Abstract

Dr. Elizabeth B. Strand is the founding director of Veterinary Social Work at the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion with an emphasis in Latin, a Master’s of Science in Social Work, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work. Dr. Strand is a licensed clinical social worker, a Certified Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator, a grief recovery and compassion fatigue specialist, as well as a mindfulness-based stress reduction teacher. Dr. Strand teaches communication skills and conflict management skills to families as a family therapist, in academic settings as a professor, and in organizations, as an internal social work consultant for veterinary medical teams.

To instill and nurture work–life balance, Dr. Strand encourages two principles. The first is to learn the skill of listening to other people and in turn avoid wasting time on unnecessary, preventable conflict. The second is to “fill your cup” every day with something healthful for your body and mind and generally give to people from your saucer instead of your cup. Every now and then you must dip into the cup when it is really busy or someone really needs you, but this should be the exception rather than the rule.