What happens when unspoken trauma meets professional burnout? Can veterinary leadership evolve through vulnerability, healing, and accountability? Join host Dr. Gershon Alaluf and guest Dr. Phil Richmond, DVM, CAPP, CPHSA, CPPC, CCFP — national veterinary well-being leader — as they explore the impact of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), addiction recovery, and the future of leadership in veterinary medicine. This powerful, raw conversation unpacks what it takes to lead, change clinic culture, and truly support early-career professionals.

What you’ll discover:

• How childhood trauma shapes stress and addiction in veterinary medicine
• Why psychological safety matters more than “nice” leadership
• Tools for building emotionally resilient teams and sustainable practices
• A personal story of recovery, transformation, and paying it forward

Who will love this episode:

• Veterinary students & early-career veterinarians
• Practice leaders & medical directors
• Mental health professionals in veterinary spaces
• Anyone committed to healing culture and advancing well-being in vet med

Stay Connected:

• Like this video if this episode moved you
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Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Amy Edmondson – Psychological Safety research
• CDC & Kaiser Permanente ACEs Study
• Dr. Zach Mercurio – Mattering at Work
• Harvard Business Review – Psychological Safety in Teams

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

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Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com

Timestamps:

00:00 Dr. Phil’s story: addiction, trauma, and early career struggle

04:58 What ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) reveal about our profession

10:46 How trauma rewires the veterinary brain

16:18 Building safe clinics: psychological safety vs. “nice” leadership

21:04 How to spot a healthy practice culture before accepting the job

27:31 Perpetual job ads: what they really signal

30:00 The emotional cost of feeling unseen

33:08 Why belonging, mattering, and vulnerability fuel strong teams

40:00 Healing forward: rejecting toxic traditions in vet med

42:45 Are leaders born or made? Dr. Phil’s perspective

45:20 A powerful story: when a tech saved a life by speaking up

50:00 Final thoughts: leading the next generation of veterinary professionals

Ep. 32

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