Strengthening Veterinary Resilience
By Dr. Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM – Chief Veterinarian at Petco
3 min read
This year’s World Veterinary Day 2022 global theme, Strengthening Veterinary Resilience, is particularly close to my heart.
Veterinary medicine is a profoundly rewarding pursuit. We are called upon to ensure pets have a voice and an advocate who prioritizes their health and happiness. But this calling often comes at a cost and for many of us as veterinarians, it’s our physical and mental well-being.
Nearly every veterinarian I know has grappled with exhaustion, stress, or near-burnout at some point in their career. I have lost friends in this profession to suicide, and it needs to change. Healthy pets need healthy advocates and resilient veterinarians are better equipped to handle the daily demands of work, emergencies, and balancing self- and family care. However, resiliency does not mean sacrificing ourselves for our profession. It means changing the profession so we can provide amazing veterinary medical care, while also caring for ourselves.
As someone who hires, advocates for, and mentors other veterinarians, I advise doctors to learn how a potential employer supports their overall well-being, not just their career ambitions. I am proud that Petco and Vetco Total Care are working to help strengthen veterinary resilience by caring for “the whole veterinarian” in six important ways:
1. SUPPORTING TOTAL WELLNESS
Petco Total Rewards include industry-leading financial, medical, dental, vision, mental health, adoption, and fertility benefits. These benefits help ensure veterinarians can care for their whole selves, their families, and their futures. For example, we just introduced annual equity stock grants for all hospital veterinarians as part of their total compensation packages, as well as new fertility, adoption and mental health coverage. Petco Total Rewards are designed to provide peace of mind, security, and support career longevity.
2. AUTONOMOUS MEDICINE
No one likes cookbook medicine—doctors or patients. By empowering veterinarians with the freedom to practice autonomous medicine, doctors gain knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills. When free from restrictive protocols, veterinarians can be more collaborative, do what is right for the individual patient, and are able to teach their teams new ways to solve problems. It also keeps doctors curious and motivated, knowing they’re able to apply new knowledge and techniques in day-to-day practice.
3. PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK
Our veterinarians are never alone. Vetco Total Care full-service hospitals form a connected, nationwide network of hospital veterinarians and area medical directors representing a diverse range of backgrounds, specialties, and experience. This network enables doctors to connect instantly with their peers for quick questions, deeper consultation, and professional support.
4. LIFE-STAGE FLEXIBILITY
Life changes fast. Vetco Total Care and Vetco clinic veterinarians have the freedom to build a career that flexes to fit their changing life stages and lifestyles. With flexible full-time, part-time, and relief options, doctors have multiple ways to adapt their careers to fit their life and stay in medicine in the way that works for them.
5. INCLUSIVITY + BELONGING
We build and support practices and teams where all people are welcome and encouraged to bring their whole selves to work in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. As well, our Petco Partner Resource Groups provide a place for people to connect, learn from and celebrate with each other.
6. PASSION WITH A PURPOSE
Every day we’re improving pets’ lives and giving pet parents more ways to care for their furry family members by making pet health and wellness accessible through expert information, high-quality products, and neighborhood Vetco Total Care hospitals and Vetco clinics. Petco is the only total pet health ecosystem and the first retailer to be awarded the American Humane Certified seal of approval, ensuring all pets at Petco pet care centers and supplier facilities enjoy excellent overall welfare.
This World Veterinary Day, I look back on how far we have come as a profession to help strengthen veterinary resilience. We’re removing stigmas and having candid conversations around mental health and career burnout; we’re supporting more flexible career paths, and we’re making sure veterinarians receive the resources and support they need. But there is still more progress to make. I feel so fortunate to be in a place that deeply values veterinarians and where I’m empowered, along with my colleagues, to create positive change.
Thank you to my mentors, colleagues, and veterinarians everywhere for your enduring compassion, uncompromising standards of pet care, and for being a community that continually advocates for each other and our patients.
Dr. Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM
Petco’s Chief Veterinarian, board certified in preventive veterinary medicine