Magdalena Smrdelj DVM DACVPM
Calgary,AB
Summary
Passionate and empathic leader aspiring to offer professional leadership service in a collaborative team environment utilizing proven interpersonal and problem-solving skills to co-create a positive, supportive and respectful work culture
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Co-Founder of Non-profit OneKind, Other Activities
Self-employed
02.2022 - Current
- Co-designing and developing platform to invite collaboration in facilitating awareness of profound interconnectedness between humans, animals and environment with focus on humane education to foster compassion and empathy
- Co-facilitated PrepACVPM Course for veterinarians aspiring to sit for ACVPM exam; emphasized communication skills, One Health concepts
- Presented at UNESCO DCMET Symposiums 2021-2023 on topics of One Health and Welfare, Human-Animal Bond, evolution of animal welfare and status of animals
- Participating member of CVO Veterinary Practice Reference Panel-3 year duration
- Locum as spay/neuter surgeon to respond to veterinary shortage
Chief Veterinary Officer
Ontario SPCA
04.2012 - 01.2022
- Co-created Chief Veterinary Officer role including external relations, education, overseeing Department of Shelter Health and Wellness encompassing all medical/behavioural care in 11 animal shelters, two veterinary hospitals, mobile spay/neuter clinic
- Co-created Department of Shelter Health and Wellness, developed key areas such as: advisory/consultation in shelter medicine and operations; stakeholder engagement in animal welfare arena; education; community outreach (e.g. mobile wellness and spay/neuter clinics in underserved areas)
- Contributed to many task forces and committees such as CVO Shelter Medicine Task Force; CVO Proper Handling and Restraint by Veterinarians Advisory Group; CVO Veterinary Practice Community Reference Panel, Ontario Provincial Animal Welfare Task Force; Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) Guidelines Review Committee, etc
- Collaborated with above organizations to create Canadian Standards of Care in Animal Shelters: Supporting ASV Guidelines, and CVO Professional Practice Standards: Humane Handling and Restraint
- Implemented Shelter Standards above by tactfully facilitating detailed, comprehensive reviews of internal and external animal shelters' operations; identified strategic steps to enhance animal welfare
- Cultivated positive, enthusiastic and supportive work culture with mentoring groups engaged in mutual learning and wellness support and initiatives, in collaboration with HR department (e.g. opened meetings with visualization meditation to invite calmness and connection, Bell Let's Talk)
- Ensured compliance with CVO and other regulatory bodies, upheld veterinary and shelter medicine standards, maintained regular communications with CVO for experimental 'sandbox' operations
- Oversaw and directed development and implementation of Infection and Disease Control manual which evolved into extensive online platform- shelterhealthpro.com
- Developed and implemented subsequent curriculum which led to increased performance and job satisfaction for staff (currently inactive site)
- Engaged in regular strategic planning and evaluation as passionate and collaborative Senior Management Team member
- Initiated development and implementation of veterinary and public health policies/protocols such as cleaning/disinfection protocols, safe use of PPE
- Directed original research and paper submissions resulting in two publications pertaining to Giant Kidney Worm (Dioctophyma renale) in dogs from northern indigenous communities; created diagnostic algorithm
- Worked professionally within this non-profit organization's board governance; reported directly and indirectly to board
Psychotherapist
Private Practice
07.2002 - 01.2015
- Engaged in extensive training, supervision and practice in trauma and compassion fatigue, active listening skills, groundwork for compassionate, empathic leadership
- Successfully established therapeutic alliance with diverse group of over 30 clients with wide range of cultural backgrounds and presenting problems/issues over 13 years, many of them in multi-year therapy
- Reduced or alleviated symptoms of anxiety, depression, helplessness/hopelessness, low self-worth for clients
Staff Veterinarian
Ontario SPCA
01.2009 - 09.2011
- Co-facilitated implementation and execution of first high volume, high quality, spay/neuter clinic in Canada, in Newmarket, ON, performed 22-30 spay/neuter surgeries daily
- Re-imagined and managed veterinary clinic at flagship Newmarket animal centre, developed and implemented protocols to reflect evolving standards in shelter medicine
