The Vet Vault: Fall In Love With Veterinary Science

By: Dr. Hubert Hiemstra
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  • Summary

  • 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.
    Dr. Hubert Hiemstra
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Career Success Economics
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Episodes
  • 136: Are You Studying Wrong? 3 Counter-Intuitive Science-Backed Study Methods For Veterinary Professionals. With Dr Matt Hollindale

    136: Are You Studying Wrong? 3 Counter-Intuitive Science-Backed Study Methods For Veterinary Professionals. With Dr Matt Hollindale
    Jan 27 2025

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    Are you wasting hours on outdated study methods like cramming and re-reading—only to forget everything by exam day? You might be studying wrong—and Dr. Matt Hollindale is here to help you fix that so you can learn smarter, not harder.

    When preparing for his ECC Membership exams, Dr. Matt became obsessed with the science of study. The result? He achieved the top marks of the 2023 cohort. Now, he’s applying the same methods to his residency training and sharing them with you.

    In this episode, we dive into science-backed strategies that transform how you study. Say goodbye to endless highlighting, reading and re-reading, and hello to techniques that actually makes things stick.

    Whether you’re a veterinary student building good habits early or preparing for specialist exams, this episode will save you many hours. (And possibly even some tears!)

    Here’s what we cover:

    • The biggest study mistakes you didn’t know you’re making.
    • How active recall and spaced repetition turbocharge your memory.
    • The best AI and tech tools to revolutionise your study game.
    • Why prioritising your well-being is as critical as your study hours.


    Links & Resources
    Lift your clinical game with our RACE-approved clinical podcasts at ⁠⁠vvn.supercast.com⁠⁠ for more clinical confidence and better patient outcomes, or 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 for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.


    Topics and Time Stamps


    04:33 Common Study Mistakes
    08:58 Study Techniques That Actually Work
    18:11 Making It Practical
    20:56 Using Spaced Repetition for Better Long-Term Memory
    29:08 Tech and AI Study Tools
    31:39 Google Notebook LMS
    34:38 Advanced Strategies
    38:54 The Importance of Self-Care in Studying


    We’d love to hear from you! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠info@thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠ or reach out via our ⁠⁠⁠contact form⁠⁠⁠.

    If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who you think could benefit from these game-changing study strategies!
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    45 mins
  • #135: I Want To, But I Can’t: 3 Ways Moral Injury Differs From Burnout (And Why It Matters). With Dr Shannon Bass

    #135: I Want To, But I Can’t: 3 Ways Moral Injury Differs From Burnout (And Why It Matters). With Dr Shannon Bass
    Jan 7 2025

    Lift your clinical game with our RACE-approved clinical podcasts at vvn.supercast.com for more clinical confidence and better patient outcomes, or 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 for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.


    Do you ever feel just... flat? Not inspired, not excited, and certainly not energised. It might feel like burnout. Or is it compassion fatigue? Maybe it's neither.

    You know those moments in veterinary medicine when you know the right thing to do, but external circumstances prevent you from doing it? That dissonance, that discomfort deep in your core: that’s moral injury.

    In this episode, we unravel the complexities of moral injury with Dr. Shannon Bass, a leader in veterinary medicine and a passionate advocate for supporting veterinarians through the psychological challenges they face. Moral injury, often confused with burnout or compassion fatigue, is an under-discussed but critical issue in our profession. Together with Dr. Bass, we explore the distinctions between these terms, their impact on veterinary professionals, and how to address them effectively.

    Dr. Bass brings over 20 years of experience in general practice, emergency veterinary medicine, and leadership to this conversation, where you’ll learn

    • How moral injury manifests in daily practice
    • The importance of differentiating it from burnout and compassion fatigue
    • Why 'client bashing' can be a symptom of moral distress, and
    • Practical steps to create healthier and more supportive veterinary work environments.


