Professional skills for proficiency in practice, interpersonal skills for a successful career! Acquiring non-technical or transversal skills is increasingly recognised as a deciding factor in a successful veterinary career. Leadership, emotional intelligence and the ability to communicate are considered to be the most important non-technical skills in the profession. Surveys of new graduates and their employers show that DMV (Doctorat en médecine vétérinaire) graduates have acquired very good scientific knowledge and technical abilities; these can also be called professional skills. However, survey respondents also stress the gaps in non-technical skills, i.e. interpersonal skills. The integration of specific training in these skills is a significant challenge for everyone involved, requiring relevant expertise and financial support. It is vital that students acquire the knowledge that will prepare them to be good communicators. And to be effective, this must take place in every year of the program. The « Faculté de medicine vétérinaire » of the « Université de Montréal » is under the obligation to initiate this new trend in professional training, using the example of what is being done elsewhere in North America.

The « Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec » (OMVQ) has joined together with the FMV to create interactive workshops in the Initiation to Veterinary Leadership program. These workshops were offered for the first time in September 2007 during an intensive training session at the Jouvence Centre in the Eastern Townships. This interactive training is the anchor, in the first year of the DMV program, of structured and integrated training in communications skills that will be extended over the five years of the DMV program:

• 1st year- DMV 1112 Introduction in veterinary medicine (Workshops in Initiation to Veterinary Leadership - ILV)

• 2nd year- DMV 2513 Communication and teamwork • 3rd year- DMV 3414 Workplaces • 4th year- DMV 4510 Ethical and legal aspects of

veterinary medicine

Workshops: Initiation to Veterinary Leadership The ILV workshops are developed around four central themes:

• knowledge of self and others • self command • relationships with others • engagement with regard to others (client services).

During the training, additional themes are developed, including stress, anxiety, collaboration and teamwork, as well as emotional intelligence in interpersonal relationships.

Objectives The workshop programs initiate students to important concepts in communication, interpersonal relationships, and self-knowledge in a positive framework. As well, the workshops stimulate awareness and train professors in ways of integrating these concepts as they teach and lead students in the courses, laboratories and clinical rotations of the DMV program. Finally, these workshops are meant to foster the exchange of ideas:

• among students • between students and professors • among professors.

These types of interactions are essential to integrating the abovementioned aptitudes in professional practice.

Initiation to Veterinary Leadership at the « Faculté de médecine vétérinaire » of the « Université de Montréal »

2008-03

Geographical address Mailing address 3200, rue Sicotte Case postale 5000 Saint-Hyacinthe (Québec) Saint-Hyacinthe (Québec) Canada J2S 2M2 Canada J2S 7C6 Website : www.medvet.umontreal.ca Jacynthe Beauregard Development Officer Faculty of Veterinary Medecine Telephone : (450) 773-8521, ext. 8552 Or on the island of Montréal : (514) 345-8521, ext. 1-8552 E-mail : jacynthe.beauregard@umontreal.ca

Anticipated impacts This program, whose objective is to build and improve inter-personal skills in professional practice, will benefit everyone who believes in this added value for the profession. The abil-ity to engage in relationships with one’s clients will bring both direct and indirect benefits to everyone involved in veterinary medicine. The image of the profession can only be enhanced as a result.

Donor Recognition Program The « Faculté de médecine vétérinaire » of « l’Université de Montréal » recognises the fundamental need to thank its do-nors through a recognition program. Several types of recog-nition are possible according to the type of donation.

Required Budget Our wish is to obtain renewable overall financing of $ 80,000. The budget is available upon request.

Professional skills for proficiency in practice, interpersonal skills for a successful career!