Love No Matter Who You Are: Understanding the Spectrum of Pet Parents
1.0 CE Credit Hour / Veterinarians & Veterinary Technicians
Overview:
This course explores the intersection of LGBTQIA+ identity and pet ownership, emphasizing the critical role veterinary professionals play in fostering inclusive, affirming, and culturally competent care. Participants will examine how diverse lived experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community impact access to veterinary services and how the profession can better uphold the human-animal bond through inclusive practices. The webinar will provide practical strategies for creating safe, welcoming spaces in clinical settings, supporting pet owners through affirming partnerships, and ensuring pets receive the highest quality of care.
Learning Objectives:
- Evaluate how social determinants, including sexual orientation and gender identity, can influence access to veterinary care for LGBTQIA+ pet owners and affect the human-animal bond.
- Apply inclusive communication techniques and client interaction strategies to build trust with diverse pet owners and foster a sense of safety within veterinary practice.
- Understand the impact of unconscious bias and structural inequities in veterinary settings and outline strategies for improving cultural competence and client engagement.
Christy Bell, DVM
With a passion for veterinary medicine and mentorship, Dr. Christy Bell has dedicated her career to supporting both pets and the professionals who care for them. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia in 2002 and spent 14 years serving as an associate veterinarian and Medical Director at a companion animal practice in Suwanee, GA. In 2016, Dr. Bell took her expertise beyond clinical practice, stepping into the role of Recruiter at VCA, where she helped 80 hospitals build talented veterinary teams. Today, as Senior Director of Student Talent Acquisition, she leads a dynamic team of recruiters focused on guiding veterinary students as they embark on their careers. Outside of work, Dr. Bell enjoys hiking, live music, sporting events, and just about any outdoor adventure. She lives in Lawrenceville, GA with her wife, Holly, and their three spirited standard poodles—Melissa, Caroline, and Ozilline.
This course is RACE-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
This activity is sponsored by VCA.
