Martyrdom in Veterinary Medicine

In the demanding world of veterinary medicine, practitioners are all too familiar with the relentless grind of long hours, minimal breaks, and the perpetual pressure of soaring caseloads exacerbated by staffing shortages. Astonishingly, these arduous conditions are often seen as a testament to our unwavering passion for the profession, with the ability to endure such circumstances worn as a badge of honor. However, lurking beneath the surface lies a seldom-discussed issue: martyrdom.

Martyrdom, as defined, is “a display of feigned or exaggerated suffering to obtain sympathy or admiration.” In our noble pursuit of animal care, many of us have unwittingly fallen into patterns of behavior and adopted phrases that inadvertently perpetuate this culture of martyrdom. This lecture endeavors to shine a spotlight on this pervasive problem and equip veterinary professionals with the tools to recognize and ultimately transform these self-sabotaging dynamics.

1. Understand what martyrdom is in the veterinary hospital

2. Recognize intentional or unintentional martyrs in the practice

3. Address this type of behavior and promote a different culture

Danielle is a licensed veterinary technician and VTS (Oncology) with over ten years of experience. As Director of Clinical Services Education at MedVet, she leads technician training, scholarships, and education planning. She lectures internationally, serves as AIMVT’s Director-at-Large for Oncology, and is the President of MAVT, sharing her expertise in oncology, education, and leadership.