Rebuilding self-belief in veterinary professionals

Lack of self-confidence can have profound effects: impaired decision-making, lower job satisfaction, and diminished mental health. For veterinary professionals, "Where has all the confidence gone?" is not just a question, but a call to action. In this session, you’ll learn actionable strategies for rebuilding your confidence and restoring self-belief. Explore the roots of diminished confidence among veterinary professionals—including chronic stress, fear of failure, and ever-increasing expectations. Come away with the tools to reclaim your confidence, enhance your professional efficacy, improve your wellbeing, and continue to thrive in a fulfilling career.

This session originally was presented at AVMA’s 2025 Veterinary Leadership Conference.

Learning objectives:

• Identify key factors contributing to a lack of confidence.
• Explore practical tools and techniques to restore self-belief, such as positive psychology interventions, peer support, and resilience training.
• Learn skills for managing stress and preventing burnout.

Dr. Ryan Gibson (@thebraindogtor) is a veterinary educator and neurologist based out of Auburn University. His teaching focuses on foundational neuroscience, applications in clinical neurology, and microanatomy. He owns The Brain Dogtor Consultations and Education, offering online consultations for veterinarians and serving a population of pets that traditionally may not have access to specialist-level care. Dr. Gibson collaborates with researchers on projects exploring new treatments for neuropathic pain, studying the aging of neurological systems across species, and seizure therapies. He also founded Pet Parent Educators, providing client education about chronic conditions, such as seizures and diabetes, through live, virtual and on-demand options.