Vet Thrive Collective Podcast
By Dr Megan Alderson
Vet Thrive Collective PodcastMay 22, 2023
Building Better Communication in Veterinary Medicine with Michael Meehan
In this episode of the Vet Thrive Collective Podcast, I interview Michael Meehan, a veterinarian, and expert in communication and relationship-centered care. We discuss the importance of building relationships with clients and colleagues, effective communication strategies, and the need for more training in non-technical skills in the healthcare industries.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
Relationship-centered care involves building relationships with clients and colleagues based on trust, respect, empathy, and mutual understanding. Effective communication is a crucial component of relationship-centered care. Michael provides practical tips for effective communication with clients and colleagues, such as active listening, using open-ended questions, and providing clear instructions. Prioritising relationship-centered care leads to better outcomes in terms of job satisfaction, commitment to the organisation, and service quality.
Connect with Megan:: Instagram, Linkedin, Vetthrive.org
Michael Meehan - Linkedin
Nurturing Resilience: Mindfulness for Veterinarians
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of mindfulness and explore its incredible benefits for veterinary professionals. Our guests include Sue Dykes, a Clinical Psychologist and Mindfulness Practitioner, and Ana Djokovic, an HR Professional, and Researcher who conducted a study on mindfulness in the veterinary profession. Join us as we discuss the transformative impact of mindfulness on personal well-being and professional resilience.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
The importance of mindfulness for veterinary professionals. The challenges faced by veterinarians, from compassion fatigue to burnout and the need for proactive well-being strategies and coping mechanisms.
Megan's journey to mindfulness - Discovering mindfulness after struggling with stress, anxiety, and depression and the life-changing impact of mindfulness on her personal and professional life
The 8-week mindfulness course - An overview of the structured program, which includes a variety of mindfulness practices and the power of group learning and sharing experiences with fellow veterinary professionals
Insight into Ana's study on mindfulness in the veterinary profession - Key findings on positive and negative emotions, self-compassion, and how opening up and sharing experiences led to profound connections and a stronger support network among participants.
Connect with Megan:: Instagram, Linkedin, Vetthrive.org
Sue Dykes website - Suedykesnz.com
Ana's thesis - Link
Understanding Moral Injury, PTSD, and Burnout
In this episode, we have Rhonda Andrews, the Principal Psychologist and Managing Director of the Barrington Centre with over 30 years of experience, who will be discussing emotional challenges in veterinary practice. Rhonda will be sharing her expertise on topics such as burnout, moral injury, compassion fatigue, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
"Compassion fatigue, empathetic distress, and burnout are all things that happen to all of us at different times." Rhonda Andrews
In this episode, you will learn the following:
What's the difference for healthcare professionals when it comes to daily challenges, compared to everyone else?
How to identify different types of trauma.
Proactive wellbeing - What you can do to support yourself and your team.
Connect with me: Instagram, Linkedin, Website - Vetthrive.org
You can connect with Rhonda using this link - Barrington Centre
Supporting pregnancy in your vet practice with Emily Yunker
Emily is a small animal clinical veterinarian and Doula specializing in supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She is passionate about helping veterinarians plan their postpartum experiences and advocating for better social support for mothers in the veterinary profession.
"It's interesting, in the last few years since I started having babies, there almost wasn't social support, and then a few Facebook groups popped up, and they have turned into a movement" - Emily Yunker
Emily Yunker has always wanted to be a vet and a mom, so it's no surprise that motherhood and veterinary medicine have always been in the picture for her. After having her third baby, a COVID baby, Emily realized that motherhood in the veterinary profession was vastly underrepresented and underappreciated. This led her to move professionally and pursue a career supporting other veterinarians through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Research indicates that 1 in 5 women experience a maternal mood disorder, and 75% of those go untreated. The leading cause of death in postpartum mothers is at their own hand, and shockingly, 14% of equine practitioners got less than two weeks off after having a baby before returning to work.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. The Unique Experience of Veterinary Medicine and Motherhood: How did Emily Yunker's childhood and professional goals inform her journey to becoming a professional doula?
