Veterinary professional identity: Conceptual analysis and location in a practice theory framework

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Social Science
• Professional Identity Studies
• Sociology of Professions

Background:

• Veterinary practice research is often dominated by clinician-educators, leading to individualistic perspectives.
• Existing literature lacks a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding veterinary practice's social and cultural dimensions.
• There's a need to integrate diverse disciplinary insights into veterinary professional issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an interdisciplinary theoretical framework for veterinary practice and professional identity.
• To ground this framework in practice theory and a sociocultural perspective.
• To highlight the importance of professional identity development within veterinary practice.

Main Methods:

• Scoping contemporary veterinary practice within its social context.
• Developing a sociocultural framing of veterinary practice.
• Applying practice theory concepts like knowledge, institutions, ethics, and embodiment.

Main Results:

• Veterinary practice and professional identity are mutually constituted through social participation.
• Professional identity is shaped by making meaning of experiences, particularly through narrative and dialogue.
• The proposed framework offers new avenues for researching learning, development, and change in veterinary settings.

Conclusions:

• A practice theory approach provides a richer understanding of veterinary professional identity.
• This framework facilitates research into the social and cultural aspects of veterinary practice.
• It offers opportunities for enhancing learning and development for veterinary professionals.