Boundaries aren’t just about saying no — they’re about protecting our wellbeing, our teams, and the human-animal bond.
In this special Tails from the Lab episode for World Mental Health Day, Dr. Brad Ryan sits down with Dr. Jen Brandt, AVMA Director of Member Wellbeing Initiatives, to explore the role of boundary setting in veterinary medicine.*
Dr. Brandt shares:
- Why boundaries are often misunderstood in practice
- How healthy boundaries improve psychological safety, trust, and retention
- Practical strategies for defining and communicating boundaries with colleagues and clients
- The ripple effect boundaries have on team culture and mental health
“When we do then have that in place, we see so many benefits, including improved retention, increased psychological safety, improved trust, improved communication, improved decision-making — because now we really are all operating on the same page.”
– Dr. Jen Brandt
Whether you’re a veterinary professional seeking tools for personal resilience or a leader striving to support your team, this episode offers insights to help you create healthier, more sustainable practices.
*Our mental health podcast series is meant for educational and informational purposes only. It is not meant to provide medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you need mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional or crisis line.
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Disclaimer: Tails from the Lab is a production of Antech Diagnostics. The intent of this podcast is to provide education and guidance with the understanding that any diagnostic testing and treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the attending veterinarian within the established veterinarian-patient-client relationship.
Meet Your Hosts
Brad Ryan, MSC, DVM, MPH
Dr. Brad Ryan graduated cum laude with his Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Miami University in 2003, his Master of Science in mammalian biology with distinction from the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 2008, his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016, and his Master of Public Health in veterinary public health from The Ohio State University College of Public Health in 2017. Dr. Ryan has treated small animals, exotic pets, and wildlife in veterinary hospitals across the United States and served as Program Manager for the Smithsonian Global Health Program at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. His professional interests include veterinary public health and abating the spillover of zoonotic diseases from animals to people. Speaking/presenting topics: zoonotic diseases, vector-borne diseases, parasitology, and promoting “One Health”.
Dr. Ryan resides in Ohio with his giant schnauzer, Evan Williams. He is an avid outdoorsman, has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine and successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro. He enjoys wildlife photography and international travel. In May 2023, Dr. Ryan completed his journey to all 63 U.S. National Parks with his 93-year-old Grandma Joy, the oldest person to accomplish this feat. He is an accomplished keynote speaker advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the great outdoors, mental health, and the power of intergenerational connection.
Holly Brown, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Holly is a veterinarian, board-certified clinical pathologist, and figurative hand-holder. She practiced small animal medicine before, during, and after her specialty training — grateful to have combined her love of clinical practice and the laboratory diagnostics that support it. Holly remains in the trenches at a general, referral, and emergency practice. She loves making an impact at the interface of laboratory data and patient care. Holly recently transitioned into her new role as Chief Veterinary Educator for Antech Diagnostics — exercising her passion for delivering education about maximizing diagnostic testing. When away from the office, she enjoys traveling with her family, snuggling her sugar-sweet bird dog and tripod cat, and dreaming of home renovations that rarely come to fruition.
![“Psychological safety, celebrating team strengths, flexibility and autonomy—these are all key parts of [creating] cultures of wellbeing.” – Dr. Jen Brandt, @AVMAvets Director of Member Wellbeing Initiatives. In our latest Tails from the Lab podcast episode, Dr. Brad Ryan sits down with Dr. Brandt to talk about what is—and isn’t—conducive to building a culture of wellbeing, the benefits, and what we can do as both individuals and hospitals.
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