The Vet Vault: Fall In Love With Veterinary Science

Dr. Hubert Hiemstra
  • 4.8 (14)
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Vet life can be tough—but it’s also good. So, how do we make it even better? Join inspiring conversations with veterinary trailblazers who share real stories, fresh ideas, and strategies to help the talented, passionate humans (like you!) who make up the veterinary profession thrive—in work and in life. Hosted by Dr. Hubert Hiemstra, a veterinarian with over 20 years of experience and a passion for helping vets build happier, more fulfilling careers. Hubert brings warmth, curiosity, and a knack for asking the right questions, creating a space where the best ideas in vet med come to life.

  1. 158: Psychological Safety For Vets: Why The Job Might Need Fixing, Not The People. With Dr Rebecca Faris

    APR 22

    158: Psychological Safety For Vets: Why The Job Might Need Fixing, Not The People. With Dr Rebecca Faris

    "Maybe we're just picking the wrong people to be vets." You've probably heard some version of that line. Maybe you've even said it. 'The new grads can't cope. The younger generation is too soft. If this profession isn't working for you, maybe the profession isn't the problem - maybe you are.' But what if that's the wrong conversation entirely? Maybe it's not the people who need to change - but the job itself. That's the question at the heart of this conversation with Dr Rebecca Faris, the lead of the Australian Veterinary Association's Thrive programme - an industry attempt to figure out how we make veterinary medicine a profession people can actually stay in and enjoy. You'll learn: Why a full-time working week in veterinary medicine probably shouldn't be 40 hours - and the official position from Safe Work Australia that will surprise youThe difference between psychological safety and psychosocial safety (one is a vibe, the other is the law - and if you own a practice in Australia, you need to know which is which)What the new psychosocial safety legislation actually requires of practice owners Why "playing to your strengths" isn't the same as avoiding the hard stuff - and how to have that conversation with your employer without sounding like you're asking for special treatmentThe invisible emotional labour tax you're paying on every consult - and why recognising it changes everythingWhat genuinely great veterinary workplaces are doing differently, and why the "squeaky wheel" narrative is drowning out stories of practices that are getting it rightWhy "I can't hack full-time" might not mean there's something wrong with you - and the self-compassion case for rethinking what a sustainable vet career actually looks likeHow to get involved in shaping the future of this profession instead of quietly checking outIf you've ever felt wrecked at the end of a perfectly normal day and wondered whether it was you or the job - this one's for you. Resources mentioned: The Thrive Programme and 2025 Wellbeing Survey: ava.com.au/thriveCultivating Safe Teams training (AVA)2026 Thrive Wellness Symposium at the AVA Conference, Brisbane, 19 May 2026Safe Work Australia - psychosocial hazards guidance This episode is not an ad. We're not paid to feature Thrive or the AVA - we just think this is a conversation the profession needs to be having. If you've got thoughts, pushback, or your own story about thriving (or not) in practice, drop us a line at info@thevetvault.com. For our clinical content, show notes, and our full back catalogue, head to thevetvault.com. While you're there, check out our subscriber-only clinical podcast, our newsletter, and come and hang out with us in real life at Vets On Tour. 00:52 Rethinking the 40-Hour Workweek 03:03 Flexibility and Job Crafting 04:57 Are We Picking the Wrong People? 06:05 Playing to Strengths vs Business Needs 12:39 Psychological vs Psychosocial Safety 15:55 The New Laws: Employer Obligations 17:51 Identifying Psychosocial Hazards 20:40 Cultivating Safe Teams Training 24:45 Workload and Emotional Labor 32:34 Vets on Tour Break 34:27 Should Full-Time Be 30 Hours? 36:12 Inside the Thrive Initiative 39:31 Mental Health First Aid 41:35 Empathy for Difficult Clients 44:13 Wins and Optimism 46:27 How to Access Thrive 51:27 Closing Advice: Get Engaged

    54 min
  2. 157: Tech Tools for Vets 2: AI-Powered Learning with StudyAnything. With Hasitha Jayatilake

    APR 8

    157: Tech Tools for Vets 2: AI-Powered Learning with StudyAnything. With Hasitha Jayatilake

