Upon graduation from veterinary school and starting their first job, many early-career veterinarians feel lost. Helping our mentees develop their personal and professional identities is one of the many ways that we promote wellbeing in the early veterinary career. In this article, I will discuss some of the core literature around identity development within the veterinary profession then discuss how veterinary mentors can help promote early-career identity development.

Perfectionism is extremely common in the veterinary profession. High levels of perfectionism may contribute to high levels of stress and poor veterinary wellbeing. Self-compassion — cultivating self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and mindfulness — is a tool that can be used to help combat perfectionism.

In the most recent Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study, veterinarians were more likely to experience burnout than physicians despite fewer hours worked. Why is burnout occurring at such high rates in the veterinary profession, and what should we do about it?