DR. SHELLY PANCOAST, who has served on the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association’s board of directors since 2021, was appointed the board’s new president on Jan 1. She now leads the 250-member association focused on promoting animal welfare, veterinary medicine and public health. She is an emergency clinician at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists and Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services, where she has practiced since 2011. After graduating from college, Pancoast spent two years in general practice in Connecticut and Boston before going on to complete a specialty combined internship in cardiology and emergency and critical care at Tufts University’s Veterinary and Emergency Treatment & Specialties, or Tufts VETS, a specialty and emergency veterinary hospital in Walpole, Mass.
What led you to joining the association’s board in 2011? As an emergency room veterinarian, my job changed in unimaginable ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to find a way to help support and advocate for my colleagues and I realized that organized veterinary medicine is one of the best ways to do that.
What are your goals for the association? I would like to help make Rhode Island a kinder place for animals, pet owners and veterinary staff. Promoting access to veterinary care and advocating for legislation that helps to put an end to animal cruelty are very important to me. It is also imperative that we shine a light on the mental health issues that face veterinary staff.
What workforce challenges is the veterinary sector facing and what needs to be done to address it? The biggest challenge right now is the shortage of veterinarians and veterinary staff, and the burnout that is contributing to these shortages. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution, and studies on how to reduce burnout and improve well-being are underway on a national level.
What, if any, new initiatives will the association look to introduce this year to support the veterinary sector? RIVMA continues to look for solutions to improve access to veterinary care for all pets. This is an issue across the country and an area where Rhode Island has been a national leader for many years since the founding of the RIVMA Companion Animal Foundation. The foundation provides financial assistance to low-income pet owners to help ensure their beloved companions have access to the care they need. … We are currently working with other nonprofits on this issue and applaud their work to help others.