Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medical Colleges will host the fourth annual AAVMC Veterinary Health and Wellness Summit November 4 to 6. The summit, expected to draw about 250 attendees, is led by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). The international conference aims to promote personal wellbeing among veterinary students and professionals. A growing body of evidence shows that veterinary students and practitioners experience high levels of stress, anxiety and depression, according to conference organizers. These factors, in turn, impact productivity, career longevity and enjoyment in practice. The conference brings together veterinary students, administrators, practitioners, social workers, counselors and industry partners to develop a common understanding about health and wellness issues within the veterinary profession. It is the hope that collectively they will build a solid foundation of information and knowledge; share best practices; as well as develop clear and specific goals and actions to address these issues. “This is one of the biggest challenges we face in the veterinary profession,” said Mark Stetter, DVM, dean of the CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “As a community, we realize that wellness and mental-health issues are affecting people throughout the profession, and we are talking about next steps to help address this problem in our veterinary schools and across the industry.” The AAVMC Veterinary Health and Wellness Summit is sponsored by global animal health company Zoetis of Florham Park, N.J., and AVMA PLIT, a group that helps American Veterinary Medical Association members in the management of their professional liability claims as well as other business-related matters. For details, visit the website.
