Get to Know
us & our founder
At the heart of our mission is Dr. Erin Holder, a compassionate veterinarian and healer dedicated to supporting animal caregivers. With a passion for holistic care and a deep understanding of compassion fatigue, Dr. Holder leads our efforts to empower those who devote their lives to helping animals. Learn more about her journey and the values that drive us forward.
Our Values
A t the Veterinary Compassion Project
At the heart of the Veterinary Compassion Project is the belief that those who dedicate their lives to caring for animals deserve the same compassion and care they give to others. We are committed to raising awareness about the emotional toll on animal caregivers, providing essential support, and offering practical tools to foster well-being. Through our resources, community, and guidance, we aim to empower veterinarians and animal care professionals to thrive both personally and professionally.
Meet Dr. Erin
A Compassionate Leader in Veterinary Medicine & Healing
Dr. Erin Holder, an esteemed veterinarian and compassionate healer, graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. During her time at the university, she was recognized for her dedication to wildlife conservation, receiving the Lerner Family Wildlife Conservation Award and the Bird Fanciers Scholarship. She was also inducted into the prestigious Phi Zeta honor society. Her groundbreaking research on cheetahs and early renal disease detection won international acclaim and was published in the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.
In 2004, Dr. Holder founded an integrative veterinary hospital in Central Florida, where she pioneered a holistic approach to animal care. Certified in Veterinary Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, Food Therapy, Chinese Tui-Na, Animal Ozone Therapy, and Animal Reiki, Dr. Holder’s hospital provided comprehensive care to a wide variety of animals, including cats, dogs, birds, exotics, and wildlife. Her innovative work was even featured on the debut series of National Geographic Wild’s Unlikely Animal Friends.
After nearly two decades of serving animals and their caregivers, Dr. Holder made the difficult decision to sell her hospital in 2022 to address her own experience with compassion fatigue. Her hospital remains one of the largest integrative veterinary hospitals in North America. During her personal healing journey, she immersed herself in studying compassion fatigue—why it happens and, more importantly, how to prevent and overcome it. She completed certifications in meditation instruction and compassion fatigue training for healthcare professionals, dedicating herself to helping others navigate the emotional toll of veterinary work.
Now, Dr. Holder combines her vast expertise with her passion for healing, offering tools such as mantra meditation, breathing techniques, and trauma healing strategies to combat burnout. What began as a journey to heal herself has transformed into a mission to support veterinarians and animal caregivers worldwide, helping them continue their vital work with resilience and compassion.
“Having personally experienced compassion fatigue and witnessing the immense challenges faced by our profession, I hope to be part of the solution—giving a voice to the overwhelming exhaustion in our community and offering practical ways to restore well-being.” ~Dr. Erin Holder