Grief is a constant presence in veterinary medicine—quiet, cumulative, and often ignored. From euthanasia and patient loss to a co-worker resigning or a colleague moving away, grief takes many forms in the lives of veterinary professionals. But what happens when we don’t acknowledge it?
In this thought-provoking episode, we speak with Kira Valentine, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Veterinary Technician, and Reviving Veterinary Medicine coach, about the hidden grief that veterinary teams carry—and why making space for it is essential for healing, connection, and sustainability in the profession.
Kira shares her powerful journey from ER technician to trauma-informed coach, and how her lived experience informs her work supporting individuals and leaders through burnout, compassion fatigue, and emotional overwhelm. We explore why many in vet med don’t feel entitled to grieve, how unresolved grief can quietly erode wellbeing, and what it looks like to lead with emotional awareness.
If you’re holding grief you haven’t named—or supporting others who are—this episode offers permission to pause, reflect, and begin to release.
Watch the Video Version of this Episode
https://youtu.be/KsDZ1NZ7dQo
Resources
Learn more about Kira and the other coaches at Reviving Veterinary Medicine: https://revivingvetmed.com/meet-our-coaches
Book a 20-minute introductory coaching call with Kira: https://scheduler.zoom.us/coaching-rvm-kiravalentine/20-minute-discovery-call-
Follow Kira Valentine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kira-valentine-21639917b/
Beyond death: Understanding grief in all its forms (blog): https://revivingvetmed.com/beyond-death-understanding-grief-in-all-its-forms/
Grief in Response to Uncertainty Distress Among Veterinary Students During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic (article): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8295725/
Impacts of the process and decision-making around companion animal euthanasia on veterinary wellbeing (article): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31409747/
Thank You to Our Sponsor
Reviving Veterinary Medicine: www.revivingvetmed.com
Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter
Online Programs
To learn more about Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s offerings including coaching, lunch & learns, critical incident group debriefing, and online programs, please visit our website: https://revivingvetmed.com/
Questions, Suggestions, or Sponsorship Opportunities
Email: podcast@revivingvetmed.com
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