Striving for excellence, meticulous attention to detail and deep sense of responsibility are instrumental for the success of a veterinary surgeon. These character traits are encouraged and rewarded throughout our training and continue through our career. Patients and owners greatly benefit from this but what is the toll on the individual? Where is the line between striving for excellence and perfectionism? Perfectionism in its unhealthy form can lead to hypercritical self-talk, feeling of inadequacy and guilt for not being able to keep up with expectations. Unhealthy perfectionism has been linked to depression, burn out and other mental health problems. How do we harness the benefits of perfectionism without the negative components? How can we change the way we train, mentor and role-model to encourage striving for excellence while still practicing empathy and compassion? It is time to start a conversation about perfectionism in veterinary surgery.
