Animal Health Solutions

35 Q4 2020 | Animal Health Solutions Dealing with business, finances, owner communications, and emotional stress are all critical topics for veterinarians. But unfortunately, they're offered as electives, not mandatory classes, in veterinary schools. Because students are already pressed for time—and schools may not have the funds to develop the curriculum—there's a tremendous gap in veterinary education. MightyVet is working to close that gap, building a bridge between working veterinarians and the classroom. Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee is the first veterinary school to partner with MightyVet to develop and deliver mandatory, standardized curriculum around the well-being issues that MightyVet supports. As a second phase of these efforts, MightyVet is considering the development of a Certified Practice Program, intended to indicate which veterinarians graduated with the business and communications knowledge to help combat the daily stresses of being in practice. These veterinarians could then build their practices around this knowledge—for example, having a counselor on staff and providing down time after every euthanasia. Practicing with confidence "I had 11 years of higher education and was $200,000 in student debt, yet I was not truly educated," Dr. Weinrauch, said. "MightyVet is an industry-wide movement that offers access to information not otherwise taught as a universal core curriculum in veterinary school. I believe we have a duty to leave the profession better than we found it." MightyVet serves veterinarians at all stages of their careers, with a particular focus on veterinary school and early career—to help prevent the issues that can lead to suicide from becoming overwhelming in the first place. "This is inclusive of everyone on your hospital veterinary team," Dr. Weinrauch said. "This is good for DVMs, CVPMs, LVTs, CVTs, RVTs—you name it, including receptionists, kennel attendants and really anyone who cares about anyone in the veterinary profession." Currently, nearly 6,000 veterinary professionals have become MightyVet members. MightyVet's educational videos have been viewed more than 350,000 times, and nearly 35,000 have participated in the organization's CE webinars. For veterinary professionals who want to connect with their peers locally, the organization Not One More Vet (NOMV), can be a place to start. The organization also offers a free month of online counseling via BetterHelp; to learn more, visit www.betterhelp.com/nomv. In addition, NOMV Support Staff is a new division of Not One More Vet that is dedicated to serving veterinary professionals who aren't veterinarians. You can learn more about NOMV Support Staff, including membership criteria, by visiting www.facebook.com/NOMVSSMembership. Offering curriculum in veterinary school Dealing with stress as a veterinarian is a part of your every day life. There are organizations that have been created to help, and provide information and education on dealing with stress. To learn more about MightyVet, visit www.facebook.com/mightyvet/.

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