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The CE Instructor Biography
VIN and VSPN CE participants want to know about you; help us learn who you are by writing a biographical sketch. These sketches are an excellent way for the current and prospective CE participants to know about your background, so please write as much about yourself or as little as you want everyone to know (but more is always better). Your biographical sketch is linked to the course’s main page.
Your biographical sketch will reside in the public domain, not behind VIN security. For example, anyone doing a Google search on your name will find this information. So do not include anything you don't want available to the public. If it is not already on file, VIN/VSPN will also need an academic curriculum vitae for submission to RACE. The curriculum vitae will not be linked to the biographical sketch and will not be posted to the internet.
So you need to figure out where to start and what to include.
Following is a description of the instructor's biography with key information, topics, and examples to help you get started. Remember, you can provide information about only some of the topics. Make your sketch fit your personality. We hope you'll be able to include a picture (color preferred) of yourself. Also, take a look at the sample sketches referenced below. We've noticed that some information, e.g., board or specialty certifications; education; honors, awards, and fellowships, lends itself to being listed rather than presented in paragraph format. We think other topics are best handled with a paragraph to make it more personal.
Topics marked "(Standard)" should be included in all sketches. These are the topics of particular interest to people considering whether to take your course. The other topics listed below will add interest and character to your biographical sketch.
Examples of Instructor Biography pages
Download the instructor biography template, fill it out, and return it with a photo (headshot) of yourself to your course facilitator.
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Topics for your Biographical Sketch
- Name, Credentials (please attach a recent photo)
- Board or Specialty Certification (Standard)
- Let us know about the certifications you have earned.
- Education (Standard)
- Remember to include what school or schools you attended, the year you graduated, the years of your internship and residency, and the degrees you earned: Associate, Bachelor, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, etc.
- Current Professional Activities (Standard)
- Under this topic, you could document where you work, the type of practice, any unique or unusual duties at work, and association offices held. Could you tell participants whether you're a VIN consultant, representative, or VSPN board moderator?
- Past Professional Activities (Standard)
- Under this topic, you could mention other practices where you worked, how long you worked there, and your publications.
- Honors, Awards, and Fellowships
- This is your area to brag about all your awards and special recognition. Please, don't hold back.
- Special Interests
- Do you have any specific medical topics that interest you at work or for study? Examples would be such things as feline reproduction and pediatrics and canine rehabilitation.
- Memberships
- Under this topic, you could list the professional associations you are a member of. Examples include the American Academy of Pain Management, American Veterinary Medical Association, Society for Theriogenology, National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, and Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary Technicians.
- Current Research/Clinical Interests
- You could mention your research, clinical studies, or current clinical interests. Examples would be such topics as the clinical implications of thyroid dysfunction on reproductive physiology or disaster medicine.
- Relationships
- Let us know if you have a special person in your life. Consider including where you met and how long you have been together. Would you like to share some information about your family? If you are a proud parent, please feel free to brag about your young or grown children and include unique things about them. Since CE participants have a particular interest in animals, you may want to include information about your "kids of other species": their names, ages, and maybe the traits that make them unique to you. For example, the real bosses at my house are our two Australian Shepherds (Lex, 6 years, and Cope, 2 years); both are spoiled rotten.
- Hobbies
- This is where you can put what interests you when you aren't working. For example, do you swim, dance, ride horses, play softball, bake, or write poetry?
- Favorite Book, Movie, and Song
- Do you have a favorite book or movie with a particular meaning for you? Or a song that you find yourself singing all the time?
- Favorite Quote
- Do you have a favorite quote, perhaps one that's included in the signature block you append to your VIN and VSPN posts? It might be something that makes everyone laugh or something you live by. It could be from your favorite author, book, movie, or maybe even something a family member used to tell you. For example: "Enjoy life today because yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come." Remember to attribute your source for a quotation.
- What You Like Most About VIN/VSPN (Standard)
- Let everyone know your favorite thing about VIN/VSPN: whether it's being able to communicate with other veterinarians and veterinary support staff members, the vast information that is immediately available right at your fingertips, the consulting resources for help with troublesome cases, the opportunity to share your expertise with other veterinarians and support staff members by teaching VIN and VSPN CE courses, participating in rounds, or one of the many other advantages offered by the VIN/VSPN community.
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