Professional Skills

Dr. Adams designed and directed the first clinical communication curriculum at Ontario Veterinary College in the 1990s. During this time she also established one of the first research programs to include studies on observed and applied communication research, human-animal interactions, animal welfare and critical reflection as a core competency for effective practice. Her research interests include communication skills teaching; learning and assessment; practice based implications in small and large animal contexts; human-animal interactions; animal, child, social welfare; population health and well-being; epidemiology; and relational co-ordination and competence at the organizational and practice-based levels of implementation.

In 2017 Dr. Adams co-authored a handbook entitled: Skills for Communicating in Veterinary Medicine. This book was written for all members of the practice team as well as those responsible for training and coaching communication in a variety of settings.

Dr. Adams is called upon to assist schools (veterinary and animal health technology) across North America to design and deliver communication programs. She consults nationally and internationally on all applications of communication in veterinary medicine. She is the founder and Chair of the International Conference on Communication in Veterinary Medicine, founder and Board member for the International Veterinary Communication Institute, and a Faculty member for the Institute for Healthcare Communication.

After working for two years as a general practitioner and emergency veterinarian in Montreal, Serge pursued a residency in small animal internal medicine at the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in New York City. Once his residency completed in 2009 he stayed on at the AMC as their first renal/hemodialysis fellow and then as a staff doctor.

Dr. Chalhoub has been a faculty member at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) since 2012 and currently holds the rank of tenured senior instructor. He was the recipient of the 2021 and 2013 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s Teacher of the Year Award, the 2015 University of Calgary Team Teacher of the Year Award, and the 2017 Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award (considered the most prestigious teaching award for a veterinary faculty member in North America). Serge is the coordinator of a community outreach-service learning program (UCVM-CUPS Pet Health Clinic) for disadvantaged Calgarians. He has authored and co-authored numerous scientific articles and book chapters on veterinary point of care ultrasound, renal and urinary medicine, and lectures around the world on these topics. He is a member of the National Issues Committee (NIC) of the CVMA and a Council Member for the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association.

Prior to working in higher education Mandy had a brief stint as a high school technical theatre teacher before moving on to work in professional theatre for 15 years as a stage manager, tour manager, residency leader, director of education, fund development officer and executive director. She has provided simulation education and been involved in client/patient case development and training for high stakes licensing exams since 2008. Mandy has partnered since 2018 with Own the Podium’s Coaching Enhancement Program providing interactive training sessions to help Canadian Olympic coaches become more confident in dealing with difficult conversations and heightened emotional states in their sports.

Mandy joined the University of Calgary in the rural medicine office in 2016 and made the move to Professional Skills Advisor in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. She feels right at home in this program thanks to her passion for interpersonal communication and her deep love of animals.

In addition to her Theatre/TV/Film work, she has been a long time Artist in Residency Program Leader and Facilitator with Theatre for Young Audiences companies. She also works as a Voice-Over recording artist, independent theatre producer, teacher of various physical theatre/comedy workshops, and brings 19 years of experience as a Standardized Patient and Simulated Client to her work at UCVM.

Having worked with The Alberta Children’s Hospital, the Medical Skills Centre at the University of Calgary, Own The Podium’s Coaching Enhancement Program for Olympic Coaches, Plays That Work, several high stakes licensing exams, and a multitude of Corporate Role Play companies, Cheryl has gained a deep appreciation for the value that this type of communication learning offers. She is delighted to be a part of the team as a Professional Skills Advisor in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.