Unicorns
About Unicorns
On Thursday March 25th 2021, the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association (MCVMA) collaborated with the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative (WVLDI) to bring an exciting panel of BIPOC women who have broken all the barriers to excel in some of the least diverse fields in veterinary medicine. Over 100 participants joined us from 37 US States and from 19 different countries!! In this recording you will hear the raw and powerful stories of 4 amazing women who have paved the way for so many young aspiring BIPOC veterinary professionals after them.
Speakers
Learn more about the speakers that attended Unicorns: BIPOC Women Leaders in Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Heather Fowler
Dr. Heather Fowler, VMD, PhD, MPH
Dr. Heather Fowler completed her Veterinary Medical degree at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine in 2010, a Master in Public Health in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health in 2011, and a PhD in Environmental and Occupational Hygiene from the University of Washington School of Public Health in 2017. She is board certified in veterinary preventive medicine and has expertise in the areas of zoonotic disease, public health, worker safety and health, and One Health application. In the summer of 2017, Dr. Fowler began work as the Director of Producer and Public Health at the National Pork Board where she oversees public health as well as occupational safety and health issues as they relate to swine production in the United States.
Dr. Heather Fowler completed her Veterinary Medical degree at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine in 2010, a Master in Public Health in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health in 2011, and a PhD in Environmental and Occupational Hygiene from the University of Washington School of Public Health in 2017. She is board certified in veterinary preventive medicine and has expertise in the areas of zoonotic disease, public health, worker safety and health, and One Health application. In the summer of 2017, Dr. Fowler began work as the Director of Producer and Public Health at the National Pork Board where she oversees public health as well as occupational safety and health issues as they relate to swine production in the United States.
Dr. Margarita Woc-Colburn
Dr. Margarita Woc-Colburn, DVM, MS
Dr. Margarita Woc-Colburn is the Associate Veterinarian at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an MS in Conservation Biology, and from Cornell University with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2003.
After veterinary school, she completed a one-year small animal medicine and surgery internship at MSPCA Angell Memorial Western New England Animal Hospital, followed by 3 years working in a 24/7 referral critical care and emergency hospital in Seattle, Washington. In 2010, she completed a 3-year zoo residency at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in conjunction with Oklahoma City Zoo. She is currently the veterinary advisor for the Xenarthra Taxon Advisory Group, the Southern Tamandua Species Survival Plan (SSP), and Giant Anteater SSP; and is the Secretary for the Veterinary Advisory Group within the AZA. She is also part of the Scientific Advisory board for Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF)
Recently she has been a main consultant for CCF, helping them with cheetahs confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade in Somaliland, and is the author of the clinical medicine chapter in their book Cheetahs – Biology and Conservation. She has also been working on determining causes of mortality within the captive Giant anteater and tamandua population and evaluating how we can improve their husbandry, veterinary and nutritional care. Her interests include exotic animal anesthesia and critical care in zoological species. When not at the zoo, she enjoys hiking and spending time with her dog Marcus Aurelius.
Dr. Woc-Colburn was born in Guatemala and lived between Guatemala, Panama and the United States while growing up. Between being a combination of Latin American, Asian, American with a tidge of Scottish blood, she considers herself a melting pot of cultures.
Dr. Patricia Mundy
Dr. Patricia Mundy, VetMB BA MA(cantab) MRCVS DACVO
Dr. Mundy, VetMB BA MA(cantab) MRCVS DACVO grew up in Zambia and was educated in England. She received her Masters in Geography and Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cambridge University, England in 2005. She then went on to complete a rotating small animal internship at The Royal Veterinary College in London, England in 2006. Dr. Mundy pursued her interest in ophthalmology by completing a prestigious Fellowship in Comparative Ophthalmic Pathology at the University of Wisconsin Veterinary / Medical School in Madison, Wisconsin in 2008. She is one of 22 people in the world who has been awarded a Fellowship in Comparative Ophthalmic Pathology. Dr. Mundy completed a Comparative Ophthalmology Residency at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY in July 2012. She has experience working in private practice in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. She was lead ophthalmologist for the NYPD (police dogs and bomb squad dogs), Animal Care and Control of NYC, A.S.P.C.A and Yorkie 911 rescue group. Dr. Mundy has been involved in basic sciences as a consultant for viewpoint therapeutics. Dr. Mundy joined University of Pennsylvania SVM, Ryan Veterinary Hospital in September 2016. She had a dual role at PennVet as a clinician as well as lecturer, to veterinary students, interns, residents and general practitioners.
Dr. Mundy completed a Masters in Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2020. Her focus was contract law, corporate governance as well disparities in Diversity and Inclusion in the veterinary and legal profession.
Dr. Mundy’s interests include clinical, surgical & comparative ophthalmology as well as ocular neoplastic and inflammatory processes. She has been awarded research grants both from the European Society of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists to pursue these interests.
Dr. Mundy is proficient in procedures such as lens surgery (including cataract surgery), eyelid surgery, cornea / conjunctival surgery as well as medical management of various ophthalmic diseases.
In her spare time Dr. Mundy enjoys walking her dog Lady Charlotte and is an avid member of the sailing community as well as an equestrian.
Dr. Jean-Yin Tan
Dr. Jean-Yin Tan, DVM, DACVIM (LAIM), Cert. Prof. Mgt.
Dr. Tan is a board-certified large animal internal medicine specialist and tenured Senior Instructor at the University of Calgary. Since graduation from Cornell University in 2005, she has worked in NJ, MN, CA, and owned her own equine veterinary clinic in NY prior to moving to Calgary in 2015. She was recognized as one of Avenue Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2020 and received the AAEP Good Works honor in 2019. She is the founding Chair of the AAEP diversity, equity, and inclusion taskforce, member of the AVMA-AAVMC Joint Commission for a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Veterinary profession, a member of the ACVIM diversity taskforce, and a past member of the ACVIM Board of Regents.