Bridging the veterinary inequity gap

Our Fetch dvm360® Conference is returning to San Diego, California, December 2-4, 2022, and is scheduled to feature an array of topics from equine cardiology to the human-animal bond to hands-on laboratory opportunities.

The keynote session on the second day will be presented by Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA, a veterinary surgeon at VetSurg, and Molly McAllister, DVM, MPH, chief medical officer at Banfield Pet Hospital. Titled, “The Veterinary Health Gap: How Veterinary Health Inequity Affects Us All,” the session will focus on societal inequity/social justice, health disparities, and the role veterinary medicine does, can, and should play in promoting a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable profession and society.

Board members of the Diversify Veterinary Medicine Coalition, Campbell and McAllister, hope to shed light on inequity in the veterinary field and bring more awareness to the issue. “I’ve seen health inequity play out from my own days of clinical practice, where we struggled to provide care to animals without transportation or financial means, to my more recent focus on population medicine, where we see pets in veterinary deserts subject to a higher risk of being diagnosed with very preventable diseases,” McAllister told dvm360®.

Campbell also shared his experience with inequity. “Unfortunately, I have witnessed veterinary inequities at multiple levels throughout the veterinary industry. Low-cost veterinary facilities in economically disadvantaged areas typically suffer from being short-staffed. Tertiary veterinary care can often feel inaccessible to diverse clients because of implicit bias among veterinary health care providers, and the newest medications and free drug samples are not offered to the communities with the greatest need,” he said.

Campbell and McAllister also shared what they are excited about and looking forward to at Fetch. “The energy and buzz surrounding a Fetch conference is powerful. The innovation, creative storytelling, and cutting-edge research on display is one of the many reasons I am looking forward to the conference,” Campbell said. “The connection and bond you share with your colleagues is undeniable. The ability to... luxuriate in the abundance of veterinary talent is awe-inspiring. There is no doubt this experience will leave me wanting more.”

McAllister said, “Fetch [is] a chance to reconnect with friends and colleagues, learn from inspiring new thought leaders, and energize myself with new ideas and knowledge about everything from clinical medicine to well-being to leadership and more. It’s a place for passionate vet professionals and game changers to share ideas and excitement, and I always leave feeling recharged and inspired.”

Be sure to register now for the Fetch dvm360® Conference to join Campbell and McAllister during the keynote presentation.