Emerging Leader uplifted by 2014 Summit

Anna MacNeil-Allcock

InfoStream Staff Writer 

Serving as the medical director and owner of OrthoPets, Dr. Susan Calverley met all the criteria to receive a 2014 Frederick Lynn Webster Emerging Leader Scholarship. Calverley specializes in canine rehabilitation as a veterinarian with Mission Veterinary Hospital, her work providing consultations, fiberglass impressions, fittings and modifications of veterinary orthotics and prosthetics has truly helped to create healthy communities for pets and people. 

Anna MacNeil-Allcock (AMA): Susan, you were awarded the Frederick Lynn Webster Scholarship for your great work in canine rehabilitation. What is your biggest passion and what would you like to see happen in your sector over the next few years?

Dr. Susan Calverley (SC): I am passionate about the human-animal bond and how we, as veterinarians, play a part in igniting that bond for our families and communities. To this end my "pet" projects are feral cat trap neuter release programs, veterinary orthotics and prosthetics and veterinary rehabilitation in general and mental health and wellbeing for employees in the industry as part of the whole work- life balance challenge.

Over the next few years I would like to see:

1. Cats become better recognized as important family members and not be left out in the cold literally without families or veterinary care. 
2. I would like veterinary orthotics and prosthetics to become mainstream in the veterinary community and taught in the veterinary colleges.
3. I would like wellness in the workplace to be more than just trying to identify and combat compassion fatigue.  I want to see emotionally robust students graduating from tech and veterinary colleges and sources of education for veterinary practitioners about the power of positive psychology and happiness in the workplace.

I did start a conversation on Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Pet Industry and we have a group on a conference call including the Ontario SPCA and the Coquitlam animal shelter at the end of this month. We envision a central information location, possibly a website with links to information available industry wide with a blog on happiness in the pet industry.

AMA: What did receiving the scholarship mean to you?

SC: My original reaction when I was initially nominated for a scholarship to the 2014 Urban Animal Summit in Lake Louise was ‘What is this Urban Animal thing?’

As a seasoned veterinarian and practice owner, I had thought I had my finger on the pulse of what was happening in veterinary medicine and the pet industry in general. As a distributor of veterinary orthotics and prosthetics I smugly thought of myself at the forefront of the industry.

Boy was I wrong. 

I really had no expectations other than a very nice hotel and a beautiful mountain setting. What I was unprepared for was the sense of community and collaboration in the room between absolutely all sectors of the pet industry.  

These days we seem to be bombarded by negativity in the news and social media. After several recent, high profile suicides in the veterinary profession, the topic of compassion fatigue and depression in the veterinary profession has weighed heavily on my mind, 

I was so encouraged, after starting the conversation on Mental Health and Wellbeing in the pet industry, to see how the shelter industry, veterinary associations and colleges are addressing this issue and generously willing to share their knowledge to make our workplaces more emotionally robust, supportive and happy. 

AMA: What was your experience at the Summit and how might it help you in your mission?

SC: My experience at the Summit was uplifting and life affirming. It was so refreshing to see people coming together and collaborating for a common purpose. Having experience with the relatively new field of Veterinary Rehabilitation and watching the struggle as veterinarians and human physical therapists and chiropractors are coming together to improve the well being of our arthritic and handicapped pets, I admire the passion that these members of the Urban Animal Alliance are displaying.

AMA: What was the highlight of the Summit for you? 

SC: The Summit really rejuvenated me and clarified for me the importance of having passion for urban animals and the power of teamwork in creating a fulfilling life and career. The contacts that I made will help with all of my passions and hopefully create opportunities  to take them to the next level.

I am still passionate about urban animals and want to participate any way I can.

"Pet Owner Experience" Doc receives Frederick Lynn Webster Scholarship

Anna MacNeil-Allcock

InfoStream Staff Writer 

For her commitments to understanding and sharing the "pet owner experience", Dr. Christy Leslie, DVM, MBa, was recognized by her peers as an emerging leader and presented with a 2014 Frederick Lynn Webster Emerging Leader Scholarship. 

Christy is the Director of Program Management at Associate Veterinary Clinics. She specializes in the business end of Veterinary Medicine and spends a lot of time doing emergency work. Christy travels the country giving workshops to Veterinarians and their staff about the lessons learned from research on the ‘pet owner experience’.  Knowing and understanding Veterinary Medicine from the perspective of the pet owner provides great insight for how best to manage a practice and keep clients satisfied.

