Bridging the Gap with Black Veterinary Perspectives:
A reflection of African American and West Indian viewpoints in Veterinary Medicine
When it comes to diversity in Veterinary medicine, Black veterinarians are chronically underrepresented, with any given year of graduates representing a mere 1-3% of the profession.
In this course, you’ll hear perspectives from Black Veterinarians, reflecting and providing their experiences in Veterinary Medicine from an African American and West Indian lens.
After participating in this course, you'll:
understand more about the African American experience while attending a Predominantly White Institution vs. a Historically Black College & University Veterinary School in the U.S.
know how to support your colleagues seeking veterinary education at a PWI vs. HBCU
understand cultural differences, myths & biases of West Indian culture in veterinary medicine
know how to support the veterinary customer base, access to care, and ways to address barriers within the veterinary profession
About the Presenters
Dr. Will Draper is the Founder and Co-owner of The Village Vets, a multiple-veterinary hospital practice with locations serving the Greater Atlanta, Georgia area. Dr. Draper grew up in Inglewood, California, graduated from Morningside High School in 1984, and later attended Tuskegee University in Alabama (a 4th generation student) for both undergraduate and veterinary medical studies. He has received a number of accolades including rank as a FIVE STAR veterinarian in the Atlanta magazine—an honor bestowed to only 7% of the veterinarians in the metro Atlanta area (which also included his wife, Dr. Francoise Tyler). He has served on the board of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA), and recently served as a director on the board of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) - the first African-American to perform this role since the organization was founded in 1933.
Dr. Jenese Williams born in Brooklyn, New York, knew from the age of three years old that she wanted to be an animal doctor, which fueled her dedication toward fulfilling that dream. As the owner of Kingdom Pet hospital in Tampa, Florida, Dr. Wiliams obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. Dr. Williams has held various veterinary roles as a relief & emergency doctor, Chief of Staff and Medical Director. She is Fear Free certified and has special interest in educating clients on the importance of preventative healthcare for their pets.
Dr. Cherice Roth is an alumnus of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and holds a Master's in Biochemistry from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Dr. Roth is currently the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Digital Pet Health Platform for Mars Veterinary Health. She also plays pivotal roles as the Lead Medical Advisor for KeraVetBio and is active on boards for organizations such as the Board of Chief Veterinary Medical Officers (BCVMO), Seattle Humane, Wallace Health, and Veterinary Professionals Instilling Black Excellence (VIBE). A staunch advocate for virtual veterinary care, she views it as a potential solution to both pet health disparities and the well-being of veterinary professionals. Her passion also extends to literature as author of the children’s books "What’s a REAL Doctor?" and "What Does a REAL Doctor Look Like?" echoing themes of diversity, STEM education veterinary medicine and representation.
With every blendVET on-demand course, you receive...
1.0 Hour of RACE-Approved CE Credit
Get your continuing education while learning more about DEIB.
On-Demand Availability
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6-Month Content Access
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Course Completion Certificate
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