007: Bouncing Back Better: The Case For Resilience in Vet Med

In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh explore the power of resilience—not just as a personal trait, but as a skill we can teach, build, and share.


Grounded in a 2017 study by Jenny Moffett and David Bartram, this conversation uncovers what happens when veterinary students receive formal resilience education early in their careers—and what it means for the rest of us who never got that kind of support.


From skepticism to mindset shifts, and from group learning to individual bounce-back moments, this episode is a hopeful look at how wellbeing education can change the trajectory of a veterinary career—and why it's never too late to learn.


You’ll hear:

• Why resilience education matters in vet med (and why it’s not just for students)
• What the research says about resilience as a learnable skill
• How one workshop changed the way students saw themselves and their capacity to cope
• The social power of building resilience together—not alone
• What this means for long-time professionals who never got this training early on

Whether you’re just starting out or mid-career and building the plane mid-flight, this episode will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the science of resilience—and the role education can play in making thriving possible.


Resource Links: 



Episode Article:


Title: Veterinary Students’ Perspectives on Resilience and Resilience-Building Strategies
Authors:Jenny E. Moffett and Davi d J. Bartram


DOI: https://doi.org/10.3138/jvme.0216-046r1




Flourish Academy - Certificate in Applied Veterinary Resilience
(https://academy.flourish.vet/courses/...) Flourish Academy - Introduction to Applied Veterinary Resilence (https://academy.flourish.vet/courses/...)
Florida Veterinary Medical Association - Inspire program (https://fvma.org/inspire/) - This program is FREE for ALL Florida veterinary professions regardless of status with the FVMA.  


Florida Man This Week - Dog  (https://floridaman.com/pulled-over-du...)


What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC (https://www.flourish.vet/andi)  


Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP

(https://www.flourish.vet/josh) At Flourish Veterinary Consulting (http://www.flourish.vet) we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth. 


Timestamps 


00:00 Introduction to Resilience Education


00:42 Casual Conversation and Weather Talk


01:25 Horse Care in Hot Weather


03:05 Dog Days of Summer


05:30 The Joy of Dad Jokes


06:00 A Thought-Provoking Question


09:26 Hope in Veterinary Medicine


12:22 Resilience Training in Veterinary School


17:50 Skepticism and Resilience


20:53 Handling Skepticism in the Workplace


21:59 Embracing Skeptics for Better Conversations


23:56 The Importance of Wellbeing in Vet Med


25:49 Balancing Wellbeing Across Career Stages


29:21 Practical Ways to Show You Care


31:04 Making Resilience a Group Effort


34:21 Educational Opportunities for Building Resilience


38:35 Florida Man: A Humorous Conclusion