History of Veterinary Medicine

Allen L. Cannedy, DVM

Director for Diversity & Multicultural Affairs

North Carolina State University

College Of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Medicine

“ The least diverse of all health care professions”

Ref. Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

The first veterinary school was founded in Lyons, France, in 1761. It later became known as the Royal Veterinary School

The first United States veterinary school was not established until 1879.

The founding date of the American Veterinary Medical Association was 1863.

Dr. Alfreda Webb

The number of women graduating with veterinary degrees rose from 200 in 1963 to 3,213 in 1980, reaching 46,088 in 2013

Dr. Michael Blackwell

Veterinary College Deans

North Carolina Association of Minority Veterinarians

NCAMV.COM

Diversity

• Veterinary Profession is 90% White

• “Most racially segregated of all health care professions”

Why?

Common Myths and Misconceptions

• “Blacks afraid of animals”• “They don’t like/value animals”• “Don’t like the sciences”• “Not as smart as whites”• “Afraid of water”

Current Data

• About 10% of the current US DVM student enrollment is minority

• 3.3% are Hispanic • 3.0% Asian• 2.2% African American• 0.1% Native American

My Primary Duties

• Recruiter

• Educator

• Veterinarian

Questions?