Bethel Memorial Award for Veterinary Medicine

There were two things I was sure of as a young teen: I was determined to be a veterinarian and I was most definitely gay. Being able to explore my queer identity led to me discovering the impact I wanted to make as a veterinarian in my community. As the only openly LGBTQ+ employee at the first veterinary clinic I worked at, it was very clear that there was a lack of diversity, and sometimes even acceptance, in this field in the deep South. This lack of diversity made me feel isolated and like I didn’t belong in veterinary medicine as a young, queer kid in the South. Despite the challenges, I found strength in being authentic to myself and in advocating for greater inclusivity in this profession. To me, pursuing veterinary medicine is more than just my passion for treating and helping animals in need. It also offers a chance for me to create a platform to support LGBTQ+ individuals and other underrepresented communities interested in this career path. By supporting diverse veterinarians, I believe we will be able to better advocate for the diverse communities and clients we serve in this profession. One way I want to advocate for my community as a veterinarian is through creating a shadowing program that provides mentorship to marginalized communities interested in veterinary medicine! Through this program, students will be able to gain experience in veterinary science while also receiving guidance and advice from vets that share similar backgrounds and experiences as them. By encouraging others to pursue veterinary medicine, we will be able to represent and serve our diverse communities more efficiently. With more veterinarians that clients can relate to and trust, we can inspire stronger doctor-client relationships, helping their pets to receive the best care possible. My passion for client and patient advocacy has led me to explore different specialities and aspects of veterinary medicine, which is how I fell in love with integrative medicine, which utilizes techniques such as acupuncture, laser therapy, and Chinese herbal medicine. I remember seeing how transformative treatments like acupuncture could be for patients suffering from chronic conditions like arthritis, or terminal illnesses such as cancer. Witnessing these outcomes reinforced my belief in the importance of offering diverse treatment options to meet the unique needs of each patient. By utilizing integrative approaches as a small animal veterinarian, I hope to empower clients by providing them with greater autonomy and a wider range of options for their pets' medical care. As I start veterinary school in the fall of 2024, I am so excited to continue to explore my interests in integrative medicine and to grow my passion and knowledge in animal health! I know that throughout these next four years, I will continue to advocate for diverse communities by getting involved in clubs such as VOICE, a club dedicated towards uplifting underrepresented voices in veterinary medicine, and working to make sure that my voice is heard as a queer woman in veterinary medicine.