…There’s more to life than veterinary medicine. At one point, I debated leaving my position in academia and felt completely lost. I thought, “Who am I if I’m not an assistant professor in small animal emergency and critical care?” I realized I had identified entirely with my profession, forgetting that I was also a friend, sister, daughter, and pet owner. Being a veterinarian is part of who we are, but nurturing these other roles sustains us long-term…
As part of my series about “authors who are making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Marie Holowaychuk.
Dr. Marie Holowaychuk is a board-certified small animal emergency and critical care specialist with over two decades of veterinary practice experience. After her veterinary training at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and specialization via a residency at North Carolina State University, she served as an Assistant Professor of Emergency and Critical Care at the Ontario Veterinary College. Since stepping back from academia in 2013, Dr. Holowaychuk has built a dynamic business as a locum critical care veterinarian across Canada and the U.S., co-editing a textbook on veterinary transfusion medicine, and serving on editorial and scientific committees in her field. Driven by her own battles with burnout and compassion fatigue, she has become a leading advocate for veterinary wellness. As a certified yoga and meditation teacher and wellness coach, Dr. Holowaychuk hosts the Reviving Vet Med podcast, facilitates workshops and retreats, and maintains an online hub of wellbeing resources for veterinary teams. Her latest book, A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to Be a Veterinarian, continues that mission, blending personal narrative, research, and advocacy to call for a more supportive, resilient veterinary profession.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I grew up in a suburb of Edmonton, Canada where I was raised by two veterinarians. My parents owned a companion animal veterinary clinic in town where my mom worked and my dad had jobs with the provincial and federal governments focused on food safety and animal welfare. I spent my childhood working in my mom’s practice after school and on weekends, which is where my love of veterinary medicine began. I started out emptying garbage cans and feeding the clinic fish, and slowly progressed to answering the phone, scheduling appointments, and assisting members of the veterinary team. I enjoyed interacting with clients and getting to know their furry family members and soon knew that I wanted a lifelong career as a veterinarian.
When you were younger, was there a book that you read that inspired you to take action or changed your life? Can you share a story about that?
When I was younger, one of my favorite books was Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. I wouldn’t say it “changed my life,” but it definitely left a lasting impression. I loved it so much that I cried when I read it — and it solidified my love of animals and adventure. The story of Billy and his two loyal dogs captured the bond between humans and animals in a way that felt so real and inspiring to me, and it’s a book that’s stayed with me ever since.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I remember during my third-year externship in veterinary school, I was seeing my own clients under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. I was in the exam room with a client and her little dog, giving the dog lots of love. At one point, I leaned in to kiss the dog on the head at the exact moment the owner was petting her — and I ended up kissing her hand instead! I was mortified. That little moment taught me two things: to stay present and mindful in the moment, and to keep my affections to petting and verbal praise rather than risking more awkward moments!
Can you describe how you aim to make a significant social impact with your book?
With A Compassionate Calling, my goal is to create a meaningful social impact both within veterinary medicine and for the general public. For veterinary professionals, I aim to normalize conversations about mental health, wellbeing, and self-care, reduce stigma around asking for help, and empower teams to sustain their passion and resilience throughout their careers. For the public, I hope the book helps people better understand the highs, lows, challenges, and triumphs of veterinary work. So many pets are cherished family members, and interactions with veterinarians are central to their health and wellbeing. By fostering empathy and understanding, I hope to strengthen the bond between pet owners and veterinary teams, helping everyone appreciate the dedication and care involved in the work we do.
Can you share with us the most interesting story that you shared in your book?
One of the most memorable and meaningful stories I share in A Compassionate Calling involves a Yorkshire Terrier I cared for in the ICU of a large specialty referral hospital. This little dog had previously undergone a tracheal stent for a collapsed airway, a condition common in breeds like Yorkies and Pomeranians. While some dogs do very well with a stent, his disease had progressed, and even after a tracheotomy (putting a tube in his windpipe), his lower airways collapsed. Eventually, we had to place a long tube down to his lungs and provide mechanical ventilation, but we determined he could never breathe on his own. It became painfully clear that continued life support was futile. It took time for his dedicated and loving family to come to terms with that reality and, in the meantime, his case left a lasting impact on the entire ICU team.
