The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is pleased to welcome Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton to the position of OVC Director of Well-Being Programming, effective February 24, 2020.
This position was created to enhance the knowledge and practice of well-being across the Ontario Veterinary College using evidence-based approaches. In this role, Jones-Bitton will provide well-being expertise founded on a deep understanding of current literature, focused training, and knowledge of emerging trends.
“This key role is an excellent opportunity for OVC to continue to lead the way in well-being initiatives focused on supporting our students,” said Jeffrey Wichtel, Dean of the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College. “Andria brings a depth of knowledge and expertise in mental health and well-being research particularly surrounding veterinarians, student veterinarians and our farming community. I look forward to working with Andria as she develops and expands this important portfolio.”
As a member of the Associate Dean, Students and Academic (ADSA) team, Jones-Bitton will serve a leadership role in the mapping, planning, and delivery of well-being and resilience training to undergraduate DVM students, sharing resources in a collaborative manner with those supporting graduate students across all departments of the OVC, and supporting the advancement of research in well-being and resilience.
“I am exceedingly pleased to have Dr. Jones-Bitton join the ADSA team as we move forward in a direction of well-being that is critical to the future strength of our students and our profession.” said Joanne Hewson, Associate Dean, Students and Academic. “Having a person with Andria’s strengths and enthusiasm dedicated to growing our collective skills in this area reassures me that we will maintain it as a key priority in all that we do.”
Dr. Jones-Bitton graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College DVM program in 2000, and subsequently completed a PhD in Epidemiology at the OVC in 2005. She is a tenured faculty member in the Department of Population Medicine, with a strong research platform focused on the mental health of veterinarians, veterinary students, and farmers in Canada. Over the past five years in particular, her research program has undergone rapid growth, securing over $450K in mental health research funding. Her work has been positively received in both academic and public circles.
She has also done extensive outreach regarding mental health initiatives, having given over 90 media interviews, over 40 invited presentations to the veterinary and agricultural communities, and she has contributed her research findings to over 50 presentations at scientific and industry conferences. Most recently, she was invited as a key witness in Canada’s House of Common’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food’s study of farmer mental health, was invited by Minister Ernie Hardeman to provide professional consultation on farmer mental health in Ontario, and was named a finalist for the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s Brigid Rivoire Award for Champions in Agricultural Mental Health.
Beyond research, Jones-Bitton has actively pursued her own professional development in the realm of mental health and well-being. She has engaged in numerous training and development programs over the last 5 years, including completing a certificate program in Applied Positive Psychology, and becoming a certified Resilience Trainer. Jones-Bitton is a member of the National Centre for Faculty Development and Diversity, the Canadian Association of Psychiatric Epidemiologists, and the International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health.
In speaking about her new role, Jones-Bitton shared, “I’m thrilled to see OVC’s commitment to increasing well-being training. Our statistics clearly indicate that many veterinarians struggle with chronic stress and mental health. It is important to remember that the veterinary profession, while challenging, also affords many benefits, and that resilience skills are skills that can be learned. It is my intent to bring resilience and well-being training to all members of the OVC community, and hopefully beyond, so that we can enhance well-being in the veterinary profession.”