Breaking Down Barriers: Dr. Jordan Woodsworth Leads New EDI Series in Veterinary Medicine

In November 2025, Dr. Jordan Woodsworth led the first of four webinars in a groundbreaking new series on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in veterinary medicine. The event marked the beginning of an important journey that invites veterinary professionals to reflect, learn, and act toward building a more inclusive and compassionate profession.

Obi Veterinary Education is proud to partner with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) as the exclusive host of this powerful lecture series. Together, we’re working to make meaningful education accessible to every veterinary professional who wants to be part of positive change in our field.

Why EDI Matters in Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary medicine, at its heart, is about empathy, care, and connection with our patients and with the people who love them and the colleagues we work alongside. Yet, as Dr. Woodsworth highlighted, inclusion and equity are still areas where the profession has important work to do.

This series continues the important conversation that began with her widely acclaimed session at the 2025 CVMA Convention: Our Patients Don’t See Colour, So Why Do We Need EDI? That presentation sparked overwhelming interest from veterinarians and technicians across the country who wanted to explore the “why” and “how” of equity and inclusion in clinical practice.

Each session in this new four-part series dives deeper—tackling race, racism, and anti-racism in veterinary spaces and exploring the systems that shape access, trust, and wellbeing for both humans and animals. Grounded in the Social Determinants of Health and viewed through a One Health lens, these discussions invite participants to consider how inclusion isn’t just a human issue—it’s directly connected to animal health outcomes and the overall quality of care.

Making Learning Accessible and Actionable

After the final session in June, Obi Veterinary Education will transform the complete six-hour series into a set of digestible, RACE-approved microlearning modules—designed to fit seamlessly into your schedule.

Each micro-module will focus on specific themes and takeaways from the live webinars, making it easier for learners to engage with the material at their own pace. This flexible format reflects Obi’s commitment to creating accessible, high-impact learning experiences that meet veterinary professionals where they are.

To ensure equitable access to this important topic, all lessons will be available for free.

Continuing the Conversation

At Obi, we believe education has the power to drive cultural change—and that fostering inclusion within veterinary medicine ultimately leads to stronger teams, healthier workplaces, and better outcomes for animals and communities alike.

We’re grateful to Dr. Jordan Woodsworth and the CVMA for leading this essential conversation, and we look forward to sharing more as the series continues.

Stay tuned for updates and information on how to access the RACE-approved microlearning modules when they become available on Obi later this year.

Together, we’re building a more inclusive future for veterinary medicine—one conversation, one lesson, and one learner at a time.