In the veterinary world, skill alone is not enough.
You may be the most competent surgeon, the sharpest diagnostician, or the most compassionate practitioner in the room—but if your authority is constantly questioned, overridden, or ignored, your abilities are underutilized. Worse, they’re rendered almost meaningless.
Veterinary medicine is not just a science—it’s a profession rooted in judgment, autonomy, and responsibility. Yet in many clinics and hospitals, talented vets are stripped of decision-making power by overbearing managers, misguided protocols, or controlling practice owners. When that happens, their years of training and expertise are reduced to mechanical execution rather than empowered healing.
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A Locked Pair of Scissors Can’t Cut.
The image below says it all: a padlocked pair of scissors. It’s sharp, precise, and designed to do a specific task—but with its handles bound, it’s useless. Similarly, a veterinarian bound by micromanagement or a lack of trust becomes a shadow of their true potential.
Authority and trust unlock true value.
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The real impact of a vet is felt when they’re allowed to lead treatment plans, consult with clients freely, and make clinical decisions without fear. This doesn’t mean abandoning collaboration or oversight—it means respecting the license, judgment, and oath of the veterinarian.
As leaders in animal healthcare, we must ensure that our systems empower rather than restrict. That our new graduates feel heard, our associates feel trusted, and our staff understands the “why” behind every choice a vet makes.
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To every vet reading this:
If your workplace clips your wings, remember this: your skills are not the problem.
But maybe your environment is.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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