MCVMA Annual Conference

Name: Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association
Address: United States
Price range: $

We had a phenomenal inaugural conference last year and we are so grateful for all who made our dream of an all-BIPOC Veterinary Conference a reality! MCVMA was absolutely blown away by the number of attendees, the incredible one-of-a-kind talks provided, and all of the exceptional people we met. We are aiming to make this year better than last and we cannot wait to show you all what we have in store this year! Stay tuned for updates on registration, speakers, keynote, and much more!

About the Conference

Conference Schedule

Sponsors/Exhibitors

Our Purpose

The purpose of MCVMA’s annual RISE conference is to:

Resource the veterinary profession with the information and tools necessary to take meaningful action on issues of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion
Include the perspectives of people and communities who have historically been underrepresented in veterinary medicine
Support current and emerging veterinary professionals in our collective goal to ensure that all communities receive the benefits of veterinary medicine
Elevate the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in veterinary medicine

Resource: DEI in Action

DEI is the new “hot topic” but what does it really mean to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion? How do we take a deep look at our practices, veterinary schools, workplaces, and ourselves to unlearn damaging biases and make transformational change in veterinary medicine? How do we avoid pitfalls such as action bias and being performative? How do we approach DEI with intention and how do we ensure our work leads to measurable impact? This track will provide universities, organizations, and individuals resources for this ongoing endeavor. While these topics may elicit discomfort and vulnerability, the goal of these sessions is to educate and empower attendees with actionable takeaways that they may implement anywhere.

Include: Cultural Awareness and Global Connections

The social makeup of the United States is ever changing, and with change comes the unique opportunity for the veterinary profession to develop the resilience and adaptability needed to best serve all communities. As we broaden our understanding of the world and welcome more voices to the table, we begin the process of challenging our previous views and re-evaluating past practices that may have caused undue harm for generations, both in our communities at home and in our outreach efforts abroad. As immigration shifts and veterinary hospitals, specialty centers, universities, and industries become more open to the prospects of employing veterinary professionals from other countries, our field must be cognizant of the barriers faced by veterinary professionals trained outside of the United States and learn how to best support them. From identifying and addressing the barriers related to US licensure, understanding the unique experiences of recent, first, and second generation immigrants, to looking at past harm in our approaches to some domestic and international cross-cultural efforts, these sessions take a deep look at these challenges and offer better strategies to tackle our outreach efforts and to recruit and retain these individuals in the profession.

Support: Veterinary Medicine in the Community

The veterinary shortage crisis, housing instability, inflation, and the continued impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic have magnified the need for affordable veterinary care, humane education outreach, and for more veterinary professionals that are adequately equipped to deliver care without unintentionally causing harm. Sessions in this track will explore current best practices within veterinary community medicine, career support for future and current veterinary professionals, and offer useful tools to work with communities toward a common goal of collective human and animal health and welfare.

Elevate: BIPOC Specialists in Veterinary Medicine

In a profession that continues to lack diverse representation, MCVMA RISE provides a unique opportunity to learn from specialists and subject matter experts who are Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color. By showcasing racially and ethnically diverse presenters, we not only increase our knowledge base but also elevate ourselves and each other. Sessions in this track include topics such as One Health, animal welfare, surgery, emergency medicine, internal medicine, practice management and more.

Conference Schedule

Check back to the conference website this fall for the information related to RISE 2022. You can also find conference updates on the MCVMA Instagram page and the MCVMA Facebook page. If you would like to be a part of the conference email list for newest updates, or are interested in getting more involved with the conference, please fill out our interest survey here.

What should I expect?

Due to the uncertainties around the pandemic and the desire to be inclusive for international speakers and attendees, we have elected to host RISE 2022 virtually. A virtual conference is essentially a conference that you can attend from the comfort and convenience of your home, office, or wherever else you can think of, through your personal computer or mobile device. Think of it as attending a standard MCVMA webinar but with the ability to engage with speakers, exhibitors, and your fellow attendees. We are bringing two worlds together for a shared unique experience!

Registration

Early bird registration is now live! MCVMA is hosting its second annual conference on November 12-13, 2022! This one-of-a-kind conference will feature all BIPOC presenters and include a range of topics from wildlife medicine, surgery and community practice to animal welfare, access to veterinary care and DEI. RACE Approval for CE sessions is pending. The conference is open to everyone in the veterinary space.

Early bird registration will save you 20% and if you are an MCVMA Member you will receive an extra 20% off your registration!

Don’t wait, register now!

Register Now on Whova