In Part 2 of this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, Dr. Elizabeth Brann continues the conversation with Dr. Stephenie Severson as they dive deeper into the realities of veterinary school, clinics, and transitioning into life after graduation.

They discuss the importance of finding mentors, building strong study groups, and making time for life outside of school through trips, trivia nights, and community activities. Dr. Severson shares what fourth year is like, the emotional highs and lows of clinics, and how confidence in veterinary medicine often comes through repetition and experience.

Dr. Severson reflects on graduating, moving back home to end long distance with her fiancé, maintaining friendships across the country, and learning to prioritize mental health, hobbies, faith, and church community throughout the journey.

Whether you’re a pre-vet student, current veterinary student, or new graduate veterinarian, this episode is full of honest conversations, relatable moments, and reminders that you’re not alone in the process.

Follow along with Behind the Stethoscope:
Instagram/TikTok: @dr.elizabeth.brann
Website: www.behindthestethoscope.com

In Part 1 of this two-part interview on Behind the Stethoscope, Dr. Elizabeth Brann sits down with her former roommate and close friend, Dr. Stephenie Severson, as she prepares to graduate from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and begin her career in mixed-animal practice in North Dakota.

Stephanie shares her journey from growing up in a small town in North Dakota to attending the University of Minnesota Crookston to getting into vet school at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and so much more

In this episode, we discuss:

• Stephenie’s path to veterinary school
• Not getting accepted on her first attempt
• How a gap year changed everything
• Why grades are not everything
• The importance of extracurriculars, volunteering, and unique experiences
• The challenges of first-year veterinary school
• How mentors, roommates, and friendships make all the difference

This conversation is full of honest advice and encouragement for pre-veterinary students, current vet students, and anyone pursuing a goal that doesn’t happen on the first try.

🎧 Listen to Behind the Stethoscope for candid conversations about veterinary medicine, life as a new graduate veterinarian, and the realities behind the profession.

Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday.

Connect with Behind the Stethoscope

🌐 www.behindthestethoscope.com
📸 Instagram @dr.elizabeth.brann
🎵 TikTok @dr.elizabeth.brann

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, Dr. Elizabeth Brann dives into the importance of mentorship—both in veterinary medicine and beyond.

From her experience as a kennel tech and ER technician to now practicing as an emergency veterinarian, she shares how mentorship has shaped her confidence, clinical skills, and career growth.

This episode covers:

• What mentorship really looks like
• How to find the right mentor
• How to be a great mentee
• Why mentorship is essential in high-stress careers
• And how YOU are already a mentor to someone else

Whether you're a pre-vet student, vet student, new grad, or navigating your own career path—this episode is for you.

🎧 New episodes every Wednesday
📱 Follow along: @dr.elizabeth.brann

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, Dr. Elizabeth Brann dives into the reality of grit and resilience in veterinary medicine—and why this career requires more than just passion.

From the long road of getting into vet school, to the challenges of surviving vet school, to the emotional weight of being a new graduate, this episode explores what it truly takes to not only make it into this field… but stay in it.

Inspired by insights from Angela Lee Duckworth and her talk Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance TED Talk, this episode breaks down why grit—passion and perseverance for long-term goals—matters more than talent.

Whether you're:

• A pre-vet on the long road to acceptance
• A vet student trying to push through
• A new grad navigating real-life responsibility
• Or someone outside of vet med facing your own challenges

This episode is your reminder that success isn’t about who starts the strongest—it’s about who keeps going.

-New episodes every Wednesday
-Follow along: @dr.elizabeth.brann

If you’ve been feeling behind, stuck, or questioning if you’re on the right path—this episode is for you.

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, we’re talking about the pressure to “get it right” and the reality that there is no perfect timeline—especially in veterinary medicine and life.

Whether you’re:

-A pre-vet student trying to choose the “right” vet school

-A soon-to-be graduate starting your first job

-A vet student navigating the stress of the NAVLE (or retaking it)

-Or just someone in a season of life that doesn’t look how you planned

This is your reminder that you are not behind—and you are exactly where you need to be.