2. The Statistics Surrounding Maternal Mood Disorders: What are the statistics on postpartum depression and anxiety among veterinarians, and what barriers prevent people from seeking help?
3. US Versus International Postpartum Care: How does the US compare to other countries regarding postpartum care, and what are the differences in the support structures?
Resources:
https://www.veterinariandoula.com/
Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetthrivecollective/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetthrive/?originalSubdomain=nz
Website: https://www.vetthrive.org/?r_done=1
Nutrition and mental wellness with Helen Duyvestyn
Mental health nurse Helen Duyvestyn is passionate about nutrition and lifestyle changes for enhancing mental illness.
" It's about setting some boundaries. But it's also very much about self care. And I really see that a lot of people talk about self care and bubble bars and manicures and things like that. But to me, self care is actually eating well and actually providing yourself with food that's really nutritious because you'll notice the difference." -Helen Duyvestyn
With 20 years of experience in the field, Helen's mission is to bring holistic mental health care to mainstream medicine. Her work emphasises the importance of boundaries, self-care and whole foods, as well as the gut-brain-access connection and the impact of ultra-processed foods and trans fats on mood. Helen is passionate about bringing these solutions to mainstream medicine.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. The Impact of Diet on Mental Health: Explore the research that shows how dietary changes and supplementation can reduce depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
2. The Role of Trans Fats: Examine how trans fat consumption affects irritability, aggression and behavior.
3. The Benefits of Eating Whole Foods: Discover how eating whole, unprocessed foods can improve overall health and mental wellbeing.
Resources:
https://www.onelifenz.com/abouthelen
Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetthrivecollective/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetthrive/?originalSubdomain=nz
Website: https://www.vetthrive.org/?r_done=1
Compassionate Leadership with Paul Ainsworth
Discover the essential leadership qualities needed to be successful in the workplace and beyond!
"Leadership brings with it an obligation and hard work. It's important to be able to drive connection, empathy drives connection, and sympathy drives disconnection."
Paul Ainsworth is a leader of leaders with a background in the military and experience running his own business. He has a deep love of animals and a passion for developing self-awareness and empathy in leaders to support their teams.
His career began with the military, where he obtained valuable lessons in leadership. Through his experiences, he realized the importance of self-awareness, empathy, and servant leadership. He learned to create a sense of connection with others and to acknowledge their presence, skills which he brought to his own business and then to the veterinary sector. He learned the hard way that leadership comes with responsibility and hard work - but also the satisfaction of making a difference in the lives of others.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. What can military training teach us about leadership and resilience?
2. What is the importance of empathy, self-awareness, and suspension of judgment in a leader?
3. How can acknowledgment and recognizing others help build collective resilience?
Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetthrivecollective/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetthrive/?originalSubdomain=nz
Website: https://www.vetthrive.org/?r_done=1
Finding Financial Freedom with Nadine Higgins
In this episode, Megan sits down with Nadine Higgins, a financial advisor and former journalist. Nadine helps professionals to achieve economic well-being and break down cultural taboos, empowering them to take courage and take charge of their future through tailored advice.
You will learn the following:
1. Breaking Down Financial Taboos: Uncovering how to normalize the discussion of finances and empower people with knowledge.
2. Financial Coaching: Examining how to create a resilient and financial well workforce through individual, business, and team coaching.
3. Financial Wellbeing: Exploring how to prioritize spending money on the things that improve your life and not on the things that don't.
Nadine Higgins is a financial advisor and former financial journalist passionate about helping people understand and manage their finances. She is also an animal lover with a German shepherd and will soon add a feline companion to her family.
Emotional Agility with Dr. Olivia Oginska
Are you ready to take Radical Responsibility & Embrace Emotional Agility to unlock your full potential?
"Take radical responsibility for creating healthy teams and have the courage to learn together !" - Dr Olivia Oginska
Dr. Olivia Oginska is an experienced veterinary leader and coach, passionate about helping other leaders develop their self-awareness and EQ. She is committed to creating healthy teams and empowering leaders to take radical responsibility for their development.