    You know that feeling: exam time is looming.  You've spent three days making flashcards and highlighting your notes, but you haven't even started actually studying yet... Whether you're a vet student drowning in slide decks, a membership candidate juggling articles and notes, or a resident trying to jam an impossible volume of clinical knowledge into your skull - the way most of us study is, frankly, not backed by the science. Which is why you might need a little help from technology: In part two of our Tech Tools for Vets series, software engineer Hasitha Jayatilake joins me to walk you through StudyAnything - an AI-powered study tool that generates quizzes from your notes, tracks your weak spots over time, and builds guided learning pathways based on Bloom's hierarchy of learning. (By the way - he built this tool because he couldn’t bare watching his vet student partner making Anki cards at 2am!) What you'll learn: How active recall and spaced repetition actually work - and why highlighting your notes is basically doing nothingWhat Bloom's hierarchy means for your study plan - and how Study Anything uses it to move you from rote recall to clinical applicationStudyAnything’s guided learning pathway feature (just gone live) - that turns your uploaded notes into a structured lesson plan with concept maps, assumed knowledge, and motivational contextHow the community feature works - study groups, shared question banks, and what this means for educators (or podcast hosts!)  who want to create resourcesHow to generate harder questions on demand - using learning outcomes and difficulty levels to get yourself on the honours rollWhat makes this different from Notebook LM or other AI tools This episode includes screen sharing, so if you want to follow along, watch the video on Spotify. If you prefer audio only, you'll still get 99% of the value. The team at StudyAnything are giving Vet Vault listeners the opportunity to try out their top tier subscription (LOTS of quizzes!) with code VETVAULT at studyanything.academy for 50% off your first month on the paid plan. That's about $3.50 to give it a proper test run. Note: This episode isn't a promotion, endorsement or an ad - it's part of our ongoing series exploring the tools you might be considering. If you have a software you'd like us to look at, let me know at info@thevetvault.com Go to ⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠ for show notes, access to our clinical continuing education content and to sign up for our weekly 'best of the Vet Vault' ⁠newsletter,⁠ or join us in person at one of our phenomenal ⁠Vets On Tour conferences. ⁠ (Look out for our upcoming New Zealand, Italy and Africa conferences.) Topics and Timestamps 3:26 Active Recall & The Science of Studying 4:06 How StudyAnything Works - Uploading & Courses 7:57 Bloom's Hierarchy & Learning Outcomes 9:53 Ad Break - Vets on Tour 11:24 Quiz Demo 19:28 Guided Learning Pathway 20:15 File Summary, Concept Maps & Key Terms 29:10 Study Groups & Communities 31:02 Comparison with Notebook LM & Competitors 32:32 Spaced Repetition & Future Features 37:29 Pricing 39:48 Deep Dive: Navigating the Dashboard 41:00 Deep Dive: Creating & Customising Quizzes

    58 min
  3. A New Direction for the Vet Vault? Help Shape What Comes Next

    MAR 25 ·  BONUS

    A New Direction for the Vet Vault? Help Shape What Comes Next

    Is our podcast getting… repetitive? Honest question. Lately, we’ve felt a growing tension behind the mic: are we just saying the same things… just with a new guest and in slightly different ways? Are we actually helping you? (With is after all the point of this podcast) In this short solo episode, I ask a few questions that I’d love your input on.  We want to rebuild this with you. This is your invite. Feedback to info@thevetvault.com, or at our contact form on the website, or hit me up in the comments on Spotify.

    5 min
  4. 156: Is Practice Ownership The Only Way To Build Wealth? The Vet’s Guide To Student Debt, Saving, And Financial Sanity. With Eric Miller

    MAR 18

    156: Is Practice Ownership The Only Way To Build Wealth? The Vet’s Guide To Student Debt, Saving, And Financial Sanity. With Eric Miller

    Ever check your payslip… your student debt… your mortgage… and wonder if you’re just treading water? You’re not alone, and you’re not stuck. In this episode we revisit one of the most neglected topics in the profession: money. Hubert sits down with US-based financial adviser Eric Miller to break down the decisions that can actually move the money-needle for employed vets: from budgeting and debt to investing, insurance, and increasing your income. (We do global principles with US specifics) No jargon. No guilt. Just a clear starting point for vets who know they should have a plan… but haven’t begun yet. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why practice ownership isn’t the only route to financial securityThe one habit that underpins every solid financial planA simple 70/20/10 framework for spending, investing, and enjoying your moneyHow to handle student debt without letting it control your lifeWhether to prioritise debt repayment, investing- or bothThe difference between good debt and bad debt (and why it matters)How automation quietly builds wealth in the backgroundWhat young vets need to know about insurance, income growth, and lifestyle creepAnd perhaps most importantly: A more grounded, reassuring view of the profession itself. Yes, financial pressure is real.But Eric will convince you that veterinary medicine is still a strong, high-potential career - IF you do it right.  ⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠ for show notes, access to our clinical continuing education content and to sign up for our weekly 'best of the Vet Vault' newsletter, or join us in person at one of our phenomenal Vets On Tour conferences. Topics and Time Stamps 04:24 Biggest Financial Mistakes 05:42 Budgeting & The 70/20/10 Rule 14:41 Retirement Planning & 401k 24:09 Student Debt & How to Tackle It 26:22 Loan Forgiveness 28:58 Pay Off Debt vs. Invest 31:53 The Debt Snowball Method (it's a good thing!) 33:55 Increasing Your Income 37:44 Constructive vs. Destructive Debt 41:35 Insurance & Health Coverage 44:06 Looking Ahead: The Veterinary Industry 49:45 One Financial Habit for Ne w Grads We love to hear from you. If you have a question for us or you’d like to give us some feedback please get in touch via our contact or catch up with us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠. And if you like what you hear, please share the love by clicking on the share button wherever you’re listening and sending a link to someone who you think should hear this.