    Topics and Time Stamps

    1. Defining Moral Injury - 02:58

    2. Differentiating Trauma, Moral Injury, and Burnout - 07:04

    3. Moral Injury in Veterinary Practice: Subtle and Irresolvable Cases - 10:03

    4. What’s New for the Vet Vault in 2025 - 16:33

    5. Moral Injury vs Moral Distress - 21:18

    6. Moral Injury vs Compassion Fatigue - 24:01

    7. How Does Moral Injury Manifest? - 27:01

    8. How to Address Moral Injury: Recognising and Implementing Solutions - 29:44

    9. The Role of Vulnerability and Shared Experiences - 33:25

    10. Communication, Community, and Support - 38:59

    11. Shannon’s Podcast Choices - 46:29

    12. Pass-Along Question - 49:30


    Get in Touch

    Email us at info@thevetvault.com if you want to find out more about Vet Vault/Vets on Tour 2025 in Wanaka, NZ, or about the Essential Consequence Management series for practice leaders with Rhonda Andrews.

    We love to hear from you! If you have a question for us or you’d like to give us some feedback, please get in touch via our contact form, or catch up with us on Instagram.

    If you like what you hear, please share the love by clicking on the share button wherever you’re listening and sending a link to someone who you think should hear this.
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    56 mins
  • 134: 5 Reasons Veterinary Teams Feel Undervalued—And How to Leverage ‘Zone of Genius’ to Change That. With Dr Natalie Fayman and Crystal Stokes

    134: 5 Reasons Veterinary Teams Feel Undervalued—And How to Leverage ‘Zone of Genius’ to Change That. With Dr Natalie Fayman and Crystal Stokes
    Dec 22 2024
    Hands up if you feel truly valued and respected at work. In this episode, we dig deep into what truly makes employees feel valued and how leaders can create workplaces that people never want to leave. Spoiler: It’s not just about pay, pizza parties, or avoiding toxic behaviour. We’re aiming much higher! Why You Should Listen Workplaces that crack the code of real team respect and value don’t just retain their talent — they thrive. Whether you’re a team leader or an employed vet, this episode is packed with actionable insights on creating meaningful change, improving communication, and unlocking your unique “zone of genius.” What Team Leaders Will Learn • How to spot and fix the subtle cues that make employees feel unheard and replaceable. •.The counter-intuitive financial upside of investing in team development. “I think that organisations are sometimes coming in backwards, where it’s like: ‘Let’s just focus on the numbers and the metrics.’ If you develop amazing talent and build a strong team, you will make so much money. It is not the other way around.” •.Practical tips to tackle team disengagement and avoid the high cost of turnover. • Strategies for better communication and feedback without burning out as a leader. “Because our brains are pre-programmed to attune to the negative, it’s going to be a negative story. So when people don’t understand what’s happening, they’re going to jump to the worst-case scenario, spread rumours, and act accordingly.” What Employed Vets Will Learn • How to advocate for yourself without feeling ‘pushy’ or ‘needy’. • Why you might be feeling stuck in your role, and what to do about it. • How to discover and step into your ‘zone of genius.’ “If I can maximise my time and attention there, I will be of most use to my company, my team, myself, my patients — everybody.” Our guests are: • Dr. Natalie Fayman: A veterinarian with 30+ years of clinical experience turned certified Positive Intelligence coach, and champion for less workplace dread and more veterinary dream teams • Crystal Stokes: A former ER vet tech turned licensed psychotherapist and leadership coach. As the founder of Full Circle Lab, she’s on a mission to bridge the gap between veterinary leadership and teams. Say not to settling for a ‘meh’ workplace by hitting play on this episode in to learn how to create (or find!) a role where you’re truly respected, valued, and thriving. Your veterinary dream team starts here! Topics and Time Stamps: 06:23: Recognising the subtle things that make people feel undervalued 08:50: The counter-intuitive truth about investing time and money in team development 12:36: The repercussions of getting this wrong 18:13: Leveraging the team to get this right 21:25: Why it’s important to know the limits of your skills 25:23: Upcoming events and conferences 28:41: Pushing for change as someone who is not in a leadership role 35:05: Better systems for better feedback 37:32: Discovering your ‘zone of genius’ 45:59: Addressing team disengagement 52:21: Effective communication and feedback 58:12: Podcast recommendations 58:52: The pass-along question Lift your clinical game with our RACE approved clinical podcasts at ⁠⁠⁠⁠vvn.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more clinical confidence and better patient outcomes, or 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 me at the JAVECCS ECC conference in Tokyo on 15 and 16 March.
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    1 hr and 7 mins

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