More Than a “DOGTOR” with Dr. Christien Bolden: Authenticity, Failure, and Finding Your Path in Veterinary Medicine

2026-04-06

Download

What happens when the path to becoming a veterinarian doesn’t go the way you planned? In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Christien Bolden, relief veterinarian and host of the More Than a Dogtor podcast. Dr. Bolden shares his deeply personal journey through veterinary medicine—from not passing the NAVLE twice, to navigating burnout, to ultimately redefining what success and fulfillment look like in his career and life. Together, they explore the pressures young veterinar...

What happens when the path to becoming a veterinarian doesn’t go the way you planned?

In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Christien Bolden, relief veterinarian and host of the More Than a Dogtor podcast. Dr. Bolden shares his deeply personal journey through veterinary medicine—from not passing the NAVLE twice, to navigating burnout, to ultimately redefining what success and fulfillment look like in his career and life.

Together, they explore the pressures young veterinarians face, the identity crisis that can happen when your career becomes your entire sense of self, and the importance of creating space to be more than just your professional title.

Dr. Bolden also shares how mentorship, reflection, and prioritizing his family helped him rebuild his relationship with veterinary medicine and ultimately led him to create a platform supporting veterinary students and early-career veterinarians.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that failure doesn’t define your future—and that sometimes the hardest moments in your career can become the foundation for helping others.

In This Episode

What “More Than a Dogtor” really means
The identity crisis many veterinarians experience early in their careers
Dr. Bolden’s experience not passing the NAVLE twice and how it shaped his path
The role mentorship played in rebuilding his confidence
Why authenticity matters in veterinary medicine
The biggest struggles new veterinarians face in their first few years
Learning to set boundaries and prioritize life outside of work
Burnout, sabbaticals, and reclaiming balance in your career
Relief work as a path to rediscovering purpose
Why communication skills are one of the biggest gaps in veterinary education
The inspiration behind Dr. Bolden’s podcast and mentorship initiatives
How he is helping students prepare for the NAVLE through coaching and mentorship

Key Takeaway

Your title as a veterinarian is only one part of who you are.

Creating a sustainable career in veterinary medicine requires space for authenticity, mentorship, and personal growth—because the healthiest professionals are the ones who remember they are people first.

About the Guest

Dr. Christien Bolden is a veterinarian, mentor, and host of the More Than a Dogtor podcast. A graduate of Tuskegee University, Dr. Bolden is passionate about supporting veterinary students and early-career veterinarians as they navigate the challenges of entering the profession.

Through his podcast, mentorship work, and NAVLE preparation initiatives, he aims to create spaces where veterinary professionals can share their stories, support one another, and remember they are more than just their titles.

Connect with Dr. Christien Bolden