Beginning with the End in Mind: Creating a Practice that Centers Equity-Part 2

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Social Sciences
• Health Equity

Background:

• Equity acknowledges historical/current barriers impacting veterinary teams and communities.
• Promoting thriving requires addressing systemic issues within veterinary practice.
• Learnings from human medicine and social sciences offer frameworks for equitable systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of equity principles in North American companion animal veterinary practice.
• To explore how equity can transform well-being for veterinary professionals and the community.
• To provide insights for designing equitable workplace systems.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on equity, health equity, and workplace well-being.
• Application of principles from human medicine and social sciences to veterinary contexts.
• Conceptual framework development for equitable veterinary systems.

Main Results:

• Equitable systems can be designed to prevent and respond to harm in veterinary workplaces.
• Integration of formal policies and informal cultural practices is crucial.
• Focus on health equity principles guides the development of supportive environments.

Conclusions:

• Implementing equity is essential for enhancing well-being in companion animal veterinary practice.
• Equitable systems require a dual approach of policy and cultural cultivation.
• Transforming veterinary practice through equity benefits teams, clients, and animals.