We talk about:
-Making big decisions without having all the answers
-Why your first job doesn’t have to be your forever job
-Failing the NAVLE and finding your way forward
-Letting go of comparison and timelines
-Trusting that even the hard seasons have a purpose

This episode is part reality check, part encouragement, and part big sister advice for anyone who needs it.

If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might need this reminder too.

Follow along:
Instagram & TikTok: @dr.elizabeth.brann
YouTube: @behindthestethoscope-dvm

Veterinary medicine can be intense… but sometimes it’s just straight up ridiculous.

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, I’m sharing the lighter side of vet med—from the funniest things pet owners say to ER cases that sound completely made up (but aren’t). If you work in a vet clinic, you already know… you truly can’t make this stuff up.

This episode is all about the moments that make us laugh, keep us going, and remind us why we love this field—even on the craziest days.

🎧 Whether you're in vet med or just love animals, this one is for you.

✨ Topics in this episode:

• Funny ER vet stories
• Things pet owners say (that we’ll never forget)
• Chaos in the clinic that feels like April Fools
• Why humor matters in veterinary medicine

💬 If you have a funny vet med story, drop it in the comments—I want to hear it!

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, Dr. Elizabeth Brann dives into what gratitude looks like-- especially on the hard days.

Because gratitude isn’t always easy. It’s not something you automatically feel after a long overnight shift, a tough case, or a moment of self-doubt. It’s something you choose.

From emergency room realities to personal growth and faith, this episode explores:

--How to practice gratitude in high-stress environments

--Why gratitude isn’t the same as toxic positivity

--Small, realistic ways to shift your mindset after hard shifts

--What vet med teaches you about perspective, life, and purpose

Whether you’re in veterinary medicine, healthcare, or just navigating a demanding season of life, this episode is a reminder that gratitude doesn’t erase the hard—it helps you carry it.

🎧 New episodes every week
📍 Follow along: @dr.elizabethbrann
💻 www.behindthestethoscope.com

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, Dr. Elizabeth Brann shares advice every pet owner should know about veterinary emergencies.

As an emergency veterinarian, Dr. Brann sees pets and their owners during some of the most stressful and unexpected moments. In this episode, she breaks down what actually happens inside veterinary ERs and shares practical advice to help pet owners feel more prepared if their pet ever needs emergency care.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• When to seek emergency care for your pet
• Understanding how triage works in veterinary ERs
• Common emergencies veterinarians see every day
• Signs that something may be wrong with your pet
• Why early intervention can make a big difference
• Preparing financially for unexpected veterinary care

Whether you're a pet owner, veterinary student, or someone curious about emergency veterinary medicine, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at what ER veterinarians experience every day.

Behind the Stethoscope is a podcast where Dr. Elizabeth Brann shares stories, lessons, and insights from life as an emergency veterinarian.

Follow along:

Website: www.behindthestethoscope.com

Instagram & TikTok: @dr.elizabethbrann
YouTube: @behindthestethoscope-dvm

Betting on yourself sounds bold and confident… but in reality it often feels uncomfortable, uncertain, and a little scary.

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, Dr. Elizabeth Brann talks about what it really means to bet on yourself — whether that’s in your career, relationships, personal growth, or starting something new.

As a new ER veterinarian, there have been many moments where trusting myself felt risky. But growth rarely happens inside comfort zones. Sometimes betting on yourself means walking into something you’re not 100% ready for and trusting that you will figure it out along the way.

This episode is meant for anyone who feels stuck, unsure, or pulled toward something bigger.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to start.

Topics we talk about:
• What “betting on yourself” actually looks like
• Choosing growth over comfort
• Advice for people both inside and outside veterinary medicine
• Learning to trust yourself even when things feel uncertain

If you’ve ever felt stuck between staying comfortable and chasing something bigger, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Subscribe for weekly conversations about veterinary medicine, life behind the profession, and personal growth.

