College Connection | Summer 2025
Sharing continued insight to expand cultural humility
College Connection | Summer 2025
CULTURAL HUMILITY
Sharing continued insight to expand cultural humility
In the spring issue, Dr. Lynn Henderson and Dr. Jennifer Ogeer shared how their understanding of cultural humility has evolved. In this issue, they share guidance for new veterinarians and potential barriers to an inclusive veterinary profession. Cultural humility invites individuals to adopt a mindset of continuous learning and selfreflection in their interactions with diverse cultures, which helps to foster meaningful cross-cultural interactions.
Dr. Lynn Henderson
What advice would you give new veterinarians or students who want to incorporate cultural humility into their practice?
In my time working at the Ontario Veterinary College, I have been pleasantly surprised by students. Students come to this work authentically, wanting to bring their best selves to each interaction.
I feel it is their time in clinical practice( constraints re: time, resources, clinical knowledge) that can close off their enthusiasm for accommodating varying client needs. None of us went into veterinary medicine in the hopes of providing limited care options to our patients and clients. There are several factors beyond the scope of this article that account for the limitations on clinicians’ agency and adaptability in the‘ real world’.
My advice to early-career veterinarians is to approach each client interaction as though you don’ t actually know why that client / animal is in your office. Rather than‘ the booster visit’,‘ the vomiting puppy’, or‘ the euthanasia’, try to enter each exam room as though you know only part of the story. That is the truth. You do not know the entire story. Approaching each scenario with curiosity can lead to multiple ends; you will get to the root of a client’ s needs or concerns, and you may just enjoy your work a bit more.
Considering each clinical encounter to be a puzzle for which you get to contribute a solution, can be another way of approaching case management. While there may be several options available for us to consider, how does my understanding of the client / family in front of me help me tailor a creative and appropriate set of options for them moving forward?
This is a process crafted alongside the client upon discussion of all major care avenues. Finding ways to listen and infuse each interaction with authenticity and creative, collaborative planning can foster better client satisfaction, improve clinical compliance( as client was involved in process), and might just make practising veterinary medicine more fulfilling in the long run.
About Dr. Henderson: Dr. Henderson is the Veterinary Director at the Kim & Stu Lang Community Healthcare Partnership Program and is pursuing a PhD in Social and Behavioural Public Health.
Dr. Jennifer Ogeer
What are the most pressing barriers to creating a more equitable and inclusive veterinary profession? How can they be addressed?
As one of the least diverse professions in Canada, the majority of veterinarians identify as white. The road to building greater understanding of cultural humility starts with individual levels of awareness of our implicit biases and privilege. So how do we address these pressing barriers of lack of diverse role models who are veterinary professionals and paraprofessionals, financial concerns about the cost of veterinary education, and feelings of inadequacy and discouragement from entering the profession because of systemic racism?
• Providing EDI resources and training to promote self-reflection on unmanaged unconscious biases to spark change.
• Ensuring the admissions process evaluates underrepresented and minority groups with equity.
• Providing scholarships and bursaries with inclusive policies to promote fairness in selection.
• Establishing local clubs that recognize individuals in a community need allyship and a support structure to deal with emotional, academic, and social challenges.
• Mentorship is key. We should expose students to the fact this is a viable career path and encourage them to stay on it.
About Dr. Ogeer: Dr. Ogeer is dedicated to building community beyond color, gender, race, and economic barriers. She volunteers with Veterinarians without Borders, the OVC Pet Trust, the Diversity Veterinary Medicine Coalition, and the Black Veterinary Professionals Association of Canada.
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