Anna MacNeil-Allcock (AMA): How did you come to be involved in the pet industry?

Dr. Christy Leslie (CL): I grew up on a hobby farm in Ontario, situated about one hour from Toronto. Our family always had pets. We had cats and dogs, and of course on the farm we kept horses, cows, sheep and chickens. I have family members in the Veterinary Profession so it had always been a consideration for me.

In early adulthood, I had a doberman named Carmen. The bond I had with her really impacted my life in a significant way and kicked off my interest in the human-animal bond, which lead to my current work about the pet owner experience in the Veterinary process.

  

AMA: What do you like most about your current work?

CL: Now that I am in a managerial position I have the ability to travel all over and make a greater impact. I also do a lot of Emergency work and have a very satisfying career.

AMA: What did receiving the scholarship mean to you?

CL: It was positive affirmation and recognition that my work was indeed having an impact. getting to know more about the urban animal

AMA: What was your experience at the Summit and how might it help you in your mission?

CL: It was very eye opening, especially to see that some of the businesses had a real interest in the animal industry, not solely from a business perspective. It stretched my mind.

In some ways, when I realized the size of the issues that were being tackled, I found it overwhelming to consider what a big endeavour it is to keep such projects moving forward.

The Summit gave me a broader understanding of the industry and an appreciation for the open mindedness that was being practiced by all.  I enjoyed getting to know more about the Urban Animal Program and what it is all about. Overall, it was rejuvenating.

AMA: What was the highlight of the Summit for you? 

CL: I had an ‘a ha’ moment as I was sitting at my table between representatives from two different pet insurance companies. I was surprised that they were even sitting at the same table and having a pleasant conversation. It really impressed upon me that this Summit is about the goals of the industry as a whole. Those at the Summit were willing to strip away personal and business goals and join in the solution. I wish all my colleagues in the Veterinary sector could experience the Summit. It would be a game changer because we are so often isolated in our own silo’s. 

I liked the big picture planning and thinking that was happening at the Summit but I also liked that research was included and could be tied to current issues. I thought the research posters were great and I was happy that each poster presenter was given some time at the mike to describe their research because it was not always possible to get to speak with them individually.

AMA: Will you attend a Summit in the future? 

CL: Yes, I would definitely consider attending another Summit, if it is in the same place and the timing works for me. The clinic is grounding and I can get bogged down a bit with business. I found the Summit to be rejuvenating and brought me back to the core values. A reality check and a reminder that we are all in it together.

Frederick Lynn Webster Scholarship for Emerging Leaders in Health and Wellness

Frederick Lynn Webster, was born in Deloraine, Manitoba, on the 23rd day of November, 1943. His early years in a rural setting brought about a passion for animals and for medical knowledge tha would allow him to intervene in their health and wellness when necessary. 

Webster graduated from the University of Guelph in 1966 and has practiced Veterinary Medicine along a path from private practice to directing the Western College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. All the while Lynn remained active in the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, Provincial Veterinary Associations and myriad industry groups. 

Webster influenced industry as a past president of the Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association, a past president of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and as a director or senior executive of numerous businesses and agencies. In retirement Webster continues to be involved as an industry advisor and in the ownership/management of clinical practice in Winnipeg. A crowning achievement in Webster’s career, was his role in founding SecuriCan General Insurance Company, Canada's first dedicated underwriter of pet health insurance. 

Webster’s experience, relationships and affable good nature, equipped him to be a primary influencer of collaboration in the urban animal industry across North America. In 2005, he helped found the Urban Animal™ program with Regional Conferences and the Summit f Urban Animal Strategies. This commitment to advance the industry was recognized by industry peers who conferred upon him the Summit for Lifetime Achievement at the 6th Annual International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in Montebello, PQ. 

For these achievements and for a lifetime of service to veterinary medicine, Urban An is pleased to name the Emerging Leader Scholarship for Health and Wellness as the Frederick Lynn Webster Scholarship. 

In 2014, two such scholarships will be awarded under the Urban Animal™ Emerging Leader program. Frederick Lynn Webster will be recognized at the ninth annual Summit during the Urban Animal™ Foundation Dinner on Thursday evening, October 23rd. 

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EMERGING LEADER CRITERIA