She has dedicated her career to teaching leaders in the veterinary profession the importance of self-awareness, responsibility, and creating healthy teams. She encourages others not to be afraid of the work that needs to be done and to create a better future for their teams. She inspires many in the field and gives hope through her work.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. Discovering the power of emotional intelligence and how it can help build relationships and create a psychologically safe workplace.
2. Exploring the concept of emotional agility and how it can help us become more in charge of our life experience.
3. Understanding the importance of radical responsibility and how it can help us manage our emotions and foster healthier relationships.
Resources:
https://www.vetgonereal.com/
Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetthrivecollective/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetthrive/?originalSubdomain=nz
Website: https://www.vetthrive.org/?r_done=1
Building a healthy veterinary practice with Dr Alex Walker
Dr. Alex Walker is a veterinary surgical specialist with over 40 years of experience who is passionate about career mastery and long-term well-being for those in the veterinary profession.
This episode is about the importance of having a good team around you to provide care for animals. Alex learned the importance of having a good team around you to care for animals from his mentor, Dr. Joe Bojrab. Bojrab taught that no veterinarian or veterinary professional nurse should ever feel solely responsible for a patient's care.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. How Alex Walker went from being a student at Massey University to working as a veterinary surgical specialist with over
40 years of experience.
2. How specialization in veterinary medicine is a relatively new concept and how it has evolved.
3. How the team approach to care is essential for exceptional patient care.
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetthrivecollective/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetthrive/?originalSubdomain=nz
Website: https://www.vetthrive.org/?r_done=1
Is your bucket leaking? Self care for vets with Professor Jenny Weston
How do you deal with the demands of your job? In this episode of the Vet Thrive Collective, host Megan Alderson is joined by Professor Jenny Weston to discuss ways of tackling burnout for veterinary professionals.
"I think that negative conversation dominates in social media. And now and then, you'll see a post telling me why you love your job. And many people love being a vet, and I think we need to remember that clinical practice isn't for everyone."
Jenny Weston is a professor of veterinary science at Massey University in New Zealand. She is also the academic lead for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science program, responsible for students' training, curriculum, and assessment. In her role, she also helps students struggling with personal or academic problems. Weston has been in the veterinary industry for many years and has seen the challenges and obstacles that veterinarians face in their training and careers. One of the biggest challenges is the high rate of burnout among veterinarians. In 2016, Weston was part of a group of researchers who published a study on workplace mental health in the veterinary sector. The study found that many veterinarians and support staff suffer from burnout.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. The difference between compassion and empathy.
2. The physiology of compassion.
3. The importance of self-compassion.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/embracing-neurodiversity-in-your-vet-practice/id1642807190?i=1000584831632
https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-veterinary-professions-fight-for-survival-shalsee/id1642807190?i=1000583205835
https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/sustainability-starts-with-people-first-with-dr/id1642807190?i=1000581706769
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetthrivecollective/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetthrive/?originalSubdomain=nz
Website: https://www.vetthrive.org/?r_done=1
Embracing neurodiversity in your vet practice
In the fifth episode of the Vet Thrive Collective podcast, Megan is joined by one of her staff members, Alarnah Boyle.
As a newly graduated vet nurse, Alarnah is learning the ins and outs of working in a vet practice. Not only does life as a graduate challenge Alarnah, but she also lives with ADHD.
"It is diversity that brings amazing talents and innovation into both businesses and teams."
Here's a breakdown of what is covered in this episode:
- what motivated Alarnah to train as a vet nurse
- how ADHD and mental distress impacted her ability to study
- why acceptance and open communication is essential for diversity in your vet practice
- what it's like living with ADHD.
And more!
Resources:
Suggested Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/voicesofhope/
https://www.instagram.com/selfcarevisuals/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/oshthoughts/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/girlsgetoff/?hl=en
'How to ADHD' : https://www.youtube.com/c/HowtoADHD/videos .
Other organisations:
https://www.adhd.org.nz/adhd-nz-2021-past-present-and-future.html
https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/health-a-z/a/adhd-adults/
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetthrivecollective/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetthrive/?originalSubdomain=nz
Website: https://www.vetthrive.org/?r_done=1
The Veterinary Profession's Fight for Survival: Shalsee Vigeant on a beastly business
"If you love animals, be the vet they deserve."
