Patient Safety Culture: LEAP CE Webinar

Laura Smallwood, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)

Dr. Laura Smallwood’s veterinary experience includes 36 years in the practice of veterinary medicine, the majority of that as a small animal internal medicine specialist, medical director, and practice owner. As a practice owner she recognized that workplace culture and organizational factors contributed to medical errors. To address this, she developed an online reporting system that offered a simple way to report medical errors and near misses, and a process for follow-up that included investigation of contributing factors embedded in protocols, systems, and workplace organization.   

Dr. Smallwood retired from clinical practice in 2020 and current works as a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher.  She has lectured and taught workshops on mindfulness for the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Thrive Veterinary Health, Royal Canin, and Emerald Coast Veterinary Conference, and she is a regular guest on the Cairn Veterinary Podcast.  She is the owner of Atlanta Mindfulness  and on faculty at East Coast Mindfulness .  She currently serves as the chair of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association Wellness Committee and as the veterinary representative to the Georgia Professional Health Program board.