On behalf of the Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), I appreciate the opportunity to update my cross-country colleagues with the latest news on what is happening with the veterinary profession in Manitoba.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's (CVMA's) annual convention will be showcased in Winnipeg this summer, and we welcome this opportunity to flaunt the spirit of Manitobans. The joining of the energetic and lively group of veterinary practitioners in the educational setting of the scientific sessions with the friendly camaraderie and verve of the Manitoba veterinary family will guarantee a great time for everyone.
Under the direction of Dr. Neil Charnock, the Local Organizing Committee for the CVMA annual convention has developed an exciting program of family adventure, showcasing the spirit of Winnipeg and Manitoba. The MVMA's incoming president, Dr. Erika Pfeiffer, and all of the members of the MVMA Council and the general membership join me in inviting all CVMA members to Manitoba next summer. Summer in Manitoba is usually one clear sunny day after another, like summer in all of western Canada, so bring your windsurfers and plan to stay a few extra days at Gimli!
Over the last several years, the MVMA has been expending a great deal of time and energy in stressing the importance of the Practice Inspection and Practice Standards (PIPS) in the everyday practice of veterinary medicine. As the Association enters the 2nd round with an improved approach to practice inspections, it is finding that the membership understands the process well, and, in general, is finding a high level of practice quality. This information is well received by Dr. Wayne Lees, the hard-working PIPS coordinator for the last several years, and by Dr. Lea Stogdale, Dr. Pat Ilott, and Dr. David Scammell, the inspectors. The MVMA welcomes its new PIPS coordinator, Dr. Fred Lindenschmidt, to this important responsibility. At the recent annual general meeting, a by-law was passed whereby under some situations practitioners themselves could complete alternate practice inspections, especially in the cases where their practices were fully compliant on the previous external inspection.
Council appointed Ms. Maureen Jay-Goldman as registrar in June of this year. The MVMA's new registrar has had 2 very successful careers, as a lawyer and in the investment industry. Maureen brings a wealth of information and experience to the MVMA's regulatory functions and inter- provincial liaisons. The MVMA thanks Marcel Fraser, the retiring registrar for the many years he has spent in the service of the public and veterinarians in Manitoba. Mr. Fraser was awarded honorary membership in the MVMA at the its annual banquet in January.
Dr. Randy Aitken, Strategic Planning Coordinator, spent the last year leading a long, hard look at the work and procedures in place in the office of the registrar, and balancing the affairs of the profession with the regulation of the same. The Strategic Planning Committee also endeavors to provide overall continuity in direction and momentum in shaping the vision of the Association for the future. Continuity and momentum are always difficult goals to maintain in nonprofit organizations, which rely, primarily, on volunteers as the resource. This committee also has the ongoing duty of recruiting volunteers for council and other committees.
Despite having to contend with environmental challenges like a freak spring blizzard, the Great Manitoba Dog Party continues to be the primary focus of the Association's companion animal professional image campaign. This event, which is directed by Dr. Dick Van Middlesworth, continues to grow and is an event Manitobans look forward to each year. Having now had 2 years of rather inclement weather, participants are setting their sights skyward hoping for a little more assistance from the climatology gods.
Dr. Lisa Sawka continues to chair the Professional Image Committee. The committee's Media Training Seminar gave almost 30 Manitoba veterinarians an opportunity to learn how to work with and respond to the media. This committee has also been looking at ways to acknowledge the significant efforts of the Association's volunteers.
Dr. Ab Hague's Professional Regulatory and Economic Affairs Committee has worked diligently with Mr. Darren Osborne of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) in putting together a Manitoba Economic Improvement Report. The committee organized presentations in 4 communities throughout the province; to gather area practitioners together in 1 room and learn more about the realities of the practice of veterinary medicine in rural Manitoba. Dr. Wayne Clayton gave freely of his time and accompanied Darren on his whirlwind tour through rural Manitoba; he continues to work on ensuring that the concerns of the rural practitioner are heard and known throughout the province.
Continuing education is an important focus of the MVMA, and Drs. Kris Torske and Rick Wiens have developed some superb professional excellence sessions for members by utilizing top speakers in the veterinary profession and management fields. Manitoba veterinary licensure requires members to obtain 20 hours of continuing education every 2 years, and the enforcement of this policy helps to remind the membership that continuing education is an important component of being a member of a profession.
Manitoba is unique in Canada in that around 70% of its population of slightly more than a million residents lives within Winnipeg or very near to the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers. In many ways it is a province composed of a single city and outlying areas. The veterinary profession shares in this employment reality, so there is great difficulty in recruiting and retaining veterinarians in rural areas. Recent economic analysis, in partnership with other Canadian provinces, indicates that economic returns for veterinarians and practices in Winnipeg are very similar to those in other parts of Canada; however, rural-based veterinary operations in Manitoba are significantly less sustainable economically than are their counterparts in the rest of Canada.
The details of the Osborne report showed that, overall, average veterinary incomes in Manitoba have improved in the last decade. There remains a segment of veterinarians, most notably mixed animal practitioners, who are still earning low incomes. The fee structure in this segment is also below what research has indicated is necessary to provide a sustainable level of professional service. This problem is common to the profession around the world in areas where livestock are maintained under extensive management systems.
At the AGM in November, a by-law allowing the nonveterinary implantation of bovine embryos under indirect supervision of a member was passed with mixed feelings. In fact, more members in attendance at the meeting abstained from the vote than either supported or opposed the motion. Of course, in many provinces, this activity is not considered the practice of veterinary medicine and is unregulated. This is a current example of the divided and mixed vision for the future of the profession, especially in traditional food animal locations.
Most veterinarians support rational delegation of some aspects of veterinary service. By delegating specific aspects of the profession because they appear simple on initial examination, do veterinarians, by their actions, devalue the animals that they are called to protect? As the rest of society inflates the welfare of food producing animals, are we leading, or even reflecting, those values on the farm?
For example, is it good for the profession when technical staff collect routine diagnostic material for postmortem submission, as occurs within large swine enterprises? Is it important for a veterinarian to see the complete carcass in order to determine specific tissue collection for determination of the disease process? Is the question changed if the postmortem is not on animals routinely found dead but on animals euthanized for this very purpose? Do we, as veterinary professionals working within integrated production systems, have a higher obligation to ensure that the tissue sampled is that which is most likely to yield a specific diagnosis when we have sacrificed animals for this potential knowledge?
On the other hand, we have all seen excellent food animal practitioners leave the vocation because of the rigorous physical demands, a specific injury, such as rotator cuff, or both. Is it good management for the profession to propagate and promote an economic system where it loses some of its most productive and talented practitioners because their shoulder gives out? If there is another way, what is it? If you are interested in any or all of these questions, it is your personal responsibility to participate in your professional association and try to find the answers, because I don't believe we have them yet. Manitoba is a province where veterinarians anticipate having to wrestle with these and similar problems at the association level for many years to come.
(by Dr. Terry Whiting, 2002 President, Manitoba Veterinarians Medical Association, Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Dr./Dr Terry Whiting
Footnotes
Around the provinces is a regular news feature in the Canadian Veterinary Journal designed to inform Canadian veterinarians about the work of provincial veterinary associations across Canada. We invited the provincial presidents of these associations to report on the activities and issues being addressed by their respective organizations. We thank Dr. Terry Whiting for his article in this issue. CVJ eds.