Addressing Five Explanations for the Lack of Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Veterinary Medicine in the United States: Results from a Survey of DVM Students and Early Career Veterinarians.

Abstract

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinary medicine is one of the least racially and ethnically diverse professions in the United States. Drawing from past research in veterinary health, as well as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields more broadly, we designed and implemented an online survey to address five nonmutually exclusive explanations for the lack of racial/ethnic diversity in veterinary medicine. On the basis of the responses of 2,083 participants to the survey, we found consistent, statistically significant differences in the experiences and perceptions of well-represented compared to under-represented DVM students and recent graduates. These differences correspond to aspects of each of the five potential explanations for the lack of diversity in veterinary medicine examined in this study, highlighting the complex nature of this issue. Most notably, our results suggest precollege exposure to advanced STEM courses, increased accessibility to paid experiential positions, pre-professional mentorship and fostering a sense of professional identity are particularly important areas of focus for organizations and institutions interested in targeting barriers to diversity in veterinary medicine.