You Spoke. I Listened. Here’s What Veterinarians Are Saying Across the Profession

🗣️ You Spoke. I Listened.

What I’ve Heard from the Veterinary Profession — and What We Can Do About It

If there’s one thing I’ve learned while campaigning to be AVMA’s next President-Elect, it’s this:

Veterinarians and veterinary teams aren’t short on opinions — they’re short on opportunities to be heard.

So I’ve made it my mission to listen and find connection pathways.

From veterinary schools and state meetings to practice hallways and online forums, I’ve been talking with people across the profession — and more importantly, hearing them.

In this post, I want to share what’s rising to the top. Not just as campaign talking points, but as real concerns from real people — and how those concerns are shaping how I lead.

😮‍💨 1. “We’re burned out — and we can’t do this much longer.”

This is one of the most heartbreaking — and common — things I’ve heard on the road.

I’ve spoken with incredible veterinarians and support team members who love their work… but feel like it’s unsustainable. Long hours, emotional intensity, and staffing gaps are pushing people past their limits.

And it’s not just clinical burnout — it’s moral fatigue, leadership fatigue, and a sense of being unheard.

What I’m taking forward:

We need systems-level support, not just wellness webinars. That includes:

• Advocating for improved team utilization
• Supporting mental health infrastructure
• Bringing tech and innovation into the profession in ways that help, not hinder
• Building models that make veterinary work more sustainable across all career stages

Wellbeing isn’t a personal failing — it’s a shared responsibility.

🎓 2. “Debt is changing everything.”

Student debt continues to be one of the most anxiety-inducing issues in veterinary medicine. And it doesn’t stop at graduation.

I’ve heard from:

• Students questioning whether they’ll ever pay off their loans
• Associates afraid to pursue ownership because of financial limitations
• Practice owners struggling to balance profitability and competitive compensation

What I’m taking forward:
Financial health needs to be part of our professional strategy — not just something we “deal with.” I support continued work on federal advocacy and loan forgiveness programs, but we also need to talk about financial literacy, compensation models, and new paths to ownership that don’t leave our next generation behind.

🧑‍⚕️ 3. “We have a solution to the workforce crisis — let’s use it.”

We’re all feeling the pinch: staffing shortages, packed schedules, and rising client demands. So it’s no surprise that the midlevel provider debate has sparked so much conversation.

Here’s what I’ve been hearing — and what I want to emphasize clearly:

💥 The entire AVMA House of Delegates — yes, every HOD organization — signed letters of opposition to the creation of a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) role.

Why? Because there is a better solution — and it’s already in front of us:

➡️ Use our credentialed veterinary technicians.
➡️ Invest in getting technicians credentialed in all jurisdictions.
➡️ Empower them to work at the top of their training and license.

The idea that we need to invent a whole new professional tier, while many of our technicians aren’t even able to practice to their full potential, is a problem. It’s inefficient, and it risks both quality of care and trust in the profession.

What I’m taking forward:
A strong veterinary team is the future. That means:

• Supporting technician credentialing nationwide
• Encouraging appropriate delegation and utilization
• Ensuring career growth pathways for support team members — without compromising the integrity of the DVM/VMD role

🫱🏽‍🫲🏼 4. “We want AVMA to feel more accessible.”

I’ve heard this time and time again — especially from students, early-career vets, and those who haven’t been involved with organized veterinary medicine before.

There’s a perception that AVMA is something that happens to us, not with us.

Let me be clear: That has to change.

AVMA should be a place where your ideas are welcomed, your voice is heard, and your membership brings real value — no matter your role, age, background, or practice setting.

🧭 What Else Am I Hearing?

These conversations haven’t all looked the same — and that’s the beauty of it.

I’ve listened to professionals in rural communities, shelter medicine, mobile units, nonprofit clinics, academia, and beyond. Each brings a unique set of challenges — and valuable insight into how we can better support one another.

I’ve also heard the importance of building a profession where everyone feels like they belong — across race, gender, income, disability, identity, and experience level. And I’m committed to continuing the work of creating a veterinary community where access, inclusion, and respect are foundational.

🎧 Listening Is How I Lead

I’m not running to be the loudest voice in the room — I’m running because I know how to listen, how to connect, and how to turn those conversations into action.

These aren’t just talking points. They’re real issues shaping how we practice and how we live.

And if I have the honor of serving as your AVMA President-Elect, these voices — your voices — will continue guiding every decision I make.

💬 Want to Add Your Voice?

📥 Reach out at jenquammen.com
📲 Message me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook
📣 Use the hashtag #VoteForJen and share what matters to YOU