151: Why Do I Still Feel Like Such an Imposter? (This Is What Getting Better Feels Like). With Dr Marie Holowaychuck, Dr Kerri Nelson and Dr Rob Webster
Am I a useless vet?Sounds like a silly question that a new grad might ask, right? But imposter syndrome doesn't care about your credentials. It whispers that you're a fraud, that you got lucky, that one day everyone will realise you don’t belong. Or maybe you don’t feel like an imposter - but you beat yourself up after a case goes wrong. You replay every missed diagnosis. You hold yourself to an impossible standard, and when you fall short (even slightly), the inner critic shows no mercy.Sound familiar?In veterinary medicine, where perfection often feels like the baseline and the emotional toll runs deep, these patterns can be exhausting.But here’s the truth: you’re not the only one who feels this way.In this raw and honest conversation, we unpack:Why imposter syndrome isn’t just a new grad thing - it can resurface anytime you step into something new, no matter how experienced or accomplished you are (Just keep listening if you don’t believe me)What confidence really looks like - not knowing everything, but being willing to try, learn, and growWhy perfectionism is often at the root of imposter - and what to do about itMaking peace with the inner-criticWhy vulnerability matters A simple mindset shift that can make all the differenceAnd practical strategies to manage imposter feelings You’ll hear real stories, mindset tools, and the reminder that feeling “useless” says nothing about you. If you’ve ever questioned your abilities or felt like you're just pretending to hold it all together - this episode is your mirror.You belong here. And it’s time you believed that too.Our guests are: Dr Marie Holowaychuck - a board-certified emergency and critical care veterinarian and the founder of Reviving Vet Med, a global initiative dedicated to equipping veterinary professionals with practical tools for mental health, resilience, and work–life balance, and the author of A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to be a Veterinarian.Check out her new book here. Dr Kerri Nelson: Experienced ER vet, mentor and former medical director. First time mom-to-be! (She has an epic blog about over-achieving - here.) Dr Rob Webster: Co-Chief Executive Officer of Animal Emergency Australia, the leading veterinary emergency-care group down under, where he oversees clinical standards and consults on complex emergency and critical-care cases. A board-certified specialist in emergency and critical care since 2014. Jiu-jitsu tragic. Check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at cutabove.supercast.com, or go all in on surgery with our collaboration with Sydney University's CVE Surgery Course. Find out how we can help you build you in your vet career at thevetvault.com.Get case support from our team of specialists in our Specialist Support Space.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.Join us in person for our epic adventure CE events at Vets On Tour. (Next up: Japan snow conference!) Topics and Time stamps04:28 You're not alone09:56 What is a syndrome?15:49 Defining Imposter Syndrome19:44 Maybe It's Just Kinda Normal?22:10 So What Can We Do About It?27:22 The Eternal Internal Critic30:22 Talk It Out35:59 Vulnerability As A Weapon Against Imposter39:03 This Is What Getting Better Feels Like40:18 Perfectionism - The Root of Imposter49:28 At Least You'er Not a Psychopath!51:04 The Best People Are Filled With Self-Doubt51:56 Mistakes Happen
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150: What Every Vet Should Know About Antimicrobial Resistance. With Dr Kate Worthing
Stop scrolling - I know what you’re thinking: “I don’t want to listen to someone preaching to me about antimicrobial resistance - it’s boring, and it just makes me feel guilty!”Here's a promise: you'll find nothing boring or preachy here. What you will get is interesting science, practical tips, and zero guilt trips. Dr Kate Worthing is a senior lecturer in veterinary microbiology, practising clinician and passionate antibiotic resistance researcher, and she’s about to change how you prescribe. Together we unpack why the way you use antibiotics in general practice is more than a clinical choice - it’s a responsibility that affects your patients, your team, and your future cases. From unseen pathways of resistance to pragmatic stewardship strategies you can implement this week, this is essential listening for all veterinarians. You’ll learn:Why antimicrobial resistance is not just a global issue - it’s personal, and it’s already in your consult room.How selection pressure works beyond the infection: across the microbiome, the patient, and the environment.Why MRSA isn't really the problem you should be worried about (and where you SHOULD point your attention).Where resistance risk is highest in small animal practice.What “good prescribing” looks like in real lifeHow to find and apply trustworthy prescribing guidelines without slowing down your workflow.Resources:AMRVChttps://www.amrvetcollective.com/https://www.amrvetcollective.com/home/guidelines/WSAVA Infographicshttps://wsava.org/committees/therapeutics-guidelines-group/ISCAIDhttps://www.iscaid.org/guidelinesUnderstanding the mechanisms of resistanceVideoVisit thevetvault.com to join our Vet Vault Nerd community for more clinical confidence and better patient outcomes, get help with your tricky cases in our specialist‑support space, and subscribe to our newsletter for clinical gems and a bit more.
