Women's veterinary leadership group garners industry sponsor

Just six months after its creation, the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative (WVLDI), founded by Karen Bradley, DVM, has gained the support of Ceva Animal Health as its first industry sponsor. Ceva is contributing an inaugural sponsorship of $15,000 to be used for strategic planning, leadership, sponsorship skill cultivation and organizational development.

The WVLDI has also received the support of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and Elizabeth Sabin, AVMA associate director for international and diversity initiatives, is serving as an ad hoc member of the WVLDI board.

“Ceva is pleased to support this entrepreneurial initiative,” says Karen Padgett, DVM, chief operating officer for Ceva. “We recognize how important it is to support the advancement of women to leadership, policy and decision-making positions within all areas of professional veterinary activity. We look forward to working with the WVLDI to nurture its strategic growth at this important juncture in our profession.”

The WVLDI provides a platform to encourage women to more fully participate in veterinary leadership roles, not only in organized veterinary medicine, but also in corporate, government, private practice and academic positions, according to a release from Ceva.

“The WVLDI board is thrilled that Ceva has demonstrated the leadership to support WVLDI as our first corporate sponsor,” says Bradley, who serves as WVLDI president. “It will provide much-needed funds to continue the conversation and actions needed to encourage women to achieve their highest potential in all areas of the veterinary profession.”

The WVLDI, a grassroots volunteer initiative that has rapidly gained momentum since its creation in July 2013, was formalized as a 501(c)3 in January 2014. Its vision is to achieve leadership excellence that fully reflects the diversity of the profession. To learn more, visit womenveterinarians.org.