- Demonstrated operations management by hiring clinic staff, training shelter staff, supporting shelter goals
- Ensured compliance with CVO regulations in both veterinary clinics
- Oversaw health and safety practices, particularly with respect to zoonotic agents
- Collaborated as consultant, advisor and subject matter expert to Society's 11 shelters as well as external SPCAs, municipal shelters and some rescues
Owner/Operator
Willow Mobile Veterinary Services
05.2007 - 05.2009
- CVO-accredited small animal and equine mobile facility focused on holistic care, an underrepresented area of veterinary medicine at the time
Staff Veterinarian
Toronto Humane Society
04.1998 - 01.2009
- Performed clinical and medical duties as needed in shelter (on an individual and population basis), spay/neuter clinic, and vaccination clinic
Education
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine DVM -
Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
Guelph, ONBachelor of Science -
University of Toronto
Toronto, ONFellowship -
Oxford Centre For Animal Ethics
Oxford, UK09.2019
Diplomate ACVPM -
American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine
Columbus OH06.2017
Ordained Minister
Canadian International Metaphysical Ministry
Vancouver, BC10.2011
DCTP -
Centre For Training in Psychotherapy CTP
Toronto, ON06.2005
Skills
- Current CVMA and licensed ABVMA member, resigned Emeritus of College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) with over 25 years of clinical experience in private and shelter medicine practice
- Board-certified Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine encompassing Veterinary Public Health as one of its five pillars
- Professional training (certification and ordination) and experience in psychotherapy and spiritual ministry, with sound knowledge and understanding of psychological injury and wellness issues such as compassion fatigue, burnout, moral injury and resilience related to veterinary profession
- Strong understanding of, and commitment to, preventive medicine and human-animal bond
- Proven leadership, team building and administrative management experience with focus on mentoring and supportive, positive culture of psychological safety and mutual respect
- Demonstrable strengths in operations management, strategic planning and organizational transformation through developing, designing, overseeing and executing various programs
- Research, critical thinking, and extensive professional writing experience with two published papers, multiple policies and protocols etc
- Creative, visionary and collaborative-minded
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills, led by compassion, empathy and active listening, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion framework, across different audiences (lay staff, volunteers, veterinary professionals, public) and platforms
- Extensive experience in development and delivery of presentations, workshops and lectures
- Proven ability for engagement in and cultivation of strategic partnerships with veterinary industry, association and animal health and welfare partners, and other stakeholders
publications, videos
One Health One Welfare Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEtMJHd_fDI
Interview for UNESCO Symposium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzIjXb_rcxQ
Giant Red Kidney Worm (Dioctophyma renale) Screening and Treatment Protocol
https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-parasitology/volume-107/issue-2/20-127/Giant-Red-Kidney-Worm-Dioctophyma-renale-Screening-and-Treatment-Protocol/10.1645/20-127.short
Giant Red Kidney Worm (Dioctophyma renale) Infection in Puppies Less Than Four Months of Age from Northern Canada
https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/catalog/7757843
references
Available upon request
Timeline
Co-Founder of Non-profit OneKind, Other Activities
Self-employed
02.2022 - Current
Chief Veterinary Officer
Ontario SPCA
04.2012 - 01.2022
Staff Veterinarian
Ontario SPCA
01.2009 - 09.2011
Owner/Operator
Willow Mobile Veterinary Services
05.2007 - 05.2009
Psychotherapist
Private Practice
07.2002 - 01.2015
Staff Veterinarian
Toronto Humane Society
04.1998 - 01.2009
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine DVM -
Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
Bachelor of Science -
University of Toronto
Fellowship -
Oxford Centre For Animal Ethics
Diplomate ACVPM -
American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine
Ordained Minister
Canadian International Metaphysical Ministry
DCTP -
Centre For Training in Psychotherapy CTP
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