Diversity, equity and inclusion in veterinary medicine
by Jenny Alonge
In 2013, Atlantic magazine published an article that categorized veterinary medicine as the whitest profession in America. And, although this information highlighted a significant problem in the profession, little has changed. Speech pathologists and dental hygienists are currently identified as the whitest professions, but according to Data USA statistics, about 90% of veterinarians in the United States are white, 4% are Asian, and fewer than 2% are African American. This data is notably disproportionate to generic demographic data, which demonstrates that around 40% of the U.S. population is Black, Hispanic, Native, or Asian. To amplify the problem, the veterinary industry’s economic drivers, such as animal agriculture, big pharma, and luxury animal health care consumers, are also disproportionately white.
Why does the veterinary profession lack diversity?
The veterinary industry’s diversity problem isn’t only about race. Statistics from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) 2019 to 2020 Annual Data Report demonstrated that more than 80% of applicants for the 2024 veterinary class identified as heterosexual, while fewer than 10% identified as bisexual, gay, or lesbian. In addition, more than 80% of applicants identified as female, fewer than 20% identified as male, and extremely low numbers identified as transgender or other. Today, the primary barrier to veterinary diversity is the low number of historically underrepresented populations in veterinary medicine (URVM) who graduate from colleges of veterinary medicine. Factors contributing to this disparity include:
- Finances — Veterinary school is expensive, and URVM individuals frequently can’t afford the course fees, let alone the cost of living while in school.
- Role models — Children typically aspire to roles they witness in their communities, and most start considering their future at around 7 or 8 years of age. If these children don’t see veterinarians who look and identify like they do, they don’t think they can achieve in that role.
- Lack of experience — Most veterinary schools require work experience, and many low-economic students don’t have the luxury of forgoing income to gain this experience.
Why is diversity in the veterinary profession important?
Increasing diversity in the veterinary profession is a moral obligation to promote equality and social justice, but also is important to:
- Provide improved veterinary care — Animal owners are better able to trust a veterinarian whom they feel can understand their wants and needs. As the clientele become more diverse, the veterinary industry needs professionals who can meet this demand.
- Offer a wider range of ideas — Diversifying the industry can facilitate advances in veterinary medicine as professionals with different backgrounds and perspectives shape critical thinking.
- Improve access to veterinary services — Increasing diversity can help improve access to veterinary care in areas with ethnic and racial disparities.
How is diversity being improved in the veterinary profession?
Leaders in the veterinary industry acknowledge that diversity is a problem and are addressing this concerning issue with initiatives that include:
- Commission for a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Veterinary Profession — The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the AAVMC created this panel to lead a coordinated and comprehensive effort to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession.
- Diversity and Inclusion On Air — The AAVMC launched this podcast to explore various issues related to diversity and inclusion in the veterinary profession and to offer ongoing diversity programming to veterinary professionals.
- Diversity Veterinary Medicine Coalition — This coalition was established in 2020 to help increase Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) representation in the veterinary profession to improve access to quality care for more animals and service to the community.
- National Association for Black Veterinarians (NABV) — This organization was established to help individuals and organizations network to advocate for Blacks in every level of veterinary medicine.
- Tuskegee Veterinary Medical Alumni Association (TVMAA) — The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) is the only veterinary medical professional program located on an historically black college or university (HBCU) campus. The college’s alumni association recently established two programs to support the school:
TVMAA Endowed Scholarship — This scholarship will provide financial assistance to TUCVM students who demonstrate a financial need, so they can continue their veterinary medical education.
TVMAA Endowed Professorship — This endowment will provide financial support to an outstanding faculty member who will enhance and advance clinical sciences. The goal is to hire and retain talented and committed faculty who will strengthen the college’s academics and clinical practice and research programs, and to inspire students to be future leaders in the veterinary medical profession.
- Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award — The INSIGHT Into Diversity HEED Award recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
What more should be done to improve diversity in the veterinary profession?
Strategies veterinary schools can implement to increase diversity include:
- Providing mentorship — Encourage faculty members to mentor URVM students who express an interest in veterinary medicine.
- Identifying promising students — Identify promising sophomores and juniors and establish summer enrichment programs to promote their interest in the field.
- Recruiting URVM individuals — Hire a recruiter to specifically recruit URVM students.
- Creating support groups — Develop an administrative unit responsible for planning, programming, and counseling URVM students.
- Developing an Office of Diversity Affairs — Create paid positions to serve URVM student needs.
- Instituting a buddy program — Reach out to alumni and create a buddy program for new students.
- Advertising — Promote your program to reach underrepresented students on social media, through brochures and ads.
While steps have been taken to increase diversity in the veterinary industry, action needs to continue, and more needs to be done as a catalyst for true change, so everyone has an opportunity to thrive and succeed in the profession.
About the author
Jenny Alonge received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Mississippi State University in 2002. She then completed an internship in equine medicine and surgery at Louisiana State University. After her internship, she joined an equine ambulatory service in northern Virginia where she practiced for almost 17 years. Alonge later decided to make a career change in favor of more creative pursuits and accepted a job as a veterinary copywriter for Rumpus Writing and Editing in April 2021. She adopted two unruly kittens, Olive and Pops, in February 2022.
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