The story is meaningful because it illustrates the profound moral distress that veterinarians and ICU teams can experience when faced with futile care. Watching the dog remain on life support, knowing he couldn’t survive independently, challenged every member of the team — nurses, technicians, and specialists alike. Questions like “What’s the purpose of this?” and “Aren’t we just prolonging the inevitable?” hung in the air, and the emotional toll was immense. This story captures not just the clinical complexity, but the ethical and emotional weight of veterinary medicine — the reality that caring deeply sometimes comes with a heavy cost, and the importance of navigating these situations with compassion for both pet families and the team.
What was the “aha moment” or series of events that made you decide to bring your message to the greater world? Can you share a story about that?
The “aha moment” for me came gradually, but it crystallized about fifteen years into my career. I remember reading a study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association that revealed less than half of veterinarians would recommend this profession, especially those under 35. I was startled. I had always loved veterinary medicine, yet I realized that the profession I had devoted my life to was silently taking a toll on so many of my colleagues.
Growing up, I spent countless hours in my mom’s clinic, surrounded by textbooks and stories of veterinarians through the works of James Herriot. I saw a world where veterinary medicine was heroic, compassionate, and whimsical — but the reality I experienced as an adult was more complex. Long hours, financial pressures, ethical dilemmas, and the constant emotional weight of caring for animals and their humans weren’t always visible to the outside world.
It hit me: students and aspiring veterinarians were entering this profession full of idealism, dreams, and love for animals — but many weren’t fully prepared for its challenges. And the public? They often had a romanticized view of what it meant to be a vet. I realized that my experiences — clinical, academic, and personal — gave me a voice to bridge that gap, to tell the real story, and to advocate for both the profession and those within it.
That realization became the catalyst for this book. I wanted to share stories, research, and reflections that were authentic and unflinching, highlighting both the joys and the struggles of veterinary life. I wanted to spark conversations that might help the profession evolve toward a more sustainable and compassionate future. In other words, I decided it was time to bring my message to the greater world — not just to educate, but to connect, validate, and inspire change.
Without sharing specific names, can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
Through my webinars, online programs, and coaching, I’ve had the privilege of working with countless veterinarians and veterinary professionals who have struggled to thrive after years — or even decades — in the profession. Many of them have faced relentless self-criticism, crippling perfectionism, and constant people-pleasing, which often leads to mental exhaustion, burnout, and imbalance.
I remember one veterinarian, who had been practicing for over 30 years, sharing with me that she finally felt equipped with the skills and understanding needed to finish her career while maintaining her mental health and wellbeing. What was especially meaningful to hear was that these strategies didn’t just help her professionally — they had a profound impact on her personal life as well, helping to save her marriage. Moments like that remind me why this work matters so deeply: it’s not just about surviving in veterinary medicine — it’s about reclaiming joy, balance, and fulfillment in every part of life.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
I hesitate to tell clients to simply “be kind” to veterinarians, because that oversimplifies a very complex relationship and places the responsibility solely on the public. That said, there are a few ways the community and society could help address the root issues in veterinary medicine:
- Increase public understanding of veterinary realities: If pet owners better understood the challenges veterinarians face — long hours, financial limitations, ethical dilemmas — they might approach interactions with more compassion and realistic expectations.
- Provide financial support for underprivileged pet owners: Expanding access to veterinary care for unhoused or low-income individuals would allow more people to enjoy the health and emotional benefits of pet ownership, creating ripple effects of wellbeing across society.
- Promote diversity and inclusion in the profession: Veterinary medicine is one of the least diverse professions. Encouraging representation from people of color, different socioeconomic backgrounds, and other underrepresented groups would help the profession better reflect and serve the diverse communities of pet owners.
Addressing these areas collectively would help alleviate some of the systemic pressures on veterinarians, supporting both their wellbeing and the wellbeing of the animals and communities they serve.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
I define leadership as creating a space where everyone feels safe and supported to contribute, speak openly about challenges, voice concerns, and disclose mistakes. At its core, leadership is about fostering psychological safety — making it clear that team members can be honest without fear of blame or repercussions.
