Keeping it Reel: Veterinarians on Film

Join Penn Vet Alumni for an exclusive Alumni Week event, presented by Penn Vet's Bellwether Sessions e-learning series:

Keeping it Reel: Veterinarians on Film

Thursday, May 13, 2021 | 4:00 – 5:00 PM (EST)

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About This Event:

PBS’s interpretation of James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small was a ratings boon for Viacom’s Channel 5 in the United Kingdom. And it caused a ratings sensation on our side of the pond too. How can you resist the show’s lush, pastoral focus and its platonic ideal of veterinary medicine? It was this winter’s perfect respite from pandemic fatigue.

According to the Encyclopedia of Film Themes, Settings, and Series, authors Richard and Mary Armstrong note that the film industry “has portrayed veterinarians as gentle, charming animal-lovers blessed with understated strength.” In the last half of the 20th century, more than 20 movies were produced featuring “veterinarians” as lead characters. In this new century however, the plethora of streaming platforms hosting veterinary reality TV and documentaries is accelerating a muddle of narratives about the profession; both a blessing and a curse. How are these shows influencing the perceptions and expectations of veterinary clients?

Join us to hear from your fellow alums on their own personal experiences and perspectives on the portrayal of veterinarians on screen; what’s nostalgia and what’s reality; and how has the profession changed over time.

This event will be moderated by Nate Harvey, V’03, Assistant State Veterinarian at the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, who will lead an engaging conversation with Penn Vet Alumni guest panelists, and answer audience questions during the session.

Featured Alumni panelists for the event include:

• Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Arbittier, V’01; Assistant Professor, Clinical Equine Field Service, Penn Vet

• Dr. Tara Gaab, V’17; Resident, Food Animal Field Service, Penn Vet

• Dr. Raymond “Ray” Sweeney, V’82; Mark Whittier & Lisa Griswold Allam Professor, Professor of Medicine, Penn Vet

Register Today! Questions about the event? Contact Brittany Tinsley at bscan@vet.upenn.edu or 215-746-2421.

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About Penn Vet:

Ranked among the top ten veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling nearly 35,300 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles nearly 5,300 patient visits a year, while the Field Service treats more than 38,000 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.

For more information about Penn Vet please visit www.vet.upenn.edu.