Love is blind

When I was approached to speak at the Centers for the Human-Animal Bond Conference, I was very happy to share my view on how promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in veterinary medicine can help ensure everyone has the opportunity to experience the incredible benefits of our unique and powerful relationship with pets.

As a young girl growing up in the Caribbean, I always dreamt of becoming a veterinarian. I would wander my neighborhood, determined to rescue every sick or injured stray dog or cat I saw. So, after earning a scholarship to study veterinary medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College in Canada, I was delighted to pursue my lifelong passion to help animals and serve communities.

But it didn’t take long for me to discover there were very few other BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students in my class – and there were even fewer when I eventually progressed onto my internship, residency, and then graduate program in critical care.

Pet owners are as diverse and unique as the pets they care for – but the industry responsible for serving this community doesn’t reflect this. As 90% of veterinary professionals identify as white, it is one of the least diverse professions in the United States.?

Yet, at the same time, multiracial and multiethnic groups are the fastest-growing population in the world. In fact, by 2042-2044, it’s predicted people from a diverse racial or ethnic background will become the majority in the United States. As our communities become increasingly diverse, the need to foster a culture within veterinary medicine that celebrates difference, and to create safe spaces for people of all backgrounds to grow and succeed, will only become more pressing. Through my own career journey, I know just how much people are longing for this sense of safety and belonging in the workplace, particularly those in the BIPOC community.

In any profession, we know that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are essential for cultivating a culture that enables success both for the individual and the organization. In 2018, Ernst & Young found employees are 3.5 times more likely to live up to their full potential when they feel like they belong at work, and data from McKinsey & Company shows us that diverse and inclusive teams yield 66% higher return on investment.

Ultimately, this means our practices and organizations will be more successful if we reflect the diversity of the communities around us, enabling veterinary professionals across Mars Petcare to deliver on our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS – as well as the people who love them.

So, how can we make that happen?

Bringing down barriers

I believe the road to greater diversity begins on the individual level, ensuring everyone understands what we mean when we talk about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, what this looks like, and why it matters.

Valuing diversity in the veterinary field means embracing and celebrating fellow professionals that look, talk or think differently – and recognizing that these differences only serve to strengthen the work we are doing. However, to bring together a variety of people with different viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds, we must also see the barriers preventing people – particularly those in the BIPOC community – from entering the field, and take steps to bring these barriers down.

That’s why I’m incredibly honored to be part of the Diversify Veterinary Medicine Coalition (DVMC), which is working to do just that. Supported by animal health industry leaders, including Mars Veterinary Health and Royal Canin, DVMC helps those in the BIPOC community, and other underrepresented groups, who aspire to work in veterinary medicine. Through a multi-year partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, students are awarded a scholarship totaling $20,000 during their junior and senior years, as well as an additional $15,000 a year in scholarship funds upon successful completion and acceptance into veterinary school.

On top of that, DVMC will match every scholarship recipient with a paid internship opportunity at one of our member organizations and an industry mentor. Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to have some phenomenal mentors, people who didn’t see me as a woman with a different complexion, but shared my passion for caring for animals and people alike – love is blind when it comes to people and their pets. So I recognize how valuable building these relationships can be – both when you’re starting out in the field and throughout your professional life.?

Lifting each other up

Organizations like DVMC are critical in building a community that goes beyond color, gender, race, or even economic barriers. Corporate commitments such as the Mars Full Potential platform are also critical to breaking down barriers. Full Potential aims to elevate voices of women everywhere to help shape a more inclusive society where women can reach their full potential. Earlier this year, Mars launched a call to action, #HereToBeHeard, which asks women everywhere: “What needs to change so more women can reach their full potential?” More than 10,000 women from 88 countries had their say, and a new report outlines key themes, figures, and recommendations on what businesses can do to help women achieve this goal. 79% of women recognized the importance of having equal career opportunities and 80% said we need to put an end to systemic discrimination and harmful gender stereotypes. These insights are also informing the concrete actions Mars will take to close the gender opportunity gap.

But, likewise, I recognize the part individuals like myself must play. It has been both personally and professionally rewarding to stand as a role model for the next generation of professionals entering the workplace, helping them to overcome obstacles so, like me, they can follow their dreams and be their best.

We must all lift each other up to build an environment where everyone feels valued, welcomed, and free to show up as their authentic selves, regardless of their race, gender, ethnic background, or financial situation. So that, together, we can focus on the purpose that drives all of us – caring for pets and serving the diverse communities we operate in.?

Tune in on November 4, 2:15-3 p.m. ET to learn more about how promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in veterinary medicine can benefit human-animal interactions in diverse communities.