Here and now, it's time for celebration
I finally figured out
That all our dreams have no limitations
That's what it's all about
Everyone is special in their own way
We make each other strong
We’re not the same, we’re different in a good way
Together's where we belong
We’re all in this together
Once we know that we are, we’re all stars
And we see that
We’re all in this together
And it shows when we stand hand in hand
Make our dreams come true
—We’re All in This Together, from High School Musical
Journey for Teams is officially here! The AVMA and the Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE) announced our joint project at the 2022 AVMA Convention in Philadelphia, and it officially launched on November 1. The goal of Journey for Teams is to be a shared experience of learning, discovery, and growth to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplaces and throughout the veterinary profession.
This is most definitely a journey that can lead to actionable change, and I encourage you to check out the new resources that have been added to the JFT website at: JourneyForTeams.org. The resources are available to everyone on the veterinary team. There are stories by several different people in the profession who share why advancing DEI is so important to the future of our profession, a healthier workplace culture, and better care for our clients and patients. Modules will be released monthly, starting with the first one that became available on December 1.
The JFT resources available on the website are perfect for business, owners, team leaders, and other veterinary professionals interested in advancing DEI in the workplace. And now is a great time to identify your workplace champion—your team navigator—who will help your practice or organization have a successful journey. Navigators will have access to additional resources to help organize meetings and facilitate discussions.
Dr. Christine Jenkins, co-chair of the AVMA/AAVMC Commission for a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Veterinary Profession, said it best when she stated, “The time is now! We’ve talked about it too long. We identified the problem. We know the problem. So now it's time for us to focus on the solutions.”
We are each different, in a good way. We’re also each a part of the veterinary profession. Together, we make each other and our profession stronger. Let's take this journey together.
