Imagine your pet is extremely ill and your veterinarian is trying to explain the medical condition, but you cannot fully grasp what the doctor says because Spanish is your first language and you understand only basic English. Suppose the treatment plan is not in line with your beliefs, but your veterinarian isn’t expressing empathy because of a lack of cultural understanding. What if you needed to decide between putting your pet down and continuing medical treatment, but you could not communicate your fears or concerns?
Pet owners and veterinarians face this scenario because of a lack of diversity within the profession. While strides have been made in diversifying many fields, particularly medicine, the veterinary profession remains one of the least diverse. In 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 0.5% of veterinarians identified as Hispanic or Latin American. As this population continues to grow in the United States, the underrepresentation in veterinary medicine limits opportunities for students who want to enter the field and has broader implications for animal care access, public health and the profession’s future. In 2022, the Census Bureau estimated that roughly 63.7 million Hispanics lived in the United States, making up 19% of the nation’s population.
Missing Mentors
A profession should look like the people it serves, and by failing to do so, a gap is created in the pipeline for the next generation. Children and teens who don’t see veterinary professionals who look like them might think the career path is impossible to pursue. In some instances, young people are drawn to a profession based on their parents’ or family’s lived experience and community influence, but with so few Hispanic veterinarians, they might have fewer opportunities to be exposed to veterinary medicine in that way.
As students progress through their education and learn more about the veterinary field, their interest might be piqued. Still, they might not pursue the career path because they do not have mentors or sponsors who are relatable, trustworthy and inspiring. Mentorship is crucial to help bridge the gap and attract more talent from the Hispanic community, especially first-generation college students.
The bottom line: We are missing out on talented individuals whose diverse backgrounds bring a unique perspective and the ability to connect better and communicate with a growing U.S. Hispanic population.
Cultural Differences
Sixty-six percent of Hispanic adults own a pet in the United States, making them the second-largest ethnic group of pet owners. Given so many Hispanic pet owners and the limited number of Hispanic veterinarians, this group’s level of pet care could decline.
Obstacles to pet care, such as language barriers and cultural understanding, can negatively impact a pet owner’s experience and relationship with a veterinarian. If the pet owner and veterinarian can’t clearly communicate with one another, providing effective and comprehensive medical care is greatly impacted. There could be miscommunication and misunderstandings, leading to a lack of trust. Ultimately, the pet bears the brunt of it.
Hispanic communities have cultural practices and beliefs to which a veterinarian from a similar background might be more attuned. This cultural sensitivity is crucial in delivering effective pet care, especially when addressing cultural differences in pet diets, treatment preferences or care practices. Such sensitivity fosters trust and might make the pet owner more comfortable seeking veterinary care. When dealing with any medical issue, you want to feel understood, which can be hard when your medical provider is from a different background.
The Agricultural Sector
The need for increased Hispanic representation in the profession goes beyond pet care. As a veterinarian, you can play a critical role in safeguarding public health and might be responsible for monitoring and preventing the spread of diseases between animals and humans.
According to the National Center for Farmworker Health, 78% of agricultural workers self-identify as Hispanic, and 62% report being most comfortable when speaking Spanish. With most agricultural workers identifying as Hispanic, it is vital to have veterinarians who can teach them to monitor and prevent the spread of diseases between animals and humans and provide adequate resources to keep them and the public healthy and safe.
As the Hispanic community continues to grow, there is an opportunity to ensure that our profession becomes more diverse. In addition to influencing current practitioners to help diversify the pipeline of the next generation of veterinarians, we must support organizations such as Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) to promote academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in this profession.
As the assistant dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, I am proud of our partnership with MANRRS. Through the collaboration, we aim to strengthen the visibility of minority and underrepresented student populations in our recruitment and admissions efforts and expand diversity and inclusivity within the veterinary profession.
In 2021-2022, 17% of Ross veterinary students identified as Hispanic, a testament to the impact partnerships with the right organizations can have on achieving a more diverse and inclusive environment.
Hispanic representation in the profession is essential to ensure the best possible care for pets and animals and address the unique needs and nuanced health challenges Hispanic communities face. Now is the time for veterinary professionals to address the need for more veterinarians of color collectively.
Education programs provide a crucial platform on which to raise awareness of our profession, shine a spotlight on glaring diversity inequalities, and define the beneficial opportunities students of diverse backgrounds can realize in the field.