Who cares for the caregivers? CSU Veterinary Hospital makes mental health a priority
Veterinary house officers at CSU face intense emotional and professional challenges as they care for complex cases while pursuing advanced training. The Specialist in Training Gratitude Fund supports their mental health and well-being through on-site counseling, emergency financial aid, and wellness events.
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Veterinary residents, interns, and fellows – known as house officers work on the front lines of the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. They carry the weight of medical expertise, emotional support, and ethical decision-making, while furthering their studies and caring for complex cases.
To support this important population during one of the most challenging phases of their careers, the hospital created the Specialist in Training Gratitude Fund. Powered by donations, it supports free, on-site counseling, emergency financial assistance for unexpected life events, and wellness and community-building events like yoga, pottery, and mental health seminars.
Prioritizing mental health, building resilience
“Having a counselor on -site is vital because it provides immediate, confidential support in a high-stress environment. Veterinary professionals face emotionally intense situations daily – from difficult cases and euthanasia to client interactions and long hours,” said Maria Gore, director of operations and program services for the Argus wellness and support service, the hospital’s counseling center. “An on-site counselor offers a safe space to process these experiences, build resilience, and prevent burnout before it escalates. Their presence normalizes mental health care and makes it accessible in the moment it’s needed most.”
Stephanie Dalager, M.S., LMFT, serves as the specialist in training counselor and wellness coordinator, whose role is supported by the fund. “I’m so grateful that the hospital has prioritized mental health support for house officers,” she said. “They are veterinarians who are working towards a specialization and many are simultaneously getting a Ph.D. or master’s degree. Several factors that can impact mental health come together including the demands of internship and residency programs and challenges associated with the veterinary profession, including seeing the suffering of animals and the humans who love them and navigating challenging ethical dilemmas.”
Because they are pulled in so many directions, house officers need mental health support on site, and that’s where Dalager’s position is essential. She serves as primary therapist for some, and others can drop in after a hard day to process what they are going through.
“Therapy in the Fort Collins community can be expensive and it’s hard to find time to fit it into a house officer’s demanding schedule. Having therapy services offered free of charge and located in the hospital reduces many of the possible barriers to accessing care and that has an impact,” Dalager said.
For the CSU house officers, the counselor has been a transformative resource, says Gore: “These early-career professionals often juggle steep learning curves, demanding schedules, and emotionally charged cases. Having someone available who understands the unique pressures of veterinary medicine has led to better coping strategies, stronger peer relationships, and a more supportive culture. Many report feeling more seen, heard, and equipped to navigate the challenges of their training.”
Dalager’s role is more than a job – it’s a lifeline. Her presence helps reduce barriers to mental health care and fosters a culture of compassion and resilience.
She organizes wellness events for the house officers to bond and have some fun outside the hospital. “We do community-building events so that they can build a natural support system. So many fun things like pottery class, snow tubing, a pickleball tournament. We did goat yoga this summer. That was very fun and cute.”
Ready for emergencies
Another impactful piece of the Specialist in Training Gratitude Fund is access to emergency cash. “The fund helps alleviate the financial stress that can come when unexpected life emergencies such as travel to visit an ill family member, surprise medical bills, or devastating loss of property occur,” Dalager said. “Financial stress certainly has an impact on mental health, particularly for new-in-career professionals, many of whom are navigating hefty student loans. This gratitude fund is one additional way CSU is taking a holistic approach to support house officers.”
How and why to give
A gift to the Specialist in Training Gratitude Fund directly supports the mental health and well-being of those who care for animals and their families. It helps sustain the counselor’s role, expand access to emotional support, and build a culture of compassion within our hospital.
“Your generosity ensures that veterinary professionals – especially those just starting their careers – have the tools and care they need to thrive. It’s an investment not only in their well-being, but in the quality of care they provide every day,” Gore said.
