The Journey for Teams program is designed to engage veterinary professionals in increasing their understanding of DEI principles and promoting individual and team behaviors that help foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.
Journey for Teams, a sweeping new initiative to advance diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) across the nation’s veterinary profession, was announced by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE) at the AVMA convention in 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“Journey for Teams is our most ambitious DEI venture to date – a comprehensive and collaborative process to be incorporated into every field of veterinary medicine,” said Jose Arce, DVM, president of the AVMA, in an organizational press release.
The program builds on the VMAE’s original Journey program, which was launched in 2021 to provide executive directors and elected leaders of veterinary associations with tools and resources to move DEI forward. The new Journey for Teams is designed for veterinary professionals and workplaces of all kinds, including private practices, animal hospitals, academia, industry and other environments.
“Historically, veterinary medicine has not been a very diverse profession,” said Randy Wheeler, DVM, president of the VMAE, in the release. “That is changing and Journey for Teams will support our progress. Veterinary teams will find the new ‘Journey’ inviting, welcoming and rewarding, and it will help us all move forward.”
Journey for Teams aims to engage veterinary professionals in increasing their understanding of DEI principles and promoting individual and team behaviors that contribute to a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. More than 140 individuals with subject matter expertise active in DEI within the veterinary community will be invited to provide advice on topics, propose guest authors, and provide in-depth resources that support learning about identified topics.
“Diversifying our profession will require sustained efforts over many years,” Arce said in the press release. “No one can do it alone, and Journey for Teams is not the answer to all our challenges, but it gives us a shared path to greater diversity, equality and inclusion.”
“We want to mobilize the entire veterinary profession,” Wheeler said in the release. “A profession that better reflects the country’s demographics will benefit customers, patients, communities and the workplaces themselves.”
Journey for Teams involves a sustained commitment to deep DEI learning. New learning modules will be released every month from this fall and the next two years. Tools and resources include the program website, a guide, a video, the introductory webinar, learning modules, and a facilitator handbook.
Journey for Teams development and implementation will be overseen by Latonia Craig, EdD, the AVMA’s new Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, who will begin September 1 in the newly created position.
To further expand outreach efforts, the AVMA and VMAE are partnering with veterinary and animal health organizations that have signed up as educational partners and have a aligned commitment to DEI. Educational partners are critical to the success of the program as they help increase awareness and engagement with Journey for Teams. The first companies to contribute their knowledge and expertise to the program, as well as financial support and valuable resources, include Mars Veterinary Health, Nationwide Insurance, NAVC, NVA, Viticus Group, Zoetis, CareCredit, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Merck Animal Health, Petco and Suveto.
Journey for Teams also works with Collaborating Partners, broad coalitions or national associations whose members are integral to advancing DEI. The outreach continues and the first groups to commit are the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America and the AVMA/AAVMC’s Commission for a Divers, Equitable and Inclusive Veterinary Profession. Their combined reach will contribute significantly to the success of the initiative, providing content expertise on content development, and promoting Journey for Teams to their members and other stakeholders.
The AVMA, VMAE and their partners are now encouraging veterinarians and their workshops across the country to “join the journey” by declaring their intent to participate in the program. As part of Journey for Teams, veterinary workplaces will be encouraged to incorporate a commitment to core DEI principles and behaviors into their stated values.
Journey for Teams is the latest in a series of initiatives by the AVMA and other leading organizations across the profession to support DEI with significant resources, including digital educational modules, certificate programs and continuing education content, as well as programming and events, including at AVMA’s annual conferences.
“Journey for Teams underscores our continued commitment to DEI,” said Dr. Arce of the AVMA. “This program will meet people where they are and inspire them through a continuous, layered learning process. By reflecting the diversity of their communities, veterinary teams will be more successful.”
Reference
Journey for Teams aims to educate, inspire and drive change in advancing DEI across the profession. news item. July 30, 2022. Accessed July 31, 2022. https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/avma-vmae-announce-profession-wide-program-enhance-diversity-veterinary
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