LGBTQ Wellness Talks

Louisiana State University was awarded the Wellness Support Funding through SAVMA’s Wellness Committee. LSU VOICE Chapter and LSU Diversity Committee submitted an application to help fund a visit from Dr. Mike Chaddock, DVM, EML (Executive Masters in Leadership), and Lesbian and Gay Veterinary Medicine Association President.

Dr. Chaddock was invited to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine to speak at Grand Rounds. It is part of the LSU SVM mission to create visibility in our support for the LGBTQ community and foster an inclusive and compassionate environment for students and faculty. Dr. Mike Chaddock gave two lectures, “Mental Health Outcomes and Stressors in LGBTQ+ DVM Workforce and Classroom” and “How to Identify Diverse and LGBTQ Friendly Opportunities and How to Make the Environment". Over 220 students were in attendance along with house officers and faculty members.  Dr. Chaddock also attended a lunch-hour Q&A session with an additional ~50 students in attendance. The crowd participation was great, and the extra time for questions in a less formal setting was well-received. 

The LSU Diversity Committee, VOICE Officers, and several faculty members were certified through Safe Space training and identified as either allies in support of all people regardless of sexual identity and gender expression or as professionals willing to demonstrate the best practices for working with LGBTQ individuals on a professional level. On July 25, 2017, the LSU Diversity Committee, VOICE Officers, and several faculty members attended NCBI Welcoming Diversity Training with activities that allowed participants to recognize their biases to better identify misinformation, understand the impact of discrimination, and learn hands on tools for effectively preventing and resolving discriminatory conflict. Due to the success of these events and positive feedback provided by participants, the LSU SVM is making proactive efforts to host additional training and presentations for students and faculty.