A Merck Animal Health study found that though veterinarians have normal mental health, they experience extremely high levels of stress and thus lower levels of well-being than the average person. This is one reason why so many veterinarians wouldn’t recommend the profession to friends and family members, researchers said. However, they do state that “a life outside the practice – family time, socialization, travel, exercise – is absolutely essential” for a better well-being.
There are definitely still veterinarians out there who absolutely love their job. And as researchers said, that’s because they are taking the steps necessary to care for themselves – physically, mentally & emotionally. One of these veterinarians is Dr. Brooke Schampers. She graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree graduated from James Cook University in North Queensland. She now works in Animal Emergency Service in Brisbane, Australia.
From a young age, Brooke has always wanted to be a vet. She can’t pinpoint exactly when and why she chose the veterinary field, but says she was always obsessed with animals and returning lost dogs home.
“When I was young I always had the thought that I wanted to be a vet and I just never changed my mind. I was always obsessed with animals and returning lost dogs home. It has been a goal of mine as long as I can remember.”
Working in emergency medicine is both a challenging and rewarding job. Brooke says the worst part is the high rate of euthanasia, which is sometimes due to cost constraints. Also, telling owners their pet has a terminal disease and being unable to fix it is extremely heartbreaking for her. On the other hand, she says seeing sick patients being reunited with their families is definitely a highlight. One of her other favorite parts is being able to do interesting surgeries and manage complex medical cases, all the while working with an incredible team everyday.
“To look at an owner and have to say, ‘I am so sorry, but there is nothing I can do to save your loved one.’ I accept that my job is incredible one moment and inexplicably tragic the next. It is not for the faint or cold-hearted, which is what makes it so tough and rewarding.”
Emergency medicine has one of the highest rates of burn out, Brooke says. It is high stress & high emotion and requires vets to work hours which don’t allow for a social life. However, it’s a career Brooke wants to be a part of for a very long time, and she is determined to stay in this area for life.
It’s incredible to see someone like Brooke who loves their job despite how physically, mentally & emotionally demanding it can be, and yet manages to keep a healthy lifestyle. I asked her about how she manages to find this balance. “I work 3-4 shifts a week (which is full time considering the long hours we do), but I find this offers a unique work-life balance with days off and plenty of free time to study, brunch, gym and see friends.”
In the early years at university, Brooke says she wasn’t very good at taking care of herself. She had unhealthy eating habits and struggled with body image issues. The insane amount of hours required for studying, causing a lack of sleep, all put a huge amount of stress on her system. To make matters worse, she had unattainable goals and expectations for herself in terms of grades and remembering academic content. It wasn’t until the end of her fourth and fifth year at university that she realized happiness and mental health were more important than getting the best grade, and she became more at peace with knowing it is impossible to remember everything. “I’ve learned so much about self-care and its positive impacts on study, and I want to share that with people.”
Taking this into account, Brooke’s current goals are to stay healthy & fit and to get stronger with weights. She has membership exams in critical care and emergency medicine in two years time, so she also hopes to become a Criticalist by the time she is thirty. Now that’s a dedicated, strong woman! She would also love to travel to universities around the world, talking to students about life as a vet and being a new grad. She wants to share with them the importance of self care. This is a topic which is definitely SO needed in not only the veterinary profession, but all health professions.
Brooke is currently obsessed with brunching. My kinda girl. “I have a ‘To-Do List’ of cafes in Brisbane that I want to try.” She loves her Macro Mike Protein because it tastes like peanut butter – she has the biggest sweet tooth. She also says, “I’m forever watching Gossip Girl and Friends on repeat.” You can say the two of us would get along well!
With such a demanding and busy lifestyle, there can certainly be days which get us down. For Brooke, she says her incredible team and mentors, Dr. Alex Hynes and Dr. Gerardo Poli always provide aspiration to keep her going. She also stays grounded by trying not to see mistakes as failure, but rather a learning experience.
“I remember to breath and see things as they are – the facts – rather than making up a terrible false story in my head. I always remember that although I wasn’t able to save one patient, there are hundreds of others that require my help and I can’t give up just because I had a bad day.”
Three main points of advice Brooke would give to anyone wanting to be a veterinarian:
1. Don’t give up on your dream but also know what you are getting yourself into (read more on her blog here).
2. Being a vet means you deal with some of the most wonderful, but also some of the least gracious people.
3. It is as much about life as it is death. Euthanasia should be your best consult efforts ever as these are the last moments of a pet’s life and their time with loved ones, so they deserve that last special moment together.
She says she once read an article that explained veterinary medicine like this: “Being a vet is often more than a career choice – it is a hard-wired, ingrained, immutable part of your DNA.” So, if you really want to be a vet, you probably don’t need to think about it – you already know it. Wise words indeed.
How motivating and inspiring to see a woman achieve her dreams and jump into it full throttle, making the most of every day. Brooke truly deserves the title as August’s Woman of the Month. It’s clear that she is a caring, strong, motivated & passionate woman who aspires to be the healthiest version of herself, all the while inspiring those around her.
Follow Brooke on Instagram (@doctor_brooke) to be a part of her veterinary & health journey, and I guarantee you’ll be inspired and learn some fun facts along the way!