AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by two members of the AABP Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force, Dr. Emma Bratton and Dr. Whitney Knauer. The DEI Task Force was created in 2021 by the AABP Board of Directors to provide education to our members on DEI and develop resources to assist our members in their area of bovine medicine. We discuss that at the 2021 AABP Annual Conference, several members of the task force and AABP leadership wore buttons that said “Ask me about DEI”, and the one thing we learned is that many members do not know what the acronym “DEI” means. AABP wants EVERYONE to feel welcome in our organization, feel comfortable being a member and understanding that they are important to our organization as a bovine veterinarian. Having a growth mindset and welcoming everyone to have a seat at the table is an important aspect of advancing DEI. We discuss the definition of an ally and why allies are important supporters of under-represented groups in veterinary medicine. Each of us also discuss the challenges of having “difficult conversations.” Having the courage to speak out in support of a colleague, while not alienating the person who has made an insensitive or inappropriate comment, is important to learn. Each of us also needs to be able to welcome constructive conversations so that we can grow and be more inclusive. Our guests recommend that listeners take the AVMA Brave Space Certificate Program, available free to AVMA members on the AVMA Axon CE portal at this link. AVMA’s Brave Space Certificate Program is a self-paced learning curriculum that teaches participants how to gain deeper understandings of the people around us and create healthier, safer, more inclusive veterinary teams, practices and organizations.

The program is comprised of seven modules that can be taken individually or completed as a unit. To begin, participants must complete the first module – “Combating unconscious bias and marginalization.” The remaining modules can be completed in any order. Earn 1 CE credit for each module completed. When all seven modules are completed, participants will receive an AVMA Brave Space certificate of completion.

In collaboration with founding educational partner, Pride Veterinary Medical Community (PrideVMC), the AVMA Brave Space Certificate Program is made possible by an educational grant from Royal Canin.

Access the AABP DEI Task Force resources on this page.