Highlights from 2022​

As we entered 2022, the staff and board of Mission Animal Hospital spent some time reviewing the foundation of what makes Mission unique and to ensure we are responsive to our community. As a result, we are proud to share our updated Guiding Values that more accurately reflect who we are today than the original written over six years ago.

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Mission's new Guiding Values

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1. We believe that all people have the right to a relationship with a pet. 

2. We maintain that pet owners know their pet best. 

3. We prioritize patient care through exceptional, individualized medicine.

4. We uphold that equity and inclusivity promote excellence. 

5. We partner with our community because we are stronger together. 

6. We innovate for maximum impact to make tomorrow better than today.

 

Veterinary medicine and the world around us are constantly changing. At Mission Animal Hospital, we are always examining what we can do to improve access to veterinary care in order serve our community in the best possibly way. In response, 2022 was a year in which Mission expanded our programming in two key areas: diversity initiatives and client services.

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At Mission, we feel passionate about addressing the issues of diversity in veterinary medicine. The veterinary profession is one of the least diverse professional groups in the country. As part of our efforts to improve diversity in the field, we entered into a unique partnership this year with Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) to create our Junior Vets Program in 2022. A young person can’t aspire to or be excited about being a veterinary professional if they are never exposed to the field. Mission's Junior Vets Program brings Cristo Rey high school students from diverse backgrounds into hour hospital to gain hands-on work experience in the field of veterinary medicine. Through the course of the school year, each student spends 1-2 days per week working directly alongside our medical teams, inspiring them to consider a future career in veterinary medicine. This is just a first step of many to address the lack of diversity within the profession.

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We are committed and will continue this partnership year over year, generously supported and made possible by our donor base. 

 

Pets mean the world to us and when they are sick or injured, fear and anxiety can strike with a vengeance impacting all of us in unpredictable ways. In 2022, Mission Animal Hospital launched our Social Work Program in response to the journey we see our clients take through our Urgent Care when pets are sick or injured. This began as a successful master’s degree internship program throughout 2022 and into 2023 and is progressing into a full-time licensed social worker position in 2023. Our Social Work Program is instrumental in so many ways, from helping clients navigate difficult decisions that need to be made swiftly to offering local resources for clients needing help outside our walls. Veterinary social work is an emerging field in the veterinary profession and Mission is among the first hospitals in the country to offer this service. We are so fortunate that our donors appreciate the value in this position. Now, we can’t imagine not having a social worker on staff!

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​Our commitment, as a community organization, will always be to grow with our community and to improve access to veterinary care. 2023 promises to be an even more exciting year for Mission and we can’t wait to share with you how we will continue to grow. 

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With gratitude, 

Dr. Susan Miller