Social work has a rich history of
bringing people together to support families and individuals in need. We
are proud of the contributions our two social workers make to our college and
Veterinary Medical Center, veterinary profession, and society. The month of
March celebrates the contributions of social workers in society.
At The Ohio State University
Veterinary Medical Center, a trained social worker helps support families
through difficult times. The College of Veterinary Medicine recognizes the
important work of social workers and their collaborations through the Honoring the Bond program.
Joelle Nielsen, veterinary social
worker, coordinates the Honoring the Bond program, working with the clients
served by the experts in the Veterinary Medical Center. The Honoring the Bond program in the
Veterinary Medical Center was one of the first programs in the nation to
include a licensed social worker on the veterinary health care team, offering
support services to pet owners.
“Our college is unique because we
have two social workers: one dedicated to the students and one to the clients.
They work closely together to make sure everybody’s needs are met,” says Dr.
Jennifer Brandt, social worker for the college and Peer Tutoring Program
Dr. Brandt provides counseling to
the students to help them cope with a variety of issues related to college. She
also teaches veterinary communication classes to the students to help them
better manage conflicts. Many different tools help students manage and
de-escalate situations, and the classes help teach students which tool is best
to use in different situations.
Dr. Brandt also works closely with
Joelle Nielsen, who helps with communication classes and student clinics.
Students are recorded so that they can critically review how they interact with
clients. Joelle then meets with students to review and provide feedback in
order to help them improve their communication skills.
Together our social workers ensure that veterinary students and
professionals have the tools they need for effectively interacting with others.