I’ve been on the road last week and this week attending a number of meetings in the U.S., with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) annual Dean’s meeting and the annual North American Veterinary Community (NAVC). There will be more to come about some of these meeting in future posts.
I’ve been reminded during these opportunities, as with the Students for the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA) conference hosted by OVC this past weekend, just how important collaboration is in veterinary medicine and veterinary education.
As veterinarians, we all recognize the broad opportunities and expectations of our profession and its unique skill set – beyond the preventive care and welfare of animals in our care, we deal with complex health issues for all species and have a critical role in ensuring a safe food supply.
As educators, we must ensure the next generation of veterinarians has the tools and expertise to not only meet these challenges, but also to recognize and deal with the stress and fatigue that is too often a part of our chosen profession.
These opportunities to connect with colleagues, fellow educators and students open the door to sharing information and experiences. As we learn from each other – whether in a lecture, working side-by-side in a wet lab, or chatting at a reception – we also find new ways to work together.
They encourage the collaboration that is key to our success in all aspects of veterinary medicine.
