Nobody is free from biases. We all face discrimination. Dr. Barbara Gadsden reminded us that in the face of adversity, we must embrace the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s mission of "encouraging exemplary human qualities.”

Last week, Dr. Gadsden visited the College to present her talk “The Importance of Living the Dream” to more than 60 attendees. She spoke about her journey as an African American woman in the veterinary field and the impact that Martin Luther King Jr.’s message has had on her life. She also led a group discussion about preconceived notions people can hold toward different religious, regional, and cultural groups, and asked us to think about how we can work past these misconceptions by focusing on qualities such as acceptance, inclusion, and unity. 

The truth is that we are all struggling. It’s important to remember that behind bias and discrimination are real people. Everyone has a story filled with love and pain, regrets and joys. Listening to Dr. Gadsden speak about her experiences was a stark reminder of how false the assumptions we make usually are, and how important it is to give people a chance, to be accepting of differences, and forgiving of mistakes.

Dr. Gadsden received her DVM from Tuskegee University and completed a pathology residency at Michigan State University. She went on to attain a PhD in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology from MSU, and now works as a principal pathologist at MPI Research.