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149: AI Radiology for Vets: How Accurate Are Todays Tools Really? With Dr Steve Joslyn
We scrutinise one of the most practical yet under‑examined advances in veterinary practice: AI‑based radiology interpretation tools. I sit down with veterinary radiologist and Vedi entrepreneur Dr Steve Joslyn to unpack the rise of AI-powered radiology tools in general practice. But this isn’t just opinion: Steve reveals the findings from his team’s recent study that put 6 commercially available AI radiology softwares in the spotlight - or up on the light box - to assess whether they deliver on what they promise. From how these systems are trained, to where they shine (and where they fail), this conversation gives a no-nonsense look at what AI can actually do for your diagnostic imaging workflow. What You’ll Learn:How these tools are built: Neural networks, down-sampling, and the truth behind “ground truth”.The data dilemma: Why most AI tools perform best in theory, not in general practice.Where they fall short: From image quality issues to breed bias and external validation gaps.New accuracy data: Insights from Dr Joslyn’s pilot study comparing six commercial AI tools.A decision-making playbook: When to trust AI, when to double-check, and when to avoid it entirely.Ethics and workflow impact: Who’s responsible? What do you tell clients? Can AI triage be trusted?How to stay future-ready: What’s coming next – and how to adapt without compromising care.🎧 Listen now for the tools to ask better questions about AI in your clinic.Find out how we can help you build you in your vet career at thevetvault.com.Check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at cutabove.supercast.com. Get case support from our team of specialists in our Specialist Support Space.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.Join us in person for our epic adventure CE events at Vets On Tour. (Next up: Japan snow conference!)
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🔓Your Game Plan for Brachycephalic Anaesthesia: Tips, Drugs, and Red Flags. With Dr Abbie Tipler
Did you know that a brachycephalic dog with BOAS has a 433% higher anaesthetic risk than a dog with a normal nose? Let me rephrase that: that Frenchie you’re spaying later this week is more than four times more likely to die on her surgery day than any of your other patients. 😳Do we have your attention?!Thanks mainly to the rising popularity of the French Bulldog, you’re probably anaesthetising these kinds of patients all the time.So how do we reduce that risk? How do improve patient safety while decreeing your stress levels?!At the Brachycephalic Care Unit, surgeon Dr Abbie Tipler and her team have polished brachycephalic anaesthesia down to a fine art, and in this episode, she shares all the gold.From the days leading up to anaesthesia to selecting the safest mix of premed and anaesthesia agents, all the way to a calm, well-oxygenated recovery, this episode is the ultimate masterclass in brachycephalic anaesthesia.Hit us up for the full show notes for this episode, as well as Dr Abbie’s brachycephalic pre-surgery history template, here. This episode is one of more than 600 from our subscriber-only clinical podcasts. If you like this style of learning, where I dig for all the pro tips and updates from some of the best specialists in the world, then you’ll love our clinical feed. Go check it out at thevetvault.comOh, and if you’d like to join me in Japan in February or the Maldives in April for the most fun you’ll ever have at a vet conference - have a browse at vetsontour.comTopics Covered:Before the big dayStructured history taking: airway, gastrointestinal, sleep, and anxiety indicatorsUnderstanding the link between upper airway obstruction and GI dysfunctionAssessing regurgitation, silent reflux, and aspiration riskPre-treatment protocols: omeprazole, metoclopramide, and diet adjustmentsIdentifying when to delay elective procedures for optimisationUsing C-reactive protein and radiographs to assess for aspiration pneumoniaManaging anxiety pre-hospitalisation with trazodonePlan for the day of surgeryFasting times and timing surgeries for optimal recovery monitoringStrategies for minimising stress in brachycephalic patients pre-opThe role of early premedication and pain reliefDrug choices: the “Goldilocks” approach to sedationReducing regurgitation riskYour pre-op pro tipsExtubation and recovery: positioning, monitoring, and oxygen weaningThe impact of cage-side nursing and owner-assisted recovery
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148: Is the Veterinary Business Model Failing Our Patients? A Frontline Perspective From a Top UK Charity. With Dr Paul Manktelow
“If you can’t afford a pet, you shouldn’t own one.” Ever said this line?Once you’ve been on the receiving of someone’s anger about the cost of their vet bill, it’s an easy thought to have. But it’s not the whole story, is it?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Paul Manktelow - a veterinary surgeon with 20+ years in UK animal charities and current Director of Veterinary Services at Blue Cross. Dr Paul shares lessons learned in not-for-profit vet care to help us untangle that tension between care, compassion, and commercial reality.We cover:Trends from the front lines in the charity sector How “affordability” is shifting under rising cost of livingDecision-making tools that balance optimal vs achievable careBusiness models that either enable or block access to careHow vets can approach financial conversations with clarity, dignity, and trustYou’ll learn about:💡 “Pragmatic care” as the antidote to chasing the mythical ‘gold standard’💡 Cost-based vs value-based pricing models 💡How to think in tiers of care—and where the limits lieBecause behind every clinical decision is a human one.Find out how we can help you build you in your vet career at thevetvault.com.Check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at cutabove.supercast.com. Get case support from our team of specialists in our Specialist Support Space.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.Join us in person for our epic adventure CE events at Vets On Tour. (Next up: Japan snow conference!) Topics and Time Stamps03:11 Balancing Costs and Care in Veterinary Practice06:45 Challenges and Changes in the Veterinary Profession11:41 Client Expectations vs Financial Realities16:32 The Impact of Economic Hardships on Pet Care32:16 Blue Cross's Model39:10 Individual Responsibility in Veterinary Practice42:54 Getting Clear on Quality of Life and Prognosis47:23 Cost-Based vs Value-Based Pricing Models01:10:05 Pragmatic Care and Clinical Guidelines01:16:54 The One Question
About The Vet Vault: Fall In Love With Veterinary Science
Vet life can be tough—but it’s also good. So, how do we make it even better? Join inspiring conversations with veterinary trailblazers who share real stories, fresh ideas, and strategies to help the talented, passionate humans (like you!) who make up the veterinary profession thrive—in work and in life.
Hosted by Dr. Hubert Hiemstra, a veterinarian with over 20 years of experience and a passion for helping vets build happier, more fulfilling careers. Hubert brings warmth, curiosity, and a knack for asking the right questions, creating a space where the best ideas in vet med come to life.
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