Is it burnout, or are you actually suffering from moral injury?

Join host Mallory Dickinson and co-hosts Jenn and Julia as they welcome back the "big guy," Dr. Gershon Alaluf (Dr. G), for a deep dive into the psychological toll of modern veterinary medicine. Fresh off a massive research project involving over 3,200 surveys, Dr. G pulls back the curtain on his findings regarding emotional labor and the corporate "numbers game."

From the "Sunday Scaries" to the heartbreaking reality of veterinary suicide, this episode explores why the "gold standard" of care often clashes with the cold reality of Excel spreadsheets.

🎧 What you'll discover:

– Moral Injury Defined: Why doing something against your oath is different from just being "tired."

– The Client Factor: Why emotional labor scales are driven almost entirely by client interactions, not the medicine.

– Cortisol & the Brain: How chronic stress creates irreversible changes similar to CTE in athletes.

– The Corporate Critique: A raw look at how KPIs and ACT numbers are driving talented professionals out of the industry.

🐾 Who will love this episode:

– Veterinary technicians & assistants

– Animal lovers & pet owners

– Veterinary students & recent graduates

– Vet med professionals seeking humor & community

– Practice managers & owners interested in team culture

🎬 Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: Mental health disclaimer and the "Big Guy" returns

07:11 – Defining Moral Injury: The soldier’s trauma in the vet clinic

14:22 – Luxury Items: Why pet ownership in a recession is a "moral injury" catalyst

21:50 – The Dark Side: Suicide prevention and the "Allostatic Load" on the brain

30:29 – Sustainability: Is the profession losing its best people?

34:42 – The "Dr. G Is Me" Saga: Email nightmares and joint-account tangents

43:23 – Vegas vs. Orlando: A breakdown of VMX, WVC, and corporate "Trump Towers"

46:50 – The Practice Manager Encounter: Finding closure after a corporate firing

51:28 – The Hill We Die On: Retractable leashes, shelter chances, and cat intubation

59:02 – Final Words: Corporate "Excel" culture and the impact on families

🔔 Stay Connected:

– Like this video if you learned something new!

– Drop your questions or share your clinic stories in the comments.

– Subscribe & hit the bell icon to never miss an episode.

Welcome to the Nerd Party. We're not okay – and that's totally okay.

📚 Resources Mentioned:

– 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org

– QPR Training: qprinstitute.com

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

📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios

📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com

Season 2 Ep. 10

#VetTechLife #MoralInjury #VetMed #VetTechNerdParty #DrG