MCVMA Annual Conference

Mission: To empower Latinx/Hispanic professionals in veterinary medicine and support the next generation of Latinx/Hispanic veterinarians.

What people are saying:
“The Latinx Veterinary Medical Association, in the short amount of time that they have existed, has been successful at bringing together the Latinx veterinary community across the country and has supported Latinx students through events that improve our access to Latinx mentors and role models. They have also had a huge impact in increasing the visibility of Latinx professionals in the veterinary field and offered guidance to Latinx vet students across the country by helping them create their own student chapters of the organization. They have also created a directory of Latinx veterinary professionals to make it easier for Latinx families to find a provider they identify with and that speaks their language. Lastly, they have recently created four scholarship opportunities for current vet students and recent grads to support our education financially. They have accomplished so much in the short year and a half of their existence and I believe they should be recognized for their efforts in increasing and promoting diversity in the veterinary profession.”

Mission:

• To build No Kill communities – starting with a No Kill Chicago – that respect and value the life of every cat and dog.
• To end the overpopulation of homeless animals through solutions, practices and education.
• To transform animal welfare by setting higher standards in the way animals are treated and developing a sustainable, solutions-based model.

What People are Saying:
“PAWS has deepened its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine through its Veterinary Assistant Apprenticeship program – a paid, 12-week training program focused on hiring from neighborhoods served by the PAWS Community Outreach program. All participants are BIPOC, and reside in veterinary apartheid areas. The Community Outreach program has served 170,000 pets in under-served areas with free veterinary services since 2014. In 2019, PAWS opened its Englewood Outreach Center in the heart of its service area – a renovated space within a building of their church partner, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. Thanks to a grant from the Coleman Foundation, PAWS now offers free, weekly illness, injury, and preventative care to neighborhood pets. When PAWS created this program in 2019, they used the opportunity to create jobs and job training for the service community, instead of pulling vet assistants from other facilities. No prior experience is necessary to enter the program. The program is open to anyone who wants to explore a career with animals – the youngest participant was 18, the oldest 56. They learn two-on-one, apprentices to veterinarian, and are working with patients from day one. The experience also allows them to shadow in different parts of the organization, creating exposure and social capital. To date, all program graduates have been hired by PAWS Chicago afterwards.”