How an accepting hospital culture helped one veterinarian grow as a clinician

In this video, Tripp Oliphant, DVM, reflects on his experience as a gay veterinarian and discusses how an accepting workplace influenced his early career. Although he says he has found the veterinary profession to be welcoming overall, he acknowledges that not every client interaction has been the same. Oliphant explains how working in a supportive hospital culture allowed him to focus on developing as a clinician rather than worrying about being his authentic self.

Below is the transcript, which has been lightly edited for clarity.

dvm360: How does having an inclusive and welcoming hospital culture impact a veterinary professional's career development, and what has your personal experience been like navigating this as a member of the LGBTQ+ experience?

Tripp Oliphant, DVM: I am a gay man, and in veterinary medicine, I will say we're very fortunate in this career field that a lot of us are accepted, and we do feel welcome in the community. But I did grow up in a very rural community, and I didn't see people like me or see individuals who were gay, including the veterinarians that I was around. And that's not necessarily their fault. It's just that's what I saw and worked among. But I do think that where my surprise has been throughout my life is how accepting they truly are, and how our field is so accepting of the LGBTQ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer] community.

That being said, being openly gay, married, and being my true self, it doesn't always mean that clients are going to be accepting. Or you walk into a room and you're having to, unfortunately, come out sometimes again and again. They may not ask you, but they know. And so I do feel like, even for team members and veterinarians, having that culture in our hospitals that is welcoming, that has us having belonging, has been really, really helpful for me in my progression because I'm not having to worry about being my true, authentic self.

And the first hospital that I worked in being a specialty ER [emergency room], all the specialists, everyone was so welcoming, and I never had to question that about my sexuality. It was more so that I could grow as a doctor. And when you're comfortable and you feel that safety and you feel like you're accepted for who you truly are, then it's a growth environment. You can grow. You can evolve as a veterinarian.