    53 min
  5. 155: Antibiotic Prescribing Habits Vets Need To Ditch Now. With Dr Riati Scarborough and Dr Laura Hardefeldt 

    FEB 13

    155: Antibiotic Prescribing Habits Vets Need To Ditch Now. With Dr Riati Scarborough and Dr Laura Hardefeldt 

    Four years after our original antibiotic myth-busting episode (Ep 60), we’re back with Dr Riati Scarborough to talk antibiotic prescribing habits. This time we’re joined by fellow stewardship expert Dr Laura Hardefeldt, and this time we’re asking the harder question: Have we actually changed? The good news? Some prescribing habits are shifting. We’re seeing shorter courses and less ‘just in case antibiotic usage.  But let’s not pat ourselves on the back too quickly. Because some of our most entrenched habits are still alive and well, like how we treat skin disease, and our ongoing love affair with amoxiclav. This episode is a practical, clinically grounded update on what the evidence says in 2026 - and how to make realistic changes without compromising patient care. We cover: Why skin disease remains the single biggest driver of antimicrobial resistance in small animal practice, and what to do about itAmoxicillin vs amoxiclav: when de-escalation is not just safe, but smarterWhy convenience (you know the brand we’re talking about right…) is not a clinical indicationTrimethoprim-sulphonamide and the real story on KCS riskDentals, heart murmurs, and what prophylaxis actually looks like in 2026Simple in-clinic stewardship strategies that genuinely shift prescribing behaviourThis isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. If you’d like effective antibiotics to still exist in five to ten years… This episode is essential listening. Find out how we can support you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week. Grab one last handful of spots in the Maldives for our surf/dive vet conference with ⁠Vets On Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Tips and Timestamps 3:03 Progress in prescribing habits including UTI durations and surgical prophylaxis4:55 Skin disease as the biggest problem area in small animal practice7:01 Topical therapy versus systemic antibiotics for skin conditions9:28 Deep pyoderma and the new consensus statement11:00 Gut bacteria as a source of resistant infections12:41 Rise of MRSP, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius14:00 Amoxicillin-clavulanate overuse16:47 Vets on Tour conferences advertisement18:08 Pharmacology refresher on amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and cefovecin19:45 Why cefovecin is classified as high importance, vs the convenience argument for cefovecin in cats22:56 Long-acting amoxicillin injections as an alternative24:00 Getting amoxicillin back on the shelf24:53 Communicating antibiotic choices to clients29:32 Dental antibiotics and debunking the heart murmur myth34:07 Subclinical bacteriuria and stopping cultures in asymptomatic patients38:30 Reassessing the dry eye risk of trimethoprim-sulfonamide41:43 Antimicrobial stewardship trial using colour-coded pharmacy shelves

    45 min
  6. 154: Stop the Energy Drain: Productivity Coaching for Vets in Clinic Chaos. With Demir Bentley and Dr Ray Gates

    JAN 30

    154: Stop the Energy Drain: Productivity Coaching for Vets in Clinic Chaos. With Demir Bentley and Dr Ray Gates

    Veterinary life can feel like a treadmill with no off-switch: 15-minute consults that always run over. Emotional labour no one trains you for. A schedule that swings from slow to chaos - in minutes. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. In this raw and refreshingly real episode, productivity coach Demir Bentley (Life Hack Method) live-coaches GP vet Dr Ray Gates, tackling the uncomfortable truth of veterinary medicine:You’re expected to be clinically excellent… while running on empty. This isn’t a listicle of “10 productivity hacks.”This is about reclaiming 1% wins that actually work in the chaos of clinical life. You’ll learn: Why productivity isn’t about doing more - it’s about protecting your energyHow “chaos as the default” leads to burnout (and how you can change the system, not just yourself)How to lower your cognitive load and reduce admin fatigueThe art of setting goals that don’t become another source of stressSmall upstream shifts that stop downstream disastersHow to finish a shift and still feel like youWhether you’re buried in charting, stuck in overbooked consults, or silently wondering if you’re just not “resilient enough” - this conversation will show you another way. You don’t need another motivational quote.You need practical tools to get your time, headspace, and energy back. And it starts here. Raise your hand here to find out more about our AI for clinics Mastermind Find out how we can help you build you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week. Topics and Time Stamps 10:56 The problem 23:04 The revenge binge 26:10 Taking back the 1% 35:52 Upstream changes to prevent downstream chaos 41:31 Expectations vs reality 52:05 You are not powerless

