Educator Well-Being

GOAL: Enhancing the Well-Being of Veterinary and Biomedical Educators

The Initiative provides a collaborative environment for the sharing of ideas and knowledge to support and enhance the well-being of veterinary medical and biomedical educators. The initiative works to assess needs, develop and implement programs, promote awareness, encourage engagement, and advocate for well-being. The Initiative provides a collaborative environment for the sharing of ideas and knowledge to support veterinary medical and biomedical educators.

What does the “Educator’s Well-Being Initiative” do?

  • Assess Needs
  • Develop Programs
  • Promote Awareness
  • Encourage Engagement
  • Advocate for Policy Changes
  • Monitor and evaluate implemented wellbeing programs

Why should you join the Educator’s Well-being Initiative?

Personal Benefits:

  • Improve Mental Health
  • Work-Life Balance
  • Stronger Community and Support Networks
  • Resilience and Stress Management

Professional Benefits

  • Leadership in Education
  • Enhanced Teaching and Mentorship Skills
  • Career Development Positive Institutional Impact

Group Timeline:

Fall 2022

Started Maslach and Quality of Life Survey Pretests

Spring 2023

Continued Maslach and Quality of Life Survey Pretests

Summer 2023

Wellbeing workshop at Biennial meeting

Fall 2023

Let’s focus on your Wellbeing- challenge

Maslach and Quality of LIfe- Posttest

Spring 2024

Maslach and Quality of LIfe-Posttest

Spring 2026

Happiness Challenge

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What we’ve learned

Based on preliminary studies of a cohort of RTA fellows from 2021-2022, veterinary medical and biomedical educators report higher levels of burnout than the average post-secondary educator, with lower perceptions of control and reward in their work environments. Interventions to increase perceptions of control and reward include enrolling RTA fellows in the Happiness Challenge, which commences in 2026.

Faculty Development: Wellbeing Fellows

69 & 289 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeRachel HalseyWashington State University
165 & 300 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeGrace VanHoyUniversity of California-Davis
161 & 299 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeSusan TornquistOregon State University
160 & 298 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeSuzana TkalcicWestern University
154 & 297 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeLeslie Stone-RoyColorado State University
134 & 296 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeErin PinnellWashington State University
131 & 295 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeMatthew PeckWashington State University
130 & 294 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeChristine OlverColorado State University
126 & 293 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeNoami NishiColorado State University
104 & 292 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeChristy MartinUniversity of Arizona
101 & 291 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeChristiane LöhrOregon State University
94 & 290 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeAndrea LamUniversity of California-Davis
7 & 277 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeAlberta ArvisoUniversity of Arizona
62 & 288 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeSarah GuessWashington State University
55 & 287 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeSamantha GizerianWashington State University
48 & 286 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeErik FauskUniversity of California-Davis
45 & 285 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeSamantha EvansColorado State University
32 & 284 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeMunashe ChigerweUniversity of California-Davis
29 & 283 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeSami CaseColorado State University
23 & 282 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeJessica BunchWashington State University
20 & 281 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeBeth BoyntonWestern University
18 & 280 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeKaren BoudreauxUniversity of California-Davis
17 & 279 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativeZachery BoederUniversity of Arizona
8 & 278 & Wellbeing Local RepresentativePaul AveryColorado State University