Integrated, Scaffolded, and Mandatory Community and Shelter Medicine Curriculum: Best Practices for Transformational Learning on Access to Veterinary Care.

This article focuses on best practices for integrating equity and cultural humility into veterinary medical education through a mandatory, scaffolded curriculum in community and shelter medicine. Drawing on the Ontario Veterinary College's Community Healthcare Partnership Program (CHPP), it identifies five foundational curricular pillars—animal welfare, vulnerable animals, spectrum of care, well-being, and cultural humility—and emphasizes combining in-class and experiential learning to foster transformational learning. The CHPP curriculum includes early-year classroom instruction and community-based clinical rotations with Indigenous and underserved communities, aiming to prepare veterinarians to address barriers to veterinary care access while promoting cultural safety and practitioner well-being. Preliminary evidence suggests this integrated approach enhances student understanding of social determinants of health, ethical challenges, and culturally responsive care, offering a model for other veterinary colleges seeking to reduce inequities in veterinary services.