Biographical Sketch for Tami Shearer, DVM
Dr. Tami Shearer is a 1986 graduate of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2005, she earned her certification as a Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner from the University of Tennessee. Until recently, she has operated her own practice in Columbus for over 16 years. Prior to moving to Columbus, she practiced in rural northwest Ohio in a small animal and equine practice.
She was honored as 2003 Veterinarian of the Year by Hartz Mountain Corporation, was a recipient of the Ohio Animal Foundation’s Award for Community Service Award in 2004, and Boehringer Ingelheim’s 2005 Award for Meritorious Service Above Self in Small Animal Practice. She is also the founder and executive director of the non-profit, Pet Hospice and EducationCenter.
Her work on hospice care for pets has been featured in the Washington Post and in numerous other publications. Dr. Shearer has authored five books on heath care for pet owners and has been teaching community courses on animal care for the past ten years. She has a special interest in rehabilitation, dentistry, and all forms of endoscopy.
Abstract for Tami Shearer, DVM
Title of Presentation: Setting Up a Veterinary Hospice Facility
This presentation will concentrate on what the new hospice veterinarian will need to know in order to set up a facility that will house terminally ill companion animals whose caregivers have opted for veterinary hospice care. By using her own Pet Hospice and Education Center as a model, the speaker will discuss the five-step hospice protocol (The Five-Step Strategy) she has developed to help organize the process so as to better share information with pet caregivers and teach veterinarians expanded care ideas for these special pet patients. Particular emphasis will be placed on the basic requirements for a facility, the difficulties that must be overcome, the emotional resilience needed for this kind of commitment, and the ultimate rewards that are unique to this type of specialty. Even though the most important aspect of hospice care is the philosophy behind it, selecting the appropriate environment can compliment the care the pet receives. Information will be shared on what has been successful in private practice and how to modify an existing practice to meet the needs of hospice patients.