Dr. Sonja Olson grew up with her human and animal family members mostly in Maryland, USA. She graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine with a focus on exotic animal and conservation medicine. Her professional path led to over 25 years of practicing clinical small animal and exotic emergency medicine in both private and corporate practice environments in Virginia and in Florida. The myriad of opportunities to teach, mentor, and lead during these years were deeply fulfilling and inspirational. Through these personal and professional experiences, there developed an increased awareness of the far-reaching need for veterinary well-being awareness and healthy coping strategies. This combination fostered Sonja’s passion to better understand and increasingly support, the holistic health of the veterinary caregivers.

Dr. Olson’s full-time role currently is Veterinary Wellness Educator for the BluePearl Health & Well-being Team, working alongside licensed mental health professionals. The team has had the opportunity to create initiatives and resources as well as facilitate discussions on well-being concepts that foster a more compassionate, healthy caregiving community and culture. Both in her BluePearl role and outside of work, she seeks to support veterinary associates more globally through podcasts, writing, speaking virtually and in person to veterinary colleagues, and creatively collaborating with other like-minded souls.

Dr. Olson founded her wellness platform, Heartstorming Wellness, in 2022 to support these well-being endeavors. Her recently published book, Creating Well-being and Building Resilience in the Veterinary Profession: A Call to Life, was released in March 2022 through Routledge Publishers.