AAVMC recognizes Western veterinary student for diversity leadership

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has awarded its 2015 Patricia M. Lowrie Diversity Leader Scholarship to a student at Western University of Health Sciences Pomona, California.

Leo Holguin's contributions to diversity in academic veterinary medicine include serving as a leader in the Students of Color and Allies for Outreach, Retention and Education (SCORE) Club and the Broad Spectrum Veterinary Student Association (BSVSA), the AAVMC reports in a release. He also engaged potential students in underrepresented groups to explain veterinary medicine's career opportunities.   

Leo Holguin“Through this scholarship, we're proud to honor students like Leo who have been consistent champions of addressing inequities and underrepresentation in the veterinary profession, have advocated for social justice, and who have advanced valuing diversity and inclusion within U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine,” says AAVMC President Dr. Trevor Ames, dean of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, in the release.

Suzie Kovacs, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at Western University, nominated Holguin for his qualities as a “true servant leader whose passion shows through in his behavior and actions.”

“Leo is strongly committed to raising awareness of the lack of diversity within the veterinary profession and its need for inclusivity,” she wrote in Holguin's nomination.

Holguin receives the award March 13 at the AAVMC's 2015 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

Named after the former director of the Women's Resource Center and assistant to the dean at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, the scholarship honors Patricia M. Lowrie for advocating for diversity in veterinary medicine.