"Maybe we needed to see how bad it was before we could remember how good it should be."
Shalsee Vigeant is a veterinarian, speaker, and author passionate about animal welfare and the veterinary profession. She has worked in the field for over ten years and is a strong advocate for change within the profession.
She recently gave a TedX Talk about the need for public education about the veterinary profession and the importance of collaboration within the profession to create a collective of solutions to its many challenges.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. The importance of public education about the veterinary profession
2. The need for veterinarians to collaborate and share ideas
3. The Veterinary Visionaries program
Connect with Megan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetthrivecollective/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetthrive/?originalSubdomain=nz
Website: https://www.vetthrive.org/?r_done=1
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Sustainability Starts with People First with Dr Francesca Brown
Kia ora and welcome to episode three of the Vet Thrive Collective Podcast. In this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Francesca Brown, Head of Programmes & Associate Professor, Allied Veterinary Professional Education at Otago Polytechnic.
Francesca is an integral part of the Vet Thrive Program story after Megan volunteered to participate in a workplace design survey. The survey looked at what was going on in her practice and what could be done better.
The survey planted the seed for creating a health and wellness focus in Megan's practice. After seeing the change in her own staff, Megan quickly saw the potential for an accessible program for the industry. The Vet Thrive Program was born out of this idea.
During their discussion, Megan and Francesca discuss:
- How wellbeing practices lead to a sustainable workforce
- How to utilize all of your staff to create a better team
- Why a multifaceted approach to workplace culture is needed.
And more!
Resources:
Follow Francesca on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-brown-67a8b638/
Join the Vet Thrive Program:
https://www.vetthrive.org/
A Call to Life with Sonja Olson
Kia ora and welcome back to the second episode of the Vet Thrive Collective. In this episode, you'll meet Megan's sister from another mister, Dr. Sonja Olson.
Sonja is an author, veterinarian, health and wellness educator, and fitness instructor. Her latest book "Creating Wellbeing and Building Resilience in the Veterinary Profession: A Call to Life" is a call to action for the veterinary health industry.
Like many veterinary professionals, Sonja reached a crisis point before she was able to make the changes necessary to put her health and wellness front and center.
During the conversation, Megan and Sonja cover:
- Reaching crisis point in their careers
- How to recover from burn-out
- Why burnout doesn't need to be part of vet life
And more!
Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite podcast app, and don't forget to leave a review.
Resources:
Sonja's book:
https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Wellbeing-Resilience-Veterinary-Profession/dp/1032203358/
Recommended book:
https://www.amazon.com/Manifesto-Moral-Revolution-Tools-Change/dp/1250222877/
More about Dr Sonja Olson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonja-a-olson-dvm/
Join the Vet Thrive Program:
https://www.vetthrive.org/
EP 1: Well-being for Vets: the 'why' behind the Vet Thrive Collective
Kia ora, welcome to the Vet Thrive Collective podcast hosted by Dr. Megan Alderson. In this episode, you’ll meet Megan and her cousin Charlotte Hobson. Together they’ve created the Vet Thrive proactive well-being program.
The Vet Thrive Collective was born out of a desire to help other vet professionals and build a community of like-minded people.
After facing her own challenges with mental health Megan was motivated to find a way to enhance her well-being while managing a busy veterinary practice.
During their discussion, Megan and Charlotte talk about:
How Megan created the Vet Thrive Collective program How the program has helped staff well-being within her own practice Megan’s journey with mental healthAnd more!
Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and join the conversation on LinkedIn.
In loving memory of Megan's respected colleague, thought leader, and friend Lyn Thomson who died earlier this year. She was an inspiration and leading light for many in the veterinary profession.
Resources:
Website: https://www.vetthrive.org/home
The Vet Thrive Collective brings together well-being thought leaders from around the globe to “lead us home” to a place to thrive.
By providing an accessible well-being toolbox for every individual veterinary professional, veterinary workplace, and veterinary organization the possibility of living a healthy, happy, and sustainable work life was the goal.