Summary: Veterinarians are animal lovers, and many expect their career to be all about spending quality time with animals. Reality is a little different, though. First, veterinary school is hard. It’s also expensive. When vets graduate, their starting yearly salary might be half of their debt burden. Practicing animal medicine is an emotional roller coaster, and every day features new and more loop-the-loops. Over the course of a single workday, a general practice veterinarian goes from handling a playful kitten to helping someone understand their pet is dying. This daily fluctuation in emotional tone is sometimes called the killing-caring paradox. It can take a heavy toll on caregivers. And now things are changing. Pet health providers have responded to pet parents viewing their dogs and cats as family members. The medicine is better, the vet practice is safer, and the stakes are even higher than they have been. Where does that leave the veterinarians? On today’s show, we discuss changes in veterinary medicine, and how to improve wellness for those who care for our pets. George Melillo is the CEO and founder of a chain of veterinary hospitals called Heart + Paw. In his hospitals, the veterinarian’s mental well-being is the priority … with the aim of improving pet care, as well. George Melillo’s innovations may seem simple, but they could be seen as revolutionary. Aiming to reduce stress in an incredibly stressful profession, he gives veterinarians more autonomy when it comes to scheduling and includes pet parents are included in all aspects of care. Join us as Dr. Melillo explains why his business approach will help animals and veterinarians alike. Episode Links Heart + Paw Chapters [00:00:00] Teaser [00:00:14] Introduction [00:01:41] Introducing George Melillo [00:03:54] The Challenging Career of Veterinary Professionals [00:06:04] High Rates of Veterinarian Suicide [00:07:15] Creating a Safe Space for Veterinarians [00:13:47] Changes in the Vet Industry [00:16:33] Changes in the Industry as a Result of COVID [00:22:55] Heart + Paw [00:24:57] Giving Advice to your Past Self [00:26:17] Outro About Dog Podcast Network (DPN) DPN is the first of its kind. A podcasting network as devoted to dogs, as they are to us. Our mission is simple: entertain, inspire and inform. We will improve the quality of life for dogs and the people who love them. Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows: Dog Edition: our flagship show where a global team of dog-obsessed journalists and storytellers feature news, in-depth reporting, analysis, features, and interview segments Dog Cancer Answers: which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancer Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
