Open Ended Questions: Part 1 of a 4-Part Mini-Series on Communication with Dr. Jordan Woodsworth

Dr. Jordan Woodsworth is a general veterinary practitioner, PhD candidate, and part of the Wellness and Preventive Medicine team at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Medical Centre. She is a 2008 graduate of the WCVM and joined the staff at the VMC in 2012 to start the Wellness and Service Learning programs.

Jordan’s diverse professional interests include community engagement and social accountability in the veterinary profession, clinical communications, inter-professional work in the area of animal welfare, and elevating the quality and perception of well care for cats and dogs.

Jordan’s work in Northern Saskatchewan is an area of true passion, and she strives to use her role as a veterinary educator to provide opportunities for veterinary learners and practitioners to develop and practice culturally safe approaches to veterinary care. Her personal interests include lake time with her husband, 2 kids and dog, travelling and enjoying nature, and eating and cooking amazing food.

Topics covered in Part 1 include:

• Why should veterinarians care about communication?
• Who needs communication training?
• Communication skills are transferable skills
• What is an open ended question and how do you ask them?
• Ways to start an open ended question
• How a broad open ended question can get you all the information you need
• Training yourself to ask better questions
• The power of curiosity
• Disarming or defusing intensity / conflict / anger

Look for Part 2 of the 4-part mini-series coming out soon!

To connect with Dr. Woodsworth you can find her via email:

jordan.woodsworth@usask.ca

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- Jonathan Leicht, DVM and Michael Bugg, DVM