The University of Tennessee Program for Pet Health Equity is launching “Building Inclusive Veterinary Education,” a three-year collaboration with the IDEXX Foundation. Researchers will explore the health and wellness needs of veterinary students and their experiences of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine. The innovative project will identify veterinary students’ needs, the nature and prevalence of wellness resources currently offered to meet those needs, examine professional transition experiences of newly graduated Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVMs), and deepen understanding of experiences of DVMs who have voluntarily left the veterinary profession.
“It has never been more important to equip the future leaders in veterinary medicine with tools and skills to take care of their own well-being,” said Jason W. Johnson, DVM, MS, DACT, IDEXX Global Chief Medical Officer. “We are thrilled that the IDEXX Foundation is supporting this first-of-its-kind initiative that will take a research- and data-driven approach to better understand realities of the veterinary profession to create meaningful solutions for students. This work will inform resources that can be used in veterinary universities nationwide for many years to come.”
The project team includes veterinary social workers Pamela Linden, PhD, Lisa Wiborg, LISW-S, and Tom Favale, DVM, LMSW, and researcher Linda Daugherty, MPA. Students representing veterinary social work and veterinary medicine will provide research support. Project outcomes include the design and delivery of a comprehensive virtual Veterinary Student Wellness Symposium to highlight evidence-supported approaches that best serve the wellness needs of veterinary students and create resources to support mental health and inclusive learning environments for students with diverse social identities.
“We appreciate the IDEXX Foundation’s support, which will allow us to support connection and belonging for students representing diverse social identities and prepare them to transition to professional practice,” said Dr. Pam Linden. “We look forward to using evidence collected through this initiative to create a systemic approach to veterinary student wellbeing.”
About the IDEXX Foundation
The IDEXX Foundation is a donor-advised fund administered by a national donor-advised fund sponsoring program. Its mission is to create positive, lasting impacts for people, animals, and the environment through inclusive and outcomes-focused initiatives in communities around the world.
About the UT College of Social Work
The UT College of Social Work is committed to advancing the mission of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville as the state’s flagship land-grant university to provide a quality public education for the citizens of Tennessee through exemplary teaching, research, and service. The College of Social Work’s Center for Behavioral Health Research supports the Program for Pet Health Equity (PPHE) which exists to improve access to veterinary care for pets and their families not adequately served by the current system.