade learning veterinary medicine, but little time is spent learning how to manage the impact the profession has on our minds. No matter how long you’ve been doing this work, it’s never too early or too late to build the support system you need. Coaching is one of the most powerful investments I’ve ever made, not just in my career, but in my life. 

You deserve the skills to thrive, not just survive.