In this episode, Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Allen Cannedy who is the Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at North Carolina State University. Dr. Cannedy is a graduate of Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine and has is the owner of Small Ruminant and Camelid Mobile Veterinary Practice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinary medicine is the least diverse of the health care professions with minorities representing only 10% of the profession. Dr. Cannedy discusses some of the unique challenges and obstacles that minority students face in pursuing veterinary medicine, as well as ways to remove those challenges to improve minority representation in colleges of veterinary medicine. We discuss that over the past 10 years, according to the 2020 AAVMC report, there has been improvement in the number of students with minority backgrounds at veterinary medical schools, however Dr. Cannedy states “we have a lot of catching up to do”! We discuss myths and their origins for why minority students are under-representing in veterinary medicine as well as the origins of racist phrases that might be used even today, sometimes unknowingly. Dr. Cannedy also explains some examples of racist behavior as well as racist things we should never think, do or say. He challenges all of us to understand the perspective of others who might be different from you and try to comprehend the obstacles they might have that you do not experience. He asks us to be an ally and voice for minorities and encourage them to extern with your practice and join veterinary medicine and specifically large animal practice.
AABP Mission Statement:
The American Association of Bovine Practitioners is an international association of veterinarians serving society as leaders in cattle health, welfare, and productivity. We welcome and support any veterinarian or veterinary student, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, sexual orientation or any other demographic, to participate in all opportunities that our organization provides. As leaders in the cattle industry, we encourage all veterinarians with an interest in cattle to join us and participate in our organization.