About this Research Topic

Background

The divide between medical doctors and veterinarians is seemingly unambiguous. Medical doctors exclusively focus on the health and well-being of Homo sapiens, while veterinarians look after all other animal species. However, the role of the veterinarian encompasses many more responsibilities that extend beyond animal health care and are reflected in the professional oaths taken by veterinarians around the World. Aside from biosecurity, occupational health and safety and public health liabilities, veterinarians also have many more responsibilities which contribute to the health, safety, sustainability and economic prosperity of the communities they serve.

Veterinarians are polyvalent health practitioners in constant need to adapt to new circumstances and expectations. Within the profession veterinarians have had to contend with significant changes in demographics, geographic distribution, and expertise profiles. Evolving clients’ expectations have required a rethink of their business model and work culture. More globally, the rise of the One Health paradigm, is likely to increase the demands on the veterinary profession and present new challenges. How can the veterinary profession continue to adapt in an ever-changing World?

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the resilience of humankind but also its limits. Pandemic fatigue is real, and the constant weight of uncertainty has been brewing another crisis: a mental health epidemic. Although, the extraordinary circumstances of the current pandemic have affected all of us, health professionals have been most affected. There is a growing body of evidence of the physical and mental burnout toll experienced by health professionals with some putting their life at risk to save others or choosing to leave their profession.

Veterinarians already worked long hours pre-pandemic, often in difficult environments and circumstances that could rapidly evolve into crisis scenarios necessitating life or death decisions. As such veterinarians are subjected daily to a trove of risks threatening their health and well-being: injury, intoxication, irradiation, infection, and burnout. Veterinarians are expected to mitigate these risks; however, in a crisis emergency situation, they may instinctively put an animal’s welfare ahead of their own safety with at times severe consequences. Veterinarians can also be exposed to more insidious and more difficult risks to manage. Overworking, isolation, professional and financial pressures, enacting animal euthanasia or witnessing animal death can lead to psychological distress and in some cases suicide. Dealing with emerging zoonoses puts veterinarians at risk of an unknown nature. With three quarters of all emerging infectious diseases being zoonoses, this is an uncertain risk that cannot be overlooked but remains an issue for the veterinary profession.

Veterinarians will continue to be confronted by new challenges which may increase the number and severity of occupational risks to which they are exposed and may further jeopardize their health and well-being. Given the broad contribution of the veterinary profession to communities around the world, it is paramount that we maintain a healthy veterinary workforce. It is time to recognize that veterinarians are also Homo sapiens in need of care! Hence the focus of this proposed Research Topic: “Veterinary Profession in the 21st Century – Time for a Health Check!”

Keywords: veterinary profession, public health, health practitioners

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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