As a veterinarian, educator, and advocate for animal welfare, Shane Bateman’s career reflects a passion for emergency medicine, forensic veterinary science, and community engagement. His dedication to advancing the field has led him to develop innovative educational programs while remaining deeply involved in clinical practice and animal welfare initiatives.

After graduating from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991, Bateman began his career in rural mixed animal practice before pursuing further training in emergency and critical care. His expertise in the field led him to The Ohio State University, where he spent a decade developing emergency care programs, mentoring students, and spearheading initiatives in community practice and the human-animal bond.

“My early career was shaped by the realities of emergency medicine,” he explains. “You’re dealing with the unknown, making rapid decisions, and working as part of a team under intense pressure. I found it incredibly rewarding, and it pushed me to think about how we could improve education and preparedness for veterinarians entering this field.”

Since returning to Canada in 2009, Bateman has continued to make an impact, serving on the board of Humane Canada and leading efforts to integrate veterinary medicine with broader animal welfare work. His recent focus has been on forensic veterinary medicine—a rapidly evolving field that plays a critical role in investigating cases of animal abuse and neglect.

In addition to his clinical and advocacy work, Bateman has turned his attention to education, developing new courses to prepare veterinarians for the challenges of emergency care and forensic investigations. His latest initiatives include elective rotations in forensic veterinary medicine and an emergency medicine boot camp for fourth-year veterinary students at Ontario Veterinary College. “These are areas where having specialized training can truly change outcomes—for patients, for clients, and in the case of forensic work, for the justice system,” he says.

With a career spanning critical care, education, and animal welfare, Dr. Bateman continues to drive meaningful change in the veterinary profession. His commitment to mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing the role of veterinarians in society ensures his impact will be felt for years to come.

Veterinary Practice News Canada caught up with Shane Bateman to discuss advancements in forensic veterinary medicine, the importance of expanding access to community veterinary care, and the evolving landscape of veterinary education.

1) What inspired you to develop a course on forensic veterinary medicine, and what do you hope students gain from it?

Through some of the community medicine work I had been doing, I attended a Humane Canada conference in Toronto. That was when I first truly learned about veterinary forensic medicine, and I was completely enthralled. I’ve always been interested in legal and true crime entertainment—whether reading, watching programs, or movies—so this felt like another moment in my career where I discovered something I was passionate about and had the opportunity to pursue. I was inspired in that moment to explore the field further, and it felt like a calling. The conference emphasized how crucial it is for society to advance in animal welfare, address crimes against animals, and change legislation to improve their lives. A key takeaway was the need for stronger collaboration between veterinarians, law enforcement, animal crime investigators, lawyers, and prosecutors to work on these cases together.

Interestingly, while the conference had attendees from law enforcement and legal professions, there were very few veterinarians. The forensic veterinarian presenting called this out and challenged the veterinarians in the room to be more involved, ensuring we have a place at the table and understand our legal and societal obligations regarding animal welfare and crime.

As a lifelong educator, I saw an opportunity to contribute by obtaining further education and experience in the field. Since completing my degree, I’ve been working on ways to improve the quantity and quality of forensic veterinary material presented to students. Research shows that veterinarians are expected to be proficient at identifying and reporting concerns related to animal welfare, but in reality, we often fall short due to inadequate education. My goal is to help change that.

2) How do you see forensic veterinary medicine evolving in Canada, and what role do you hope your course plays in shaping the field?

The major shift will be in providing education—not just for veterinary students but also for practicing veterinarians through continuing education, scholarly writing, and other resources. The goal is to elevate the topic and ensure that veterinarians feel confident and comfortable with the expectations society has of us.

By working collaboratively with law enforcement and the legal system, we can take an active role in ensuring that animal crimes do not go unpunished.

3) What impactful experiences have you had working with vulnerable populations through Community Veterinary Outreach?

As a veterinarian of my generation, access to care was something we encountered daily, but we didn’t necessarily view it as a broader issue that needed to be addressed.

At first, I held perspectives that were likely shaped by bias and colonized viewpoints. But once I had the opportunity to engage with the foundational issues surrounding access to care, it became clear how critical it was. I wondered why we hadn’t been thinking about it all along. It was a transformational shift for me.

As an educator, I saw how vital it was to ensure that future generations of veterinarians were prepared to tackle these challenges. I felt a strong responsibility to take action, ensuring that students receive the training necessary to make a meaningful impact in this area.

4) What challenges and opportunities come with providing preventive vet care in First Nations communities?

There are enormous opportunities to break down outdated belief systems, understand the ongoing legacy of colonization, and recognize its impact on the daily lives of First Nations and Indigenous people in Canada. These communities have unique, longstanding relationships with their animals—ones that predate modern concepts like One Welfare and One Health. Indigenous peoples have long held holistic perspectives on interconnection, sustainability, and the role animals play in their lives.

It’s crucial that as we move forward in reconciliation, we support these communities in ways they identify as necessary rather than imposing our own ethnocentric viewpoints. The challenge lies in constantly checking our biases, avoiding knee-jerk responses like, “This is how we do it,” and instead fostering open, thoughtful conversations.

These communities have experienced generational trauma and harm, making trust and connection difficult to build. They also often lack the resources needed to implement changes. Overcoming these challenges will take time, people, conversations, and hard work, but I believe we have the capacity to make a meaningful difference.

5) What advice do you have for veterinary students or early-career vets looking to make an impact?

A DVM degree is incredibly versatile. There are so many fascinating opportunities—in clinical practice, animal industries, animal welfare, or larger societal issues like reconciliation and access to care. If you approach your career with a growth mindset, you’ll find endless ways to make a profound impact—whether on the animals in your care, the families that love them, the communities you work in, or broader societal challenges. I encourage students and new vets to get involved. The work is incredibly rewarding, and our education gives us the ability to drive real change in so many important areas.