    1h 7m
  7. 153: What’s Holding You Back? 3 Keys to Rewiring Your Brain for Calm, Confidence, and Clarity. With Dr Rod Irwin

    JAN 16

    153: What’s Holding You Back? 3 Keys to Rewiring Your Brain for Calm, Confidence, and Clarity. With Dr Rod Irwin

    Ever feel like your anxiety or fear of failure is just... who you are? The perfectionism. The overthinking. The constant pressure to “get it right.” It can feel like it’s wired into your DNA. But what if it isn’t? Dr Rod Irwin, vet, former clinic owner and author tells us how who went from panic attacks in an empty vet clinic to a completely rewired life - thanks to neuroscience. After hitting breaking point, a chance encounter with neuroscience set him on a 15-year journey into neuroplasticity and positive psychology - and ultimately changed how he led. Together, we unpack how our brains are shaped by past experiences, why vets are particularly vulnerable to negative belief loops, and how we can deliberately rewire our thinking to reduce anxiety, improve performance and build healthier workplace cultures. We explore: Why early experiences like bullying and perfectionism hardwire us for burnoutWhat neuroplasticity actually means, and why this isn't just “positive thinking”How emotions strengthen or weaken your neural pathwaysDr Irwin’s first 3 practical steps to start rewiring your brainWhy your identity is the key to lasting changeHow clinic leaders unconsciously set the emotional tone for the entire teamAnd how reconnecting to purpose and values can transform your cultureThis is a science-backed, practical conversation on mindset, leadership and wellbeing – tailored to the veterinary world. Because your brain isn’t broken.It’s just wired by experience - and you can change the wiring. ⁠⁠ Learn about all 12 keys here, or here if you're a practice owner, or book a chat with Rod here. Find out how we can support you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week. Grab one last handful of spots in the Maldives for our surf/dive vet conference with Vets On Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get case support from our team of specialists in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cutabove.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go all in on surgery with our collaboration with Sydney University's ⁠⁠⁠CVE Surgery Course.

    1h 2m
  8. 152: Tech Tools 1: VetRec. With Kevin Cohen

    12/19/2025

    152: Tech Tools 1: VetRec. With Kevin Cohen

    Welcome to episode one of our new Tech Tools series, where we cut through the noise to bring you real insights into the latest veterinary tech that could genuinely make your day‑to‑day vet life easier. In part one VetRec founder Kevin Cohen helps me put this AI scribe through its paces to show us why veterinary AI software is rapidly moving WAY beyond just note taking.  Highlights : What an AI scribe really is and how it saves vets hours of documentation timeBeyond scribing - new tools to speed up your workflow with increased reliability and contextVetRec’s clinical support tool:  D.A.V.I.D. (Diagnostics Assistance for Veterinary Insights and Differentials)Team workflows — how receptionists, nurses and vets can collaborate in the same platform This one involves a bit of screen sharing, so if you want to follow along - watch the video for this on Spotify. Note:  This episode isn’t a promotion or an ad — it’s the first of many deep dives into the tools you might be considering. If you have a software that you’d like us to explore, let me know at info@thevetvault.com Check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cutabove.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go all in on surgery with our collaboration with Sydney University's ⁠CVE Surgery Course. ⁠ Find out how we can help you build you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠. Get case support from our team of specialists in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week. Join us in person for our epic adventure CE events at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vets On Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Next up: Japan snow conference!)  Topics and Time stamps 04:05 – New Features 202505:19 – Add to Visit07:46 – DictationFeatures08:35 – A Cut Above Promo10:08 – Snippets12:15 – Insights & Recommendations13:59 – Integrations16:06 – EzyVet Chrome Extension17:05 – Custom Templates17:58 – Phone Call Recording21:38 – Multi-Pet Support22:33 – Client Handouts24:07 – Analysis Features28:38 – David AI Assistant38:03 – Records Recap41:09 – Team Access42:29 – Best Recording Practices

    46 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Vet life can be tough—but it’s also good. So, how do we make it even better? Join inspiring conversations with veterinary trailblazers who share real stories, fresh ideas, and strategies to help the talented, passionate humans (like you!) who make up the veterinary profession thrive—in work and in life. Hosted by Dr. Hubert Hiemstra, a veterinarian with over 20 years of experience and a passion for helping vets build happier, more fulfilling careers. Hubert brings warmth, curiosity, and a knack for asking the right questions, creating a space where the best ideas in vet med come to life.

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