Brandt, Jennifer, LISW, PhD, Program Director - Honoring the Bond - Cohort 2003

Ohio State University

As director for the "Honoring the Bond" program at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Jennifer Brandt is leading the effort to provide veterinary teams with the communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills needed to promote quality veterinary care and veterinary career success.

"Honoring the Bond" services include professional development, communication skills training and practice management education. These courses provide applied learning opportunities that foster veterinary teambuilding and enhance veterinary team communication, while promoting a culture of superior client service that enhances veterinary client satisfaction and advances the clinical learning model. Additional services include providing grief support outreach services for pet owners and providing continuing education and consultation for veterinary professionals.

Dr. Brandt was one of two faculty members in North America asked to serve as a faculty trainer for the Bayer Institute for Healthcare Communication's Faculty Development Program in 2004 and 2005. She also serves as a faculty member for the Veterinary Leadership Experience and was invited by the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine to teach an educational series on "Communication in Veterinary Medicine." Dr. Brandt has presented several lectures at the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association's Midwest Veterinary Conference and at other conferences around the nation.

Dr. Brandt previously served as a medical social worker, educator and researcher specializing in work with survivors of crime and trauma and bereavement facilitation. She received her bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Indianapolis and her master's and doctoral degrees in social work from The Ohio State University.


Topics include:

- Pet loss: The special grief of children
- Coping with the death of a pet
- Building effective teams
- Civility in the workplace
- Getting the story: Effective client history taking
- Euthanasia: Guiding clients through difficult decisions
- The eye of the beholder: Managing difficult interactions between veterinarians and clients
- Nonverbal communication
- Enhancing adherence: Healthy animals and satisfied clients
- The elephant in the room: Discussions about money