Toxicity in the Workplace

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Toxicity in the workplace is very common and many hospital team members find themselves in a toxic environment. In this presentation Melissa will examine how to recognize a toxic environment, how a toxic environment affects team members, and what both team members and leaders can do to help change it. Melissa will also discuss what leads to a toxic environment and how each person can influence the toxicity and make it better.

Speaker: Melissa Tompkins-Lewis, BS, CVPM, PHRca, CCFP

Bio: Melissa started in the veterinary field in 2003 as a vet assistant/receptionist before becoming a practice manager in 2005. She earned her CVPM in 2011, and both her PHRca and CCFP in 2020. In 2018 she was the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association’s Paraprofessional of the year and in 2015 she was nominated for DVM360’s Practice Manager of the Year.

After working as a full-time practice manager for over 13 years she opened her own consulting company South Coast Veterinary Management Solutions in 2018. She now has the opportunity to help multiple hospitals all over the country. She is a published author of multiple articles in DVM360.com, Veterinary Practice News, Veterinary Team Brief, Firstline Magazine, Veterinary Economics, and VPN+. She has also spoken at several annual conferences and symposiums, including Western Veterinary Conference, Pacific Veterinary Conference, Oklahoma’s Annual Conference, AAFP National Conference, VHMA’S management exchange, the Vet Show and multiple local or virtual symposiums.

Melissa is highly active within the local veterinary community co-founding the North Orange County Veterinary Hospital manager group and the SoCal Veterinary Manager’s Network. She previously served on the SCVMA Board of Trustees and on the CVPM Board for the VHMA. She loves helping other managers and team members grow within the veterinary profession. She spends her free time running or walking in 5k’s & half marathons. She also spends time with her friends and family. She shares her home with her husband, stepson, and their furry babies.