By Eliana Greissworth (’19) and Esteban Barajas (’19)

Over the noon hour on March 28, four MSU CVM alumnae spoke to more than 60 students, faculty, and staff about their past and current experiences in the veterinary profession. The event was organized in commemoration of Women's History Month by the MSU chapter of the student organization Veterinarians as One in Culture and Ethnicity (VOICE). 

The panelists shared different pictures of the profession: Drs. Gail Wolfe and Lynda Ashford-Scales graduated in the 1970s, while Drs. Kate Deyo Reynolds and Rachel Cezar received their degrees within the last ten years. Each of these women practice or practiced in different fields of veterinary medicine. They shared perspectives that were as distinct as their backgrounds and discussed topics that ranged from concerns about the wage gap to strategies for dealing with prejudice in the workplace. 

Veterinary medicine was almost exclusively male in 1960, and is more than 50 percent female today. Stories of recent prejudice elicited a strong response from the audience, especially students and younger professionals, who have a very different experience. 

Ashford-Scales lightheartedly shared that clients often assumed she was not a doctor, let alone the owner of her own practice, and that she would laugh it off while continuing to administer the highest quality care to the patients. The panelists each made it clear that times have changed. However, there is still progress to be made. 

Cezar spoke about the continuing disparity in leadership, which is still predominately male. There are fewer women in organized veterinary medicine, especially positions that have the power to vote on policy affecting the field as a whole. And a significant wage gap between men and women persists in veterinary medicine according to the 2015 AVMA Report on Veterinary Compensation. According the report, the median income veterinarians in private practice was $81,600 for women and $116,415 for men. In public or corporate practice, women earned $102,000 and men earned $134,000.

Students gathered after the event to speak with the panelists. Our alumnae stayed after the event to speak with students, offer advice and support, and make connections. Wolfe shared some unsettling details with us of her time in veterinary school, but emphasized the strides the college has made in creating an inclusive and supportive environment since the 1970s. Reynolds caught up with administrators she considers close friends and made it clear to us that strong ties are made here at the college. She enjoys being an active alumna by being a part of student life and activities.

The VOICE executive board is thrilled that we were able to strengthen our connections with alumnae and are looking forward to repeating the event next year. We had great feedback, and suggestions for a more interactive and in depth examination of women in veterinary medicine. You can definitely expect that next year.

VOICE is a student-run organization focused on increasing diversity within veterinary medicine.