NAVC partners with veterinary DEI industry leader to inspire, support future veterinarians
New initiative launches with diversity-focused event on MLK Jr. Day, Jan. 16, 2023, in Orlando
The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) recently announced a partnership with the nationally-recognized BLEND program to provide inspiration, education and scholarship support to enable underserved middle school-aged children to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
BLEND is focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and has designed a related veterinary hospital certification program. The company is owned and backed by a diverse group of veterinary medicine leaders.
In January 2023, the organizations will host an immersive, hands-on educational program on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for minority students from Central Florida during the 2023 Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX). VMX is the world’s leading annual veterinary conference. It will be hosted in Orlando from Jan. 14 to 18 at the Orange County Convention Center.
The event, “A Day of Service: Believe & Belong in Veterinary Medicine,” is sponsored by Banfield Pet Hospital, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Merck Animal Health.
NAVC CEO Gene O'Neill said that his organization is passionate about providing ongoing education and mentoring to the veterinarians of tomorrow through the new initiative. With only 6.7% of veterinarians being people of color, the NAVC and BLEND are committed to creating more diversity within the veterinary industry by opening new doors for minority youth to pursue veterinary careers.
“It is particularly important to encourage youth today to consider a career in veterinary medicine because the shortages we’re facing will create an even greater need for veterinary professionals in the years to come,” he said.
“A Day of Service: Believe & Belong in Veterinary Medicine” will be led by BLEND’s founder and CEO, Dr. Niccole Bruno. Participating students will learn about the various aspects of veterinary medicine from a diverse group of veterinary experts at VMX 2023. The program will begin Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, at 9:00 am and run through 4:00 pm.
Activities planned for students include:
• Hands-on experience using workshop stations to learn about veterinary surgery, dermatology, emergency medicine and preventive care. Students will practice intubation in the ER station using a model dog and will be able to observe other examinations completed by professionals.
• Educational sessions on a variety of topics related to life as a veterinary student, the different pathways to veterinary medicine and a day in the life of a veterinary professional.
Participants will be presented with a certificate verifying they’ve earned five hours of education in veterinary medicine. Parents and guardians of participants are encouraged to attend a special informative BLEND session that will walk them through the pathway to veterinary medicine from a parental perspective.
Dr. Niccole Bruno, CEO and founder of BLEND, said the topic of DEI has been a passive movement in veterinary medicine for decades. While many higher institutions and professional organizations have begun to address the need to invoke change in this space, statistically, there continues to be minimal change in representation.
“BLEND's goal is to not only ensure DEI and a sense of belonging is embedded into the veterinary culture but firmly believes that representation matters in exposing black, indigenous and persons of color (BIPOC) to veterinary medicine,” she said.
NAVC will continue to support these students after VMX, providing them with access to materials from Vet Set Go, https://www.vetsetgo.com/about. Students will also be given a list of local veterinarians interested in providing shadowing opportunities.
To register and learn more about BLEND’s MLK Jr. Day event, visit https://register.navc.com/conference/2023/dayinvetmed.cfm
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