Community Engaged Scholarship in a Veterinary Access to Care/Community Clinic: WisCARES

WisCARES is an income-based access to veterinary care teaching clinic associated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, where students from multiple disciplines collaborate in a community clinic setting. Since 2014, WisCARES has provided basic veterinary care and social services to pet owners who are experiencing poverty or homelessness. Our service mission is to safeguard human-animal families by providing veterinary care and social services to economically disadvantaged populations. Our teaching mission is to improve student confidence; broaden attitudes toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and develop interprofessional skills through participating in a two-week community clinic rotation. We do this by encouraging veterinary students to lead client communication and patient treatment while also providing opportunities to discuss ideas of cultural humility, One Health, and reflective practice. After completing a rotation through WisCARES, students experienced increased confidence managing and leading cases and in communicating with clients, especially regarding financial matters. Students also report increased compassion for diverse and low-income populations and increased comfort in working with them. This short intervention in veterinary medicine provides students with a unique learning opportunity, helping create an open and accepting veterinary profession by teaching veterinary students about access to care medicine, with a specific focus on financial strategies, diversity, bias, and cultural humility.