Veterinary Wellbeing
While you’re busy taking care of your clients, don’t forget to take care of yourself.
Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study II
Merck Animal Health is committed to the veterinary profession and proud of our role in conducting this landmark study in collaboration with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). We hope to help the AVMA bring critical awareness and solutions to this important matter to better meet veterinarians’ needs.


Merck Animal Health
Veterinarian Wellbeing Study 2020
Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study II
Merck Animal Health announced the results of a second comprehensive study of wellbeing and mental health among U.S. veterinarians. Conducted in collaboration with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the study also examined job satisfaction, compensation, burnout, substance use disorder, cyberbullying and suicide among veterinarians while evaluating potential solutions.

Healthy Strategies for You and Your Practice
A print-friendly guide filled with ideas for you and your practice.

Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study II Webinar
Looking for CE credits? Watch this webinar and take the quiz to earn CE credits.

Wellbeing Study II Infographic
Flourishing, suffering, or just getting by? Find out how your peers rank their level of wellbeing, as well as other statistics, in this snapshot of data from the 2020 report.
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Meet the 2020 Study Authors

John Volk
BS Senior Consultant Brakke ConsultiJohn Volk is the principal author of four landmark economic studies of the veterinary profession, has been widely published in veterinary journals and is a frequent speaker at veterinary conferences. He is a senior consultant with Brakke Consulting, the largest consulting firm serving the global animal health, veterinary and pet care markets.

Uli Schimmack,
BA, MA, PhDDr. Uli Schimmack is a professor in the psychology department at the University of Toronto, Mississauga. His research focuses on the scientific understanding of happiness with the ultimate goal of developing a causal theory that can be used to predict the impact of personal and societal changes on subjective wellbeing or happiness.

Elizabeth Strand
PhD, LCSWDr. Elizabeth Strand is the founding director of Veterinary Social Work (VSW) at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a licensed clinical social worker, family therapist, mediator and grief counselor. Her areas of interest include the development of veterinary social work as a sub-specialty of social work practice.

Judson Vasconcelos
DVM, MS, PhDDr. Judson Vasconcelos leads the Merck Animal Health Veterinary & Consumer Affairs team engaging in projects to inform and earn consumer trust in modern food production as well as those that support the veterinary profession. Merck supports the veterinary profession through the Veterinary Wellbeing study as well as student and scholarship initiatives that endeavor to improve the profession.

Colin Siren
BA Senior Vice President KynetecColin Siren’s extensive experience in market research has focused on the animal health sector for 16 years. Based in Guelph, Ontario, he utilizes a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to assist clients with needs relating to marketing, advertising and consumer behavior.

Linda Lord
DVM, MS, PhD In memoriamPrior to joining Merck Animal Health as the Academic and Allied Industry Liaison Lead, the late Dr. Linda Lord served as Associate Dean for Professional Programs and faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Lord was named Veterinarian of the Year in 2016 by the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association and also was chair of the Veterinary Wellness Advancement Group for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.
Learn about the inaugural 2017 Wellbeing Study
A landmark study in the United States to explore mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary profession.

Want to learn more about your personality?
Download the Big Five Personality Assessment used in the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study.
Additional Resources

AAHA Healthy Workplace Culture Initiative
The American Animal Hospital Association provides resources to create a healthy workplace culture.

AVMA Wellbeing and Peer Assistance
The American Veterinary Medical Association provides resources to address the emotional and mental health needs of veterinarians.

Big Personality Traits
Increase your knowledge about the five major factors of personality by reading the article on Verywell Mind.

Stress Management Techniques and Resources
Learn how to manage stress more effectively from this article in DVM360 magazine.

Study Slide Presentation
Take a closer look at the results of our inaugural 2017 study to learn more about our methodology, key findings and recommendations.

UTK Veterinary Social Week
A program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, that focuses on the intersection of veterinary medicine and social work practice.
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