The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success

19: You said “yes” again, didn’t you? How pathologic accommodation is draining veterinary professionals

In veterinary medicine, being the person who always comes through is often celebrated, until it starts costing more than it's worth. In this episode of The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success, cohosts Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, and Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, examine chronic over-accommodation—a habit that gets rewarded in veterinary medicine while quietly depleting the people who practice it. Edwards introduces the concept of the "pathologic accommodator," breaks down how the pattern develops, and offers a practical path forward through grounded self-advocacy: honoring personal values and communicating with clarity without abandoning accommodation altogether. * Email info@projectvetspan.com to connect with Shaw * To connect with Edwards, email jennifer@drjenniferedwards.com.

18: Why fixing behavior often fails: Using the CORE Element to change veterinary team performance

The instinct when something isn't working is to fix the behavior, but according to Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, that is often where the fix goes wrong. In this episode of The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success, Edwards breaks down the CORE Element Framework, a conscious leadership model she created that locates the real driver of outcomes not in what people do, but in how they're thinking, feeling, and perceiving long before they ever act. Co-host Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, asks Edwards on what this looks like inside a real clinic, where difficult conversations get avoided, frustration builds quietly, and patterns tend to repeat regardless of who's in the room. The conversation explores how developing conscious awareness, ownership, and intentional response can shift leadership outcomes in clinical settings, and why addressing the cause rather than the effect is what actually creates lasting change. Resources and contact information * To connect with Shaw, email info@projectvetspan.com. * To connect with Edwards, email jennifer@drjenniferedwards.com.

17: Neck, back, wrist: Reducing the physical strain of veterinary practice

Veterinary work is physically demanding, yet chronic neck, back, and wrist pain are often treated as unavoidable parts of the profession. In this episode of Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success, Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, and Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, discuss the physical demands of clinical practice, from repetitive strain from dentistry, surgery, to the physical toll of floor-based exams and patient handling. The conversation explores practical adjustments, movement strategies, and workplace habits that can help veterinary professionals reduce physical wear and tear, prevent injury, and support career longevity. Resources and contact information * For Shaw’s free veterinary ergonomic checklist or additional ergonomic resources, email info@projectvetspan.com. * To connect with Edwards regarding coaching or leadership resources, email jennifer@drjenniferedwards.com.

14: Motivation is overrated. Here’s what works instead

In this episode of The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success, the focus shifts from motivation to what actually sustains healthy habits. Hosts Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, and Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, discuss why relying on motivation often falls short and how small, consistent changes, supportive environments, and realistic expectations can help veterinary professionals build lasting physical and emotional resilience.

13: Nutrition on the run: Fueling the veterinary professional for steady energy and better care

This episode of The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success focuses on a familiar challenge in veterinary medicine: maintaining proper nutrition during long, unpredictable workdays. As clinic schedules fill and breaks become limited, meals are often replaced with quick, convenient options. Cohosts Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, and Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, discuss how those daily choices can affect more than energy levels, including cognitive function, client communication, and team interactions. The episode also outlines practical approaches to help veterinary professionals build more consistent eating habits in a busy clinical setting.