Progress 03/01/03 to 02/28/08
Outputs
Five first year DVM students were selected in Spring 2003 to participate in the Multicultural Scholars program. The students were selected based on their academic record, financial need, potential for leadership in veterinary medicine and demonstrated commitment to diversity in veterinary medicine. During their time here, the scholars engaged in a wide variety of scholarship and leadership activities. One student was awarded a competitive research fellowship to work at the Equine Genetics Center at the Baker Institute for Animal Health. Another scholar received a grant through the college's Expanding Horizons program to travel to Cempeche and Merida, Mexico to study: Anthelmintic Resistance of and the role of Nutrition in Resilience to Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Small Ruminants. Through appropriate career guidance and support all scholars participated in unique summer experiences. Scholars also developed their academic leadership through involvement in various special interest clubs and organizations at the college. One of our scholars was selected by the Dean to be the Cornell student representative at the North American Veterinary Conference. Two of our scholars were co-chairs of Cornell's (founding) chapter of Veterinarians One in Culture and Ethnicity (VOICE), a student group devoted to promoting ethnic diversity in veterinary medicine. They represented Cornell at the Iverson Bell Symposium, a conference hosted by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges to discuss issues of diversity in veterinary medicine. PRODUCTS: Through targeted recruitment, mentoring and career advising, five minority students successfully attained DVM degrees. OUTCOMES: All five students successfully completed their academic program on schedule and were granted their DVM degrees in May 2007. They passed their licensing exam and entered competitive internship training programs. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Diversity initiatives at the college and the role of the MSP program in this endeavor are shared with colleagues involved in diversity initiatives at other veterinary colleges and prehealth advisors. FUTURE INITIATIVES: The college continues to identify and develop strategies to increase the pool of under-represented minority students interested in a career in veterinary medicine. This includes targeted visits to science magnet highs schools in New York as well presentations at schools and colleges with a high minority population, attending career fairs which attract minority students in science, developing a database of potential applicants to the college and maintaining a relationship with them through their high school and undergraduate careers.
Impacts
Veterinary Medicine has one of the least diverse workforces in US society today. Through efforts such as the Multicultural Scholars program and other college and university based initiatives; we hope to increase diversity in the veterinary workforce. The five graduates of the Multicultural Scholars program recognize the importance of this