BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital partners with the National Association of Black Veterinarians to improve diversity in veterinary medicine

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, announced today that it has entered a partnership with the National Association of Black Veterinarians (NABV). The NABV is a network of individuals and organizations committed to advocating, providing support, and cultivating an inclusive community for Black people in veterinary medicine.

In a press release, BluePearl said its goal is to help the NABV achieve its objective of promoting veterinary medicine to underrepresented groups by working with K-12 students, pre-veterinary medicine undergraduate students, and students in professional veterinary degree programs across the US. To achieve that mission, the NABV offers educational and experiential learning opportunities to those who are interested in the field. Other core actions of the NABV that BluePearl says its partnership will help support include providing high-quality professional development, providing a network of mentoring opportunities at professional levels, and providing career planning and advice to professionals and pre-professionals.

“BluePearl understands the responsibility it holds in reinforcing equity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging, discussing the importance of allyship, and encouraging education and action across its practices,” said James Barr, DVM, DACVECC, and chief medical officer at BluePearl. “As an industry, we can and must do more to attract more minority students to the profession, and it begins with partnerships like this. I am excited to see how our collective efforts will pave a new way for veterinary professionals within the BIPOC community both today and in the future.”

In addition to this partnership, BluePearl created in 2021 an Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EI&D) Council to serve as the associate voice, raise awareness, and bring resources to its practices nationally. Recent BluePearl EI&D Council actions include national EI&D month activations (e.g., Pride Month, Black History Month, Women’s History Month); associate selection of pronoun preferences for the organization’s database, nametags, and email signatures; and mandatory “Fundamentals of EI&D Training” for all current and new Associates. EI&D Training at BluePearl includes online educational materials, such as presentations and resource guides, to support inclusive language and practices.

“The NABV and BluePearl partnership helps us fulfill our mission of providing a medium for Black people in veterinary medicine to advocate and engage with students through various activities. By providing professional, social, academic, and cultural activities, we will build lasting relationships, instill pride, and foster diversity and inclusion in the veterinary profession,” said Annie J. Daniel, PhD, founder and CEO, Institute for Healthcare Education Leadership and Professionals, and founder, NABV.

“An integral part of the NABV's veterinary medicine mission is to increase the participation of Black veterinarians, veterinary students, and allies to go out in the communities to teach about the veterinary profession and careers. BluePearl has joined us in this mission and is committed to supporting our outreach efforts in Black communities to improve relations among diverse peoples nationwide and beyond.”

Reference

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital partners with the National Association of Black Veterinarians to improve diversity in veterinary medicine. News release. BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital. June 17, 2022. [email]