Important veterinary profession leadership info - Courageous vulnerability helps reduce stigma

At the recent American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Veterinary and Health Wellness Summit, Gene Crumley, Director of Leadership Development at the UC Davis School of Medicine, gave a keynote presentation on organizational leadership. He addressed the importance of  leaders having a strong ethical compass, a sense of stewardship, a need to attend to the culture of the organization, a need to maintain a healthy sense of curiosity, and finally, demonstrating “courageous vulnerability.” What a gutsy term -- courageous vulnerability!

I interviewed a couple of American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) leaders about the summit in general and Crumley's statement in particular. Thomas Meyer, DVM, AVMA President, agreed with Crumley, saying, “What needs to be woven into organizations is a culture that allows people to admit their mistakes without fear of punishment.” The only way that will happen is if leaders are courageous and vulnerable enough to speak up and admit when they make mistakes and praise their associates and staff for following suit.

In fact, honesty and vulnerability can be frightening when practiced. People need to be supported when they act courageously like that. The result is tremendous strength.

Also in agreement with Crumley, Janet Donlin, DVM, AVMA CEO, said, “Transparency, honesty, ethics; these we hold dear in veterinary medicine.” Isn't that a wonderful statement?

Donlin suggested collaboration is essential for the profession to continue progress, hence her participation in the Veterinary Wellness Steering Committee along with Adrian Hochstadt (AVMA), Mike Cavanaugh (AAHA), Libby Wallace (AVMA LIFE), Christine Jenkins ( Zoetis), Doug Aspros (AVMA PLIT), Ted Mashima (AAVMC), Laurie Fonken (CSU), Kathy Ruby (WSU), Jen Brandt (OSU), Ralph Johnson (VMAE), Mia Cary (NAVC), Mark Olson (AAVSB), David Little (WVC), Christine Shupe (VHMA), and Rebecca Rose (NAVTA).

I hope these leaders can display courageous vulnerability, transparency, and honesty as they work together to face the current situation that the veterinary profession is in. I imagine many of these leaders realize that our prior tendency to stick our heads in the sand because impairment of veterinary professionals is a sensitive subject didn't work. I hope our leaders continue to move forward and truly address our problems.

There is an ongoing stigma in our society and our profession that deters individuals from seeking help for mental health disorders including depression and substance use disorder and addressing other problems such as financial difficulties, compassion fatigue, and burnout. That stigma is pervasive and entrenched. Certainly having leaders step up, admit the difficulties they've faced, and describe what recovery from those difficulties has looked like will help reduce stigma. Recently the veterinary profession has shown a tremendous willingness to change and fully address wellbeing. I am quite hopeful that this willingness will continue.

This post expands on information provided in this dvm360 article, AAVMC wellness summit: Progress made and a path forward.