Keynote/General Session

Panel Discussion: Mitigating the Veterinary Shortage

November 20, 2024

9:15 am - 10:30 am | Grand Ballroom

It is no secret that there is a growing shortage of veterinary professionals across the US and beyond.  And the burgeoning cost of veterinary care impact ALL pet owners, but disproportionately those who have been historically and systemically underserved.  There are many potential solutions, and all will need to be used to reverse the dangerous trends of today’s data.

The  animal  welfare  field  is  feeling  the  pinch  in  a  variety  of  ways.  In  recent  years,  studies  have  been  conducted  in  California  and  nationally  to  help  us  better  understand  how  the  veterinary  crisis  impacts  our  profession.  Hear  from  a  panel  of  experts  who  will  walk  us  through  the  results  of  those  studies  and  will  share  some  of  the  work  being  done  currently  to  address  the  troublesome  findings. Discussion topics will include:

  • Legislative updates and related calls to action for the industry
  • Recruitment and retention of shelter veterinarians and medical staff
  • Developing veterinary support staff and harnessing their potential impact on animal care
  • The national veterinary shortage both in and out of the shelter and policies that could increase veterinary capacity

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Speakers

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Mark Cushing, JD

Founder & CEO, Animal Policy Group

A long-time political strategist, government regulatory advisor, corporate executive and former litigator, Mark focuses his advocacy practice on providing high-level strategic advice and services to clients with needs at any level of government, and organizations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Since 2004, Mark has specialized in animal health, animal welfare, veterinary and veterinary educational issues and accreditation. He is an Honors graduate with distinction from Stanford University and the Willamette University College of Law.

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Mike Greenberg, DVM

Co-founder, Veterinary Care Accessibility Project

Dr. Mike Greenberg is a veterinarian who works to improve animal welfare through clinical practice, pet health technology, and applied research. He co-founded the Veterinary Care Accessibility Project, a nonprofit creating tools for data-driven decisions to improve access to care. He currently works in animal shelters and accessible care clinics across the Gulf South and Texas.
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Jennifer Scarlett, DVM
Chief Executive Officer, San Francisco SPCA

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett has spearheaded transformative programs, including shelter coalitions in California’s Central Valley, veterinary outreach to under-resourced neighborhoods, and the Shelter PALS legal service. Under her leadership, the SF SPCA has significantly advanced animal welfare, enhancing lifesaving capacity and addressing pet-health inequity in San Francisco while assisting shelters statewide. With 20 years of veterinary experience, Dr. Scarlett holds a DVM from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

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Roberta Westbrook, DVM

Chief Animal Welfare & Medical Officer, Houston SPCA

Dr. Roberta received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. As an adjunct professor at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biological Sciences, Dr. Westbrook co-teaches an elective course and facilitates the 4th year, 2-week clinical rotation in Shelter Medicine. She serves her community as the 2024 President of the Harris County Veterinary Medical Association, and is a proud board member of The Association of Animal Welfare Advancement.