Background
In recent years, there has been a concerning trend reflecting a decline in public trust towards veterinary professionals, underscored by an uptick in reported instances of abuse and hostility directed at veterinarians. This shift in sentiment has been observed across various regions, indicating a broader societal issue impacting the veterinary community.
Anecdotal accounts highlight incidents where veterinarians have faced verbal abuse, threats, and even physical aggression from clients or members of the public. These confrontations often stem from emotionally charged situations involving the health or welfare of beloved pets, where expectations, financial considerations, and emotional distress intersect.
For instance, veterinarians have recounted scenarios where clients become irate over treatment costs, perceived diagnoses, or treatment outcomes. Such interactions not only jeopardize the safety and well- being of veterinary professionals but also contribute to an atmosphere of heightened stress and burnout within the profession.
Additionally, social media platforms have become arenas where grievances are aired publicly, sometimes escalating into targeted harassment campaigns against individual veterinarians or clinics. These incidents underscore the fragile nature of trust in professional expertise and ethical decision-making within the veterinary field.
Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including enhanced communication strategies, empathy training for veterinary professionals, and broader societal awareness campaigns about the complexities of veterinary care. Building mutual respect and understanding between veterinarians and their clients is crucial to fostering a supportive environment where the health and welfare of animals remain the paramount focus.
The aim of the project group is to rebuild and strengthen trust between the pet owning population and veterinary professionals through the production of content and/or data, which can be used by other WSAVA committees to produce targeted resources, such as social media campaigns and education materials (other WSAVA committees would include the Education and Advocacy and Communications Committees, for example).
Description of the committee’s work and goal
The primary purpose of the Project Group is to produce ‘raw’ content which will then be used by other WSAVA Committees to produce advocacy campaigns and/or education materials. The type of content produced by the Project Group is likely to be focused on the following themes:
- Clarify the roles, responsibilities, and challenges faced by veterinary professionals, including common misconceptions about veterinary care.
- Promote understanding and respect for the companion animal veterinary team, highlighting their role as essential healthcare workers.
- Encourage pet owners to actively engage with their veterinarians, promoting open dialogue and shared decision-making in pet healthcare.
- Foster empathy and communication skills among veterinary teams to effectively manage challenging client interactions.
Detailed description of the desired candidates
The project group will consist of 8 members with the following knowledge, skills, and experience:
- Understanding of Veterinary Practices: Direct experience working within the veterinary field, either as a veterinarian, veterinary nurse/technician, or in a related capacity, to understand operational challenges and client expectations firsthand.
- Communication and Public Relations: Knowledge of effective communication strategies, especially in healthcare settings, to bridge gaps between veterinarians and pet owners.
- Public Perception and Trust Building: Insight into factors influencing public trust in healthcare professionals and strategies to enhance trustworthiness and credibility.
- Content Development: Ability to develop clear, accurate, and engaging educational materials and resources tailored for both veterinary professionals and pet owners.
- Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Capability to navigate sensitive issues and manage emotional interactions between veterinary teams and pet owners with empathy and professionalism.
- Communication and Advocacy: Experience in developing and implementing communication strategies, advocacy campaigns, or educational programs within healthcare or veterinary settings, human-behaviour change experience is particularly of interest.
Consideration will be given to geographic representation when appointing members to the group.
List of responsibilities from committee members
- The official language of the WSAVA is English.
- Meeting Attendance and Participation: Attend scheduled meetings (virtual or in-person) and actively contribute to discussions.
- Timely Communication: Respond to requests for input and feedback in a timely manner, ensuring smooth communication.
- Collaboration: Work collaboratively with other group members.
- Local Expertise: Provide accurate and relevant advice based on local knowledge and experience in veterinary education, event organization, and industry partnerships.
- All WSAVA committee and project group members agree to abide by the policies and processes set out within the WSAVA Policy and Process Manual.
- All discussions, documents, and materials shared within the group must be treated as confidential unless otherwise indicated by WSAVA.
Remuneration for this role
All WSAVA committee members including the chairperson are volunteers. However, reasonable expenses occurred whilst carrying out WSAVA duties will be reimbursed, in accordance with our travel and expenses policy.
Time commitment
The project group will meet at least monthly for one hour via video call. All committee members are expected to attend and actively contribute to committee meetings, whether online or in-person, and respond to offline communication in a timely manner. It is possible that the time commitment will be greater in the initial months, whilst the group develop plans and allocate roles and responsibilities. On average, committee members can expect to give no more than five hours of time a month and much of this may be independent work outside of the whole project group. This project group is classed as a start and finish group and will be disbanded upon completion of its objectives.
Applicant must fill out the application form and provide the documentation detailed below. Please note – Full documentation is required in English. Applications not submitted in English will not be considered.
- Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Intent
- Letter of Good Standing from WSAVA Member Association*
- Applications must be submitted via this application form
Applications should be submitted before 27 March 2025 – 22:00 UTC
*All nominees for membership of any WSAVA committee/group are required to provide a letter of Good Standing from the WSAVA member organization of which they are a member. This requirement does not apply to nominees who are not members of a WSAVA organization (e.g. non-veterinarians) whose expertise may be necessary for specialist committees/groups. A person of Good Standing is defined as someone who has complied with all explicit obligations of the association and who is not subject to any form of sanction, suspension or disciplinary censure. This letter is not a recommendation from the association that the nominee is the best person for the position. WSAVA committee positions are not chosen by member organizations – the Committee Chair ultimately decides on the best candidate for the position and the choice is ratified by the Membership and Nomination Committee and the Executive Board. This letter indicates only that the WSAVA member association has no objection to the nomination.