Summer Scholars Success

Whether in the classroom, the clinic, or beyond, we are so proud of the hard work and dedication put forth by the veterinary student community.  Take a look at Leah Sauerwein and Maria Koytcheva's CSU Veterinary Summer Scholars project - congratulations on your accomplishments, ladies!

A Systematic Review of Environmental Sustainability In Veterinary Practice  

Maria K. Koytcheva, Leah K. Sauerwein, Tracy L. Webb, Sadie A. Skeels, Colleen G. Duncan

One Health Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

Abstract:  

Upon acceptance to the veterinary profession, one recites an oath swearing to protect animal health and welfare, conserve animal resources, and promote public health. Consequently, veterinary professionals must responsibly implement sustainable changes in their daily practice to mitigate climate change, an indisputable source of traceable, negative impacts on both animal and human health. Since the medical field has proactively taken the first steps in conducting a literature review regarding environmental sustainability in the context of human hospitals, the objective of this paper is to replicate the methods of this review through the lens of veterinary medicine. The goal of a review of this magnitude is to outline concise and achievable eco-friendly changes to the way veterinary medicine is practiced. However, results of this search illustrate the drastic void in experimentally derived, evidence-based clinical guidelines pertaining to environmental sustainability in all forms of veterinary practice. Given this absence, recommendations were extrapolated from empirical research in engineering, human hospitals, and behavior change. Critical next steps to fill this literature gap include integrating research on climate change impacts on animal health in the veterinary education curriculum, establishing an evidence-based sustainability certification as the gold standard for clinics, and expanding the scope of research on the veterinarian’s role in mitigating climate change. As crucial pillar of one health professionals, veterinarians declare to serve animals, humans, and their environment; thus, this pillar cannot fall behind the curve driven by the force of climate change.