What Does It Mean to Be a Veterinarian? A Grounded Theory of Veterinary Professional Identity

Professional identity formation (PIF) is traditionally understood as the developmental process through which individuals internalize professional values and norms. However, despite growing interest in PIF, veterinary literature offers limited clarity about the nature of veterinary professional identity (PI) itself and how it is expressed in everyday practice. This study addresses this gap by analyzing anonymous survey data from veterinary practitioners (n = 54) to develop a grounded conceptual framework that defines the core elements of PI and how they interact. The resulting model identifies six core values as stable anchors of professional identity. These values are expressed within the competing demands of practice, which create tension between what veterinarians believe is important and what they are able to do in a given context. This tension shapes how values are enacted, shifting expression along a spectrum from pro-social to self-oriented. Neither form of expression is inherently positive or negative; instead, identity coherence or dissonance depends on how well a veterinarian's actions align with their underlying values. By reframing tension as an inherent feature of practice rather than a sign of incomplete development, this framework offers a foundation for educational strategies that support value awareness, decision-making, and professional identity stability across a veterinary career. As the first phase of an exploratory sequential design, these findings will inform future quantitative evaluation of the model across diverse veterinary contexts.