For example, in a veterinary practice, this might mean that if a team member accidentally gives the wrong dose of medication to a patient, the culture of leadership encourages them to report it immediately. This allows the veterinarian to intervene quickly to help the animal, informs the pet owner transparently, and ensures the situation is managed effectively — all without shame or punishment. Leadership, in this sense, isn’t about authority or control — it’s about building trust, accountability, and a collaborative environment where everyone can do their best work.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
One of my first blog posts was actually titled “Ten Things I Wish I’d Learned in Veterinary School.” Looking back over a decade into my career, I realized that while my veterinary education prepared me well for medicine and surgery, it didn’t fully prepare me for the human, emotional, and ethical complexities of the job.
Some of my favorite lessons from that list — and the stories behind them — include:
Things don’t always go as planned. I remember the first time I treated a dog with septic shock. We did everything “right” — antibiotics to fight the infection, surgery to remove the source, vasopressors to keep blood pressure stable, and nutrition to support healing. Yet despite our best efforts, the dog didn’t survive. That case was a stark reminder that veterinary medicine is unpredictable. Learning to navigate outcomes we can’t control, without harsh self-judgment, has been essential for my growth.
Veterinarians make mistakes. During my residency, I made a mistake with a feeding tube misplacement due to a misinterpreted x-ray. Tragically, the dog was fed into its lungs and died. I blamed myself for months and even questioned whether I deserved to finish my residency. It wasn’t until my mentor shared stories of his own mistakes that I realized we are all human. Accepting that mistakes are inevitable is the first step toward moving past blame and shame.
Setting boundaries is a must. For years, I had nonexistent boundaries between work and personal life. I gave clients my personal cell phone number, stayed late, worked weekends, and often brought work home. The constant pressure eventually led to burnout. Protecting personal time and energy isn’t optional — it’s vital for maintaining balance and sustaining a career in this demanding profession.
Self-care is a necessity, not a luxury. Early in my career, I neglected my own wellbeing. I remember a string of exhausting shifts where I was sleep-deprived and mentally drained. I miscalculated a patient’s drug dose, which was a wake-up call: I couldn’t care for my patients properly if I wasn’t caring for myself first. Looking after ourselves isn’t indulgent; it’s essential to provide safe, compassionate care.
There’s more to life than veterinary medicine. At one point, I debated leaving my position in academia and felt completely lost. I thought, “Who am I if I’m not an assistant professor in small animal emergency and critical care?” I realized I had identified entirely with my profession, forgetting that I was also a friend, sister, daughter, and pet owner. Being a veterinarian is part of who we are, but nurturing these other roles sustains us long-term.
Writing that post was meaningful because it allowed me to share insights I wish I’d known early on — and it resonated with so many colleagues who face these exact challenges every day. Reflecting on these experiences has reinforced for me that veterinary medicine is as much about caring for ourselves and our teams as it is about caring for animals.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
One of my favorite authors is Gretchen Rubin, and two of her quotes really resonate with me. The first is: “The days are long, but the years are short.” As a mom to a five-year-old, I now truly understand what this means. The first five years of my daughter’s life have flown by — it’s hard to believe she’s already in kindergarten — but the day-to-day can feel exhausting, never-ending, and full of small struggles. This quote reminds me to pause and savor the moments, even when life feels overwhelming.
The second is: “Something that can happen at any time, often happens at no time.” This one reminds me that the things I deem important — like workouts, coffee dates with friends, or quiet time for reflection — won’t happen automatically. I have to intentionally schedule them. Once they’re on my calendar, I’m far more likely to actually do them. It’s a simple lesson, but one that’s helped me be more intentional about self-care, relationships, and the small joys that make life meaningful.
These quotes have become life lessons for me, grounding me in both my role as a mom and as a veterinary professional navigating a demanding career. They remind me to value the everyday moments and prioritize what truly matters.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with Mayim Bialik. I deeply admire her passion for mental health advocacy and her commitment to sharing evidence-based information. I’m a big fan of her podcast and have long admired her unique career path and educational achievements. It would be amazing to sit down with her, hear her insights, and pick her brain about all things mental health — both in the general public and within high-pressure professions like ours.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can follow my work online by visiting my website marieholowaychuk.com, or connecting with me on Instagram @marieholowaychuk and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarieholowaychuk/, where I am most active.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Dr. Marie Holowaychuk Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.