Meet Matthew Haley, DVM

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Matthew Haley, DVM a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Haley, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout
Unfortunately, burnout is more common than many people realize. I truly believe certain individuals are burnt out long before they are aware of it. Oftentimes, once it is apparent, it is extremely hard to overcome. I believe this is a common problem in many professions, some more than others. The veterinary profession seems to be fairly high on that list . I have unfortunately witnessed this amongst a few colleagues throughout my career. In a couple cases, those colleagues left the profession altogether.

After practicing as an associate veterinarian for roughly 8 years, I chose to open my own practice. I knew prior to making that decision, things would likely get harder and more stressful. Not to say that working as an associate veterinarian doesn’t have its share of challenges. Opening my own practice was an entirely new hurdle. The pressure is ultimately on my shoulders. I have to see to it that things are done in a timely and efficient manner. I strive to provide exceptional care to all of my patients; they deserve that and most clients expect it as well. This provides a great deal of stress at times.

Haley Veterinary Practice has grown rapidly in a very short time frame. We have been very blessed. We have put together a great team who work very well together. I have very high expectations and my staff has grown to realize that. Structure is key. Working together as a team, holding each other accountable, and doing right by the patient and client are my ultimate goals.

So, how have I avoided burnout thus far? Time management. The veterinary profession is exhausting at times. On average, I see 30 to 50 pets a day. This includes scheduled, walk-in, and drop-off appointments as well as surgeries. All ranging from routine wellness visits to sick and injured exotic and/or domestic pets. Sounds stressful? I would be lying if I said it isn’t at times. I pride myself in not becoming overwhelmed for the most part. Every profession comes with its frustrations. It is common for me to experience those moments, I can admit that. I have learned throughout my career how to prioritize and multitask. I rely heavily on my wonderful staff to keep me pointed in the right direction. They have learned how I practice and are often two steps ahead of me. This is what it takes to continue to operate efficiently. This also limits some of the frustrations I mentioned above. All this to say, most days are extremely busy. I know this from the moment I wake up. I have grown to realize, I am wired to work in a relatively fast paced environment.

I have always been able to somewhat balance my professional and personal life fairly well. This became even more important once opening my own practice. I do my best to separate the two. Obviously, being the only doctor limits my time away. Hobbies outside of work are key. Tending to my own pets such as dogs, cats, goats, reptiles, parrots, guinea fowl etc. keep me preoccupied. Spending time with family and friends has always been very important to me. My girlfriend, Leaha, and I spend as much time at the lake and pool as we can during the summer. I recently became scuba certified and plan to go on frequent diving trips. I was also fortunate enough to go on a veterinary mission trip to Honduras in June. This was a wonderful experience. Providing veterinary care to the less fortunate was very humbling. Experiencing the Honduran culture was incredible. If time permits, I plan to continue taking similar trips in the future

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Haley Veterinary Practice is a mixed animal practice located in Lebanon, TN. We see a variety of animals ranging from dogs, cats, small livestock, pocket pets, birds, reptiles, and primates. We are a fairly unique clinic. Everyday is somewhat different. In my opinion, this breaks up the monotony of traditional small animal practice. As I mentioned before, we see a large number of dogs and cats, but exotics have become our niche. Exotic pet owners are very limited when it comes to veterinary care. Clients travel from all over the US to Haley Veterinary Practice. We provide preventative care for a variety of species. We strive to provide support to clients in need of basic husbandry advice, as well general surgical and medical services that may be needed for their pets. Since opening in December 2020, we have attended as many local exotic pet expos as possible. This has proven to be a great way to advertise not only our practice, but also the need for exotic animal veterinary care. The act of impulse buying at these expos is sadly very common. People are caught up in the moment. They do not realize what it takes to properly keep certain species. They do not realize how important it is to have a plan in place if/when something goes wrong. We make a point to be present at these shows for this exact reason. My staff and I do our best to answer any questions potential exotic pet owners may have. This is critical to being a responsible exotic pet owner.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

There are several components of my past that lead me to where I am today. The first quality has to be determination. From an early age, I was determined to become a veterinarian. For the most part, I stuck to that goal along the way. I had moments of doubt, but I believe that is fairly normal. Once I was old enough to work, I began networking with people that had my best interest. Those that I knew could help me achieve my life-long dream. The act of being proactive is a close second. If the opportunity was there, I took it. For example, I became affiliated with as many clinics, zoos, and organizations as possible over the years. I knew this was critical to my future success. This provided me with endless opportunities and resources that I continue to use on a regular basis. A third quality I take pride in is my work ethic. This is very important to me. I have always been willing to work. I pride myself in doing things right the first time. It has been a long hard road. I am fortunate to be where I am today. I am so appreciative of those that have helped me along the way and continue to do so.

For those of you who have an end goal in mind, stick with it. Seek out opportunities that will only benefit that goal. Whatever career path you choose, surround yourself with people willing to help. Those that want to see you succeed. I would encourage you not to take the easiest route possible. Challenge yourself. Be strong and take risks. Stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t always easy. In the end, it will only make you stronger. The harder you work to accomplish your dreams, the more appreciative you will be in the end. That’s a fact.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The most significant challenge I am currently facing is finding an associate veterinarian. I would have never imagined there would be such a “shortage” of veterinarians. They are out there, but unfortunately they are choosing a non-traditional path into everyday practice. As I have mentioned several times, we are a unique practice. The majority of veterinarians do not treat exotic pets. Most veterinary schools provide very little training with exotics. Unfortunately, most of us with interest in this field are self taught. We must be proactive in seeking out resources and colleagues to help gain the knowledge necessary to be a successful exotic animal clinician. In a way, this makes hiring another veterinarian difficult. I am actively searching for an associate to join us at Haley Veterinary Practice. I would love to find someone with a desire to practice traditional medicine with dogs and cats, but also expresses an interest in exotics. Fortunately, soon to be Dr. Nicholas Duke will join us in 2025. He will be a wonderful addition to the practice.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Summer Duke summerlparadis@gmail.com Social Media Manager & Lead Client Care Representative for Haley Veterinary Practice

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