Learning in vet med isn’t just about CE credits: it’s about access, power, burnout, and who actually gets to grow. In this episode of Vet Tech Nerd Party, host Mallory Dickinson and co-hosts Jenn, Julia, and Erin settle into a long, honest conversation about what education really looks like for veterinary professionals once real life, money, leadership, and systems get involved. What starts with stories about conferences, CE budgets, and swag culture quickly expands into something bigger: how techs navigate uneven support, relief work, employer priorities, innovation overload, and the emotional crash that comes when inspiration meets clinic reality. Along the way, the group unpacks learning psychology, skepticism around new products, and why continuing education can become either busywork or one of the few forms of leverage vet techs truly own. Funny, candid, occasionally unhinged, and deeply relatable, this episode reflects how growth in vet med is rarely linear, fair, or simple, but still worth fighting for. What you’ll hear explored: Why learning in vet med feels energizing and exhaustingHow budgets, leadership, and job structure shape who gets access to growthThe difference between education that checks boxes and education that changes practiceNavigating innovation, new products, and healthy skepticism without losing curiosity Who will resonate with this episode: Veterinary technicians & assistantsVet med professionals navigating burnout or career transitionsVeterinary students thinking ahead about longevityRelief and contract techs managing growth without built-in supportAnyone who’s ever come back inspired and hit a wall Timestamps: 00:00 - Cold open, drinks, and why learning in vet med gets complicated 07:18 - Paying for CE: value, swag, sponsorships, and reality 15:06 - Budget gaps, employer support, and uneven access to growth 25:02 - Online learning, free CE, and making education work without money 34:08 - Why conferences feel so good (group learning & dopamine) 39:52 - The emotional crash: inspiration meets clinic reality 46:11 - Innovation, new products, and professional skepticism 53:14 - Future medicine on the horizon: injectables, nutrition, long-term care 58:40 - Final takeaway: education as leverage, protection, and power Stay Connected: Like this video if it resonated with youShare your learning wins or frustrations in the commentsSubscribe and hit the bell to stay with the Nerd Party Welcome to the Nerd Party. We’re not okay and that’s totally okay. Resources Mentioned: VetGirl (online CE): vetgirlontherun.comSCVMA Veterinary Team Member education access: scvma.org/continuing-education Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com Season 2, Episode 6 #VetTech #VetMed #VetTechLife #VetMedBurnout #VetCommunity #VetTechNerdParty #PacificLensStudios
