Recognizing need for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Veterinary curriculum

VMED Graduate Student Marissa Milstein, advised by VBS Assistant Professor Peter Larsen and VPM Assistant Professor Tiffany Wolf, recently authored  the paper, "Integrating the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association actionables into diversity, equity, and inclusion curricula in United States veterinary colleges," published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. This paper highlights the concept of structural racism, which is defined as “the totality of ways in which societies foster racial discrimination, through mutually reinforcing inequitable systems (in housing, education, employment, earnings, benefits, credit, media, health care, criminal justice, and so on) that in turn reinforce discriminatory beliefs, values, and distribution of resources."

Milstein and her team explain that for veterinary colleges to be accountable for upholding DEI standards there must be 1. accountability and transparency, 2. accessibility, outreach, and engagement, and 3. expand membership and organizational commitment.