DiVersity Matters

Veterinary Medical Education Meeting Societal Needs

 

Diversity in the veterinary workforce that reflects the society we serve is essential for meeting societal needs.  In March 2005, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) proudly launched DiVersity Matters -- a bold and dramatic initiative to increase diversity among students, faculty, and leadership of our US Colleges of Veterinary Medicine.  DiVersity Matters is aimed at achieving a diverse student body and faculty in our member institutions that reflects the society the veterinary medical community serves. This will require a sustained effort aimed at building an educational infrastructure that supports the recruitment, enrollment, matriculation, and faculty development of a wider range of ethnic and racial minorities in academic veterinary medicine, to achieve the following objectives:

• Creating and supporting opportunities for outreach to students and faculty from underrepresented populations through the building, strengthening, and support of diverse and effective partnerships
• Improving the academic environment with our member institutions that promotes and ensures success of underrepresented  students and faculty
• Developing curricula that prepares faculty and veterinary students to work effectively across the profession and to more effectively meet societal needs.