College Connection | Spring 2025
Shared insight on cultural humility in veterinary medicine
Embracing cultural humility: A path to genuine connection
College Connection | Spring 2025
CULTURAL HUMILITY
Shared insight on cultural humility in veterinary medicine
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Dr. Jennifer Ogeer
Throughout my career my understanding of cultural humility has evolved to a much deeper level through self-reflection, recognizing power imbalances in my personal and professional experiences, and being a perpetual learner.
My own journey as a woman of color in veterinary medicine for three decades has taught me fortitude and resilience, overcoming barriers to follow my dreams and succeed.
It is important to understand people long for their individuality to be recognized regardless of cultural background or socio-economic status.
I recognized that when you go into a
Dr. Jennifer Ogeer
profession with a higher purpose, that purpose does not sway based on your race, gender, financial status, or ethnic background.
My passion for helping animals, inner strength, and gracious people along the way, have carried me through this journey and allowed me to be openminded and learn. I have had many phenomenal mentors who did not see me as a woman with a different complexion or accent. Just like me, they cared about helping animals, and people too; that understanding and drive transcends all boundaries. It takes a diverse group of individuals with cultural humility to meet the needs of people and pets in Canada and globally.
About Dr. Ogeer
Dr. Ogeer is passionate about supporting the human-animal bond and is dedicated to building community that goes beyond color, gender, race, and economic barriers. She graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College and spent several years in academic teaching, research, clinical practice and administration.
Dr. Ogeer volunteers with Veterinarians without Borders, the Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust, the Diversity Veterinary Medicine Coalition, and the Black Veterinary Professionals Association of Canada.
Embracing cultural humility: A path to genuine connection
In a world where people from diverse backgrounds are interacting daily, the concept of cultural humility is a vital avenue to foster genuine connections rooted in respect and dignity.
Cultural competence is focused on gaining knowledge about different cultures, while cultural humility is focused on the ongoing journey of self-reflection, learning, and personal growth. It encourages us to acknowledge our own biases, preferences, and cultural socialization and asks us to learn from those we perceive to be different. It encourages equitable and open interaction, in
particular in our communications.
Heart of cultural humility
At its core, cultural humility has three key principles:
Lifelong learning coupled with deep self-reflection: Cultural humility calls on us to participate in self-reflection and social adaptation. It encourages us to seek out different perspectives and lived experiences, broadening our perspectives and strengthening our empathy for others.
Identifying and responding to power imbalances: Power imbalances are embedded within our social structures and relationships. Cultural humility pushes us to address imbalances with action and accountability.
Institutional commitment and accountability: Cultural humility needs a commitment from organizations to create and promote policies, practices, and values and to support learning, growth and crosscultural collaboration. Equity, diversity and inclusion resources support learning and increase cultural humility amongst employees.
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