Beyond the Rainbow: Creating Safe Spaces for Authenticity in Veterinary Medicine
0.5 CE Credit Hour / Veterinarians & Veterinary Technicians
Overview:
We all need to do our part to create environments where every person can show up as they truly are and be accepted and included. We get the best out of people when they feel seen and supported to be themselves. Data from a 2022 Gallup survey shows the number of U.S. adults who identify as LGBTQ+ has more than doubled in a decade. For Generation Z – those born from 1997 to 2004 – 19.7% identified as LGBTQ+ in the poll, which was based on aggregated data of 10,000 people. With staffing shortages, mental health and compassion fatigue struggles, and burnout in veterinary medicine, creating socially safe work environments and removing barriers to showing up as your authentic self are imperatives for veterinary professionals.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize how to create safe spaces for others
- Examine your own unconscious biases
- Demonstrate understanding of the importance of inclusivity in the workplace
- Evaluate specific ways you can create safer spaces in your current work environment
Jennifer Evans
Jennifer has been in veterinary medicine for 23 years. She has worked in all areas from kennel, to reception, to technician and finally ended up in hospital operational management. She served as President and COO for 6 years at a Non-Profit rescue One Love Pet Orphanage. She incorporates her dedication to veterinary medicine by serving on local boards and volunteering at local hospitals, as well as, veterinary based “give back events”.
Moderator: Adam Christman, DVM, MBA
Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, is the chief veterinary officer for dvm360®—an MJH Life Sciences® company —who oversees content strategy and development and is the brand voice and personality for dvm360®’s multimedia channels. As a charismatic leader, he brings wit, humor, and authenticity to animal health care as the host of a new web-based talk show, dvm360 Live!™, The Vet Blast Podcast, continuing education webinars, and live media broadcasts.
Christman also has been in private practice and shelter medicine for 18 years and is currently a member and treasurer of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association. He received his DVM degree from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames, Iowa, and his MBA from Aspen University in Denver, Colorado.
Christman is a national thought leader, speaker, and author on practice management, social media, and rehabilitation, and coauthored, “Honey, Have You Squeezed the Dachshund? A Pet Owner’s Guide for Owners Who Are Terrified of IVDD”—a book on dogs with disabilities. He has been featured in multiple publications and appeared on various multimedia shows throughout the United States, sharing his expertise and passion on all things veterinary medicine.
As an avid social media influencer for animal health care, he has over 1 Million followers on TikTok and 53,000 followers on Instagram. He loves to engage with fellow pet parents and veterinary professionals across social media. Christman is an advocate of Pride VMC and Pawsibilities. He is also the proud dog dad to 5 dachshunds and believes no one should be deprived of the incredible human-animal bond.
This program has been approved for 0.5 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.
This activity is sponsored by Hill’s.