Follow along:
Instagram & TikTok: @dr.elizabeth.brann
Podcast: Behind the Stethoscope

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, I’m sharing something deeply personal — what it looks like to practice as an ER veterinarian while living out my Catholic faith.

The week after Ash Wednesday always brings reflection. As emergency doctors, we live in a world of urgency, suffering, uncertainty, and high-stakes decisions. But how does faith fit into that?

Today I talk about:

• How my faith grounds me in high-pressure ER moments
• Praying before tough cases
• Navigating loss and grief with perspective
• What Lent means to me as a veterinarian
• How I separate medicine from ministry — and where they overlap

This episode isn’t about having perfect answers. It’s about being honest. About trying to live with integrity. About remembering that we are called to care for both bodies and souls — even when the shift feels overwhelming.

Whether you share my faith or not, I hope this episode encourages you to reflect on your “why” and what sustains you when medicine feels heavy.

You are exactly where you’re meant to be. 

– Dr. Elizabeth Brann

In Part 2 of this conversation, Dr. Elizabeth Brann and Dr. Hannah Hoose dive into the decision to step away from emergency medicine — and the emotions that came with it.

Dr. Hoose opens up about recognizing when ER was no longer sustainable for her mental health, the guilt and fear surrounding the decision to leave, and how she redefined success after walking away from a role she once dreamed of.

This episode is a powerful reminder that changing paths in veterinary medicine does not mean failure. It’s about listening to yourself, protecting your well-being, and understanding that vet med careers are allowed to evolve.

✨ This is Part 2 of a two-part interview, centered on mental health, identity, and choosing yourself.

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, host Dr. Elizabeth Brann sits down with fellow veterinarian Dr. Hannah Hoose for an honest conversation about her journey into emergency medicine.

Dr. Hoose shares her path from growing up on California’s Central Coast to becoming an ER veterinarian, including the realities of vet school, her decision not to pursue an internship or residency, and her experience training through the NERD program. Together, they discuss what initially drew her to emergency medicine and what it’s really like once the adrenaline fades and the emotional weight sets in.

This episode explores the physical and emotional demands of ER practice, the pressure to be resilient, and the importance of mental health and self-awareness in veterinary medicine.

-This is Part 1 of a two-part interview focusing on the journey into ER and the emotional realities behind the role.

Vet school taught me the medicine.
But clinics taught me everything else.

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, I’m sharing the lessons vet school didn’t fully prepare me for — the ones you only learn once you’re in the clinic, especially as a new grad.

From learning that you don’t have to know everything, to realizing how much communication really matters, to accepting that you can’t save every patient — this episode is an honest look at what real-life practice teaches you.

We also talk about:

--Why medical records are truly the worst
--How learning to laugh at yourself can save your sanity
--Why you don’t have to know everything to be a good doctor
--How communication matters just as much as medicine

If you’re a vet student, new graduate, or anyone navigating the realities of veterinary medicine — this episode is for you.

--New episodes every Wednesday at 9am
--Follow along on Instagram & TikTok: @dr.elizabeth.brann
--www.behindthestethoscope.com

In this episode of Behind the Stethoscope, I’m talking openly about mistakes—the ones I’ve made as a new grad ER veterinarian, the lessons they taught me, and why mistakes don’t mean you’re failing.

Vet medicine is high-pressure, emotional, and fast-paced—especially in the ER. As a new grad, mistakes can feel heavy, isolating, and overwhelming. But the truth is: mistakes are part of learning, growth, and becoming the doctor you’re meant to be.

In this episode, we talk about:

-Why mistakes happen (especially as a new grad)

-The emotional weight of making them

-How mistakes can actually make you a better veterinarian

-Giving yourself grace while you’re still learning

If you’re a vet student, new grad, or anyone in medicine who feels like they should “know everything by now”—this episode is for you. You are not alone, and you are exactly where you need to be.

Listen, reflect, and remind yourself that growth doesn’t come without mistakes.