The Professional Wellness and Well-being Committee’s purpose is to provide Florida veterinarians with resources and support for chemical dependency, psychiatric illness, eating disorders, anger management, professional burnout and compassion fatigue. The goal is to provide veterinarians with better resources that address issues like work-life balance, job satisfaction, how to deal with work and life struggles, and to create awareness and prevention of suicide within the profession. The committee will provide education on these topics through resources that include the FVMA Advocate, newsletters, the FVMA website, and lectures and workshops at conferences. The committee also encourages colleagues to be of service and in a statewide peer support network. We also hope to offer support groups in the larger metropolitan areas within the next year. The committee also assists with the implementation of in-clinic wellness and well-being programs and is of service to student members of the FVMA at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
Often times we hesitate to intervene out of fear or other barriers. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, do not wait until there is a problem that may threaten their career, license or their life. The Professional Resources Center provides the following signs and symptoms to look for:
Chair: Philip Richmond, DVM
Cherie Buisson, DVM
Dani McVety, DVM
Nanette Parratto-Wagner, DVM, Ph.D.
Juan Samper, DVM, MSc, Ph.D., DACT
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