NC State Hosts 2020 Diversity, Inclusion & Wellness Symposium

Interested in furthering your education in the areas of diversity, inclusion, and wellness? Look no further!  Take a peek at the information below regarding North Carolina State University's virtual symposium at the end of the month!  More information and registration information can be found here.

Vet Candy Highlights 'Mindful Hypnotherapy' as a Means to Relieve Stress in Recent Baylor University Study

Mindfulness combined with hypnotherapy aids highly stressed people, study finds.

A new treatment for stress which combines mindfulness with hypnotherapy has shown positive results in a Baylor University pilot study.

The intervention is called "mindful hypnotherapy."

"Mindfulness is a type of meditation that involves focusing attention on present moment awareness. It can help people cope with stress, but can require months of practice and training," said researcher Gary Elkins, Ph.D., director of the Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory at Baylor University. "Hypnosis also involves focusing attention, but it includes mental imagery, relaxation and suggestions for symptom reduction." 

Click to read more ...

Clinicians' Panel on Mental Health

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Join SAVMA this Saturday, September 19th as we collaborate with several professional student organizations to focus on mental health and suicide prevention awareness with a panel of clinicians. Despite the differences of our respective professions, we are all impacted by mental health. Please register through the Google form located on the following Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/742740193243207/.

Wednesday Wisdom

As we really get into the swing of the most unique semester of veterinary school, I would like to share some words of wisdom delivered by our very own National SAVMA President, Mrs. Marie Bucko!  A helpful reminder that no matter what stage of life you are moving into, taking care of your mental and emotional wellbeing is of utmost importance:

WOW – is this really happening? Who would have thought we'd be heading into a new academic year amidst a pandemic during vet school?! Whether you are carrying out didactics or clinics – it's a new season and I hope you can take a moment to pause and soak this in. Look what you have accomplished just by being in veterinary medical school!

This semester is unlike any other and how you move through it is entirely up to YOU. Life can present us with a lot of distractions (cough…pandemic…cough), but you are the captain of YOUR vet school journey.  Meaning, do you, friend.  Sure you may find yourself questioning your study habits ("am I doing enough?" or "should I be studying like they are?"), you may play that comparison game or struggle to find a school-life balance-it happens to so many of us.  But I'm here to tell you – YOU ARE DOING THIS RIGHT. Read that again. Stay focused on what works for you even if you have to discover that through trial and error (it's ok to give yourself permission to make mistakes).

We all move through vet school in our own way – focus on you, unapologetically.  Take that extra 15-minute break, or heck take that day off if that's what you think you need.  Vet school is a marathon! It can get very tiring in many ways. In flights (remember those big aluminum tubes that bring us to world-wide destinations), they tell you to put your air mask on first before you can help others. If you meet your needs first, everything around you will then get your best self. That's how we make this world a better place.

I'll leave you with a quote shared with me on my 1^st day of vet school: "Don't let your education get in the way of your learning".  You are in that seat for a reason and gosh, our profession is so fortunate to have you.  I'm here for you & our SAVMA is here for you.  You got this friend-don't forget that. *fist bump*
-MB

Thank you for always lifting us higher Marie!

A Touch of Green

Our homes have turned into our classrooms, so it is important to create a positive learning environment!  Kate Maas from the University of Illinois brought her new decorations to life, literally!  Thank you for sharing your green thumb and your creativity with us Kate!