Author Archives: jassydoc

Taking stock

2020-12-10 Sometimes it is important to stop and take stock of how far you have come and what kind of lessons you have learned along the way… There are days that I cringe remembering things that I have said or done in some social situations – socially awkward at the best of times, being ADHDContinue reading “Taking stock”

Breaking the bonds

2020-12-09 Sometimes the hardest thing in life is sharing your story to make sure other people feel empowered to share theirs. Being willing to be open, transparent, and vulnerable can be incredibly difficult – especially for those for whom any sort of vulnerability has led to abuse, disparagement, or loss of self. When you learnContinue reading “Breaking the bonds”

Giving Tuesday 2020

2020-12-02 With VAST we go into developing countries suffering from the after-effects of environmental disasters. Unfortunately these disasters also mean that frequently there is political instability and chaos that develops, even amidst our planning and sometimes during our visits (we have been escorted more than once by military police!). Since the safety of our volunteersContinue reading “Giving Tuesday 2020”

The 8th Giving Tuesday…

2020-12-01 It’s another Giving Tuesday !!This year marks the 8th annual giving day, a global movement for giving and volunteering, taking place each year after the expanse of Black Friday, it’s an opportunity to show generosity of spirit and kindness of the heart. And VAST has been around for all of them!! The “Opening dayContinue reading “The 8th Giving Tuesday…”

CoVID repercussions…

2020-11-29 Since the beginning of CoVID chaos and the global pandemic, there has been a second shadow pandemic occurring.Being at home and isolating is not safer for everyone. Stress, uncertainty and depression are all known triggers for domestic violence, and we all know this worldwide situation has all 3 of those in abundance. The devastatingContinue reading “CoVID repercussions…”

Looking in the mirror

From various roles over the last 15 years… veterinary student, to researcher, to teaching assistant, and now veterinarian, professor and epidemiologist, there has been a focus on perpetual learning, innovation, collaboration, creativity, and individual development. With wide-ranging interests and experience in public health, environmental management, herd sustainability, and epidemiology, as well as in zoonoses and animal disease prevention, I have worked in developing countriesContinue reading “Looking in the mirror”

Patience and empathy

2018-12-10 When you have a “typical” child, you feel reasonably assured that class participation and decent study habits will result in good grades. These kids have close friends. They get invited to participate in social things like dances and weekend gatherings. They make the teams and clubs.But when you have a child with certain differences,Continue reading “Patience and empathy”

Support and making lives matter

2018-12-09 About this time two years ago, I was asked if I would write a letter for #GirlsLivesMatter. Because a sickeningly high percentage of girls from our Northern communities attempt or succeed in taking their lives due to an overwhelming feeling of defeat, hopelessness and despair that nothing will ever change or get better. Sadly…Continue reading “Support and making lives matter”

Christmas vacations

2006-12-29 Hello one and all! Hope that you are doing well, enjoying some down time with friends and family, and relaxing. I am in the process of unwinding, just so that I can get rewound. What a crazy system. 🙂 Let’s see… in the month that I was dead to the world… I wrote 4Continue reading “Christmas vacations”