Gratitude, courage, empathy, curiosity, and integrity.

Those are the five core values that Dr. Virginia Corrigan aspires to live by every day. 

As a mother of three under five, you might think that she has her hands full, and yet Corrigan still finds time to make education fun for aspiring veterinarians.

Recently, she has joined Appalachian State University to direct a new four-year online B.S. program in Veterinary Technology, further delving into a leadership and teaching role within the veterinarian community. 

How does she do it all?

By believing in empowering veterinary professionals to achieve their full potential and finding innovative solutions to promote positive change!

Experiencing a “Lollipop Moment” that changed everything

From the moment children enter school as kindergarten students, they are asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

It’s a big question. 

Oftentimes, learning exists in the shadow of career ambitions. We are so busy being worried about what job we will land or how to secure admission into a competitive program that we forget to find pleasure in the joy of learning new things…just for the sake of learning itself! 

Dr. Virginia Corrigan knows all about this.

“I really enjoy reading and learning new things to constantly challenge myself and my own assumptions about the world,” Corrigan explains. “I like to think of problems as challenges.”

But it wasn’t until [year] that Dr. Virginia Corrigan experienced a so-called lollipop moment that would quite literally end up altering the course of not only her veterinary pursuits, but her entire life as well. Feeling stressed, burnt out, and in a position of poor work-life balance, she decided to reach out to one of her past mentors for guidance and advice. In the parking lot of a grocery store – with her youngest child napping in the car seat – Corrigan was asked if she would be interested in a position to start a new veterinary technology program.

“My first reaction was you must be crazy. I am not qualified to do that!" Corrigan recalls with a laugh. 

Yet the door had been opened. 

This event is what she fondly refers to as her “lollipop moment,” when a single person (in this case, a veterinarian mentor and hero) had an amazing impact on the course of who she would become as a veterinary professional.

From an educational standpoint, Corrigan dreams of having the same impact on her own students today. 

“I want to integrate positive psychology and wellbeing into the fabric and framework of veterinary education, as I believe that will make a lasting impact towards the challenges this profession is facing,” she says. “Empowering others to optimize their wellbeing so they can thrive in work and in life is a passion of mine.” 

According to Dr. Corrigan, making education and work life fun starts when you undergo this magical transformation for yourself. 

So, the question is: What’s your “lollipop moment” going to be? 

Stressful day? Try positive psychology and meditation 

Now, despite figuring out the perfect career path, we all know…

Life as a vet can be demanding. 

There are endless appointments, examinations to give, medications to administer, surgeries to perform, not to mention the occasional emergency phone call!

No wonder the American Animal Hospital Association reported that 83% of veterinarians experience psychological stress and anxiety on a regular basis. New graduates especially are often thrown into environments that are not necessarily conducive for them to thrive. Heavy workloads, the pressure to say “yes” all the time and forsake their own needs for those of the client and the practice can be a fast track to poor mental health.

And if we cannot care for ourselves, how can we care for our animal patients?

Luckily, Dr. Corrigan has some tips to share. To manage stress, she enjoys a walk in the fresh air with her dog. Or practicing daily gratitude affirmations. Lastly, she recommends micro-meditation.  

“Even 1 minute of forcing myself to sit still, take deep breaths, and focus on the moment has a big impact on how I manage stress and how I can unpack and let go at the end of the day,” she explains. 

Certainly, the world of veterinary medicine is a busy one. 

Still, we are lucky to have amazing veterinarian role models and teachers (such as Dr. Virginia Corrigan) who so big-heartedly share their strengths and knowledge. 

Corrigan leaves us with these final words, “I am an optimist at heart. I know we as a profession can do it – one step at a time!”