#075: Bridging the Generation Gap in Vet Med With Dr. Craig Clifford

Vet Med Wellness + Leadership

We are operating in a time where diverse generations like the Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials, and even some Gen Z, are working together in one clinic. These individuals come with varying backgrounds, lifestyles, and lived experiences that all impact the way they work. Dr. Craig Clifford joins me with his perspective as an overworking, burnout-prone Gen X.

Dr. Clifford explains the mindset shift that has had to occur as younger generations bring in the value of self-care and quality of life over productivity and higher income. Older generations may be quick to point the finger and claim these younger generations “aren’t hard workers,” but with veterinary suicides at such a high rate, it poses the thought that maybe we all should be focusing on work-life balance a little more.

So how can you bridge that gap in your practice?

1. Create connections outside the clinic—get to know your peers and see them for more than just their position at work.
2. Pair up—when it comes to CEs, get those diverse generations together to share their different views and work together.
3. Workshops—sometimes it can be fun to get talking about the elephant in the room; be intentional about talking about the unique benefits your generation brings to the clinic.

Dr. Clifford shares some of these tips and more insight on why every generation is important in the clinic and how even more powerful it is when we work together.

What’s Inside:

• How can such diverse generations work together?
• The pros and cons of each generation?
• Tips to use in your practice to create cohesion in the age gap.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Craig Clifford on Facebook
Craig Clifford on LinkedIn
Craig Clifford (@oncvet22) on Instagram
The Boy Who Wanted To be A Veterinarian: Conor's Journey
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn