Working in the veterinary industry is immensely rewarding but also uniquely challenging. The pressures of caring for animals and their owners, the emotional strain of difficult cases, and the high standards of the profession can lead to significant stress, burnout, disengagement and lack of fulfilment from the meaningful and life-saving work vets do.
At Elanco, we understand and value the importance of the work of veterinary professionals and their clinics, and the necessity to look after the health and wellbeing of these professionals so they can continue to enrich the lives of animals and their people. This is why The Betterinary Series was created.
The Betterinary Series, created by Elanco’s well-being and consulting veterinarian, Dr Heidi Hulon, was designed to improve the mental and physical health and well-being of veterinary professionals, by addressing these challenges and the impact they have through insights, self-reflection, and practical strategies.
A native of Alabama, Dr Hulon graduated from Auburn University with both her undergraduate (Bachelor of Science, Zoology) and with her DVM. She has practised in Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky in a variety of areas during her career, including small animal practice (associate and owner), shelter medicine, Department Chair for a Veterinary Technology Program, and as a Technical Veterinarian for Hills Pet Nutrition.
Since 2011, Dr Hulon has been a Regional Consulting Veterinarian (RCV) for Elanco Animal Health. Her current role is as the RCV focusing on providing Beyond Product Value Programs to our veterinary customers in the US. Dr Hulon has training in FRANK Communication Skills, in addition to Certifications as a Compassion Fatigue Professional, QPR Suicide Training, Fear Free Professional, an Insights Discovery Practitioner, the Human Animal Bond, and Positive Psychology Specialisation.
Why choose The Betterinary Series?
As a veterinarian, Dr Hulon understands the specific challenges faced by those in the profession. Through a variety of online courses, you can learn at your own pace and in a way that suits your schedule.
The courses are designed to equip veterinarians with the tools and knowledge needed to manage stress, promote neuroplasticity, practice effective self-care and create a healthy work-life balance.
An overview of The Betterinary Series courses
The Betterinary Series offers practical, accessible resources for improving well-being in veterinary practice.
Gain insights into the complexities of mental health, learn to identify signs of struggle in yourself and your peers, and understand how to respond effectively.
Choose from one of our 40-minute mini-courses including:
The Betterinary Series: Heroic Self-Care
Effective self-care is essential for mental and physical wellbeing. This course covers a range of self-care techniques tailored to the demands of veterinary practice, including mindfulness, exercise, nutrition and time management.
The Betterinary Series: Empathetic Exhaustion
The emotional demands of caring for and empathising with pets and their owners can lead to a deep sense of physical and emotional fatigue. Our course is designed to help veterinary staff understand, recognise and manage empathetic exhaustion.
The Betterinary Series: Work-Life Integration
Achieving a healthy balance between professional responsibilities and personal life can be particularly challenging in the veterinary field. This course offers practical strategies to seamlessly integrate work and personal activities to create a more fulfilling and sustainable lifestyle.
We also have 20-minute micro-courses such as:
With more to be found on myElanco Australia.
Start your journey with The Betterinary Series today!
Head over to myElanco to explore the full range of courses and begin learning at your own pace.
