Dr. Cari Wise

Hi! I'm Cari Wise...

I created JOYFUL DVM  in 2017 to encourage, empower and inspire veterinary professionals to take control of their own lives and careers. To date I've helped over 20,000 veterinary professionals in areas of work-life balance, anxiety management, and personal well-being.

As a fellow veterinarian, I’ve been where you are and I know your current situation is the result of all the things you didn’t learn, and didn’t consider along the way. (BTW: not your fault.) My heart breaks every time we lose a colleague to suicide, and every time I hear of a colleague’s despair over our profession. Decreasing our suicide rate isn't enough... I want us OFF that terrible top 10 list.  

My approach is untraditional... because if traditional methods were going to work, they would have a long time ago. I believe there are no victims in VetMed... just a lot of dedicated, compassion-driven humans who struggle sometimes to understand their own experiences, allow their emotions (ick!) and put their own needs first.

I also believe traditional veterinary practice isn't for everyone. The veterinary medicine career field catalyzes our individual personal growth (ready, or not). For some of us, we'll grow more into our roles in veterinary medicine. For others, traditional veterinary medicine will be a jumping off point for what we do next (inside or outside the profession). 

One path is not better than the other... they are different and uniquely tailored to the essence of who we are, and what our purpose is in this lifetime. Many of us have never even considered who we are independent of this career because we've been focused on it for so long. I believe this is at the root of some of our greatest struggles, and as we rediscover our personal truth, our personal path becomes more clear.

You're doing the best you can. Together, we can make it easier (and way more fun!).

Personal sacrifice is not the solution... and has never been necessary.  

The programs and services I've created at Joyful DVM are designed to encourage you and empower you as the sole decision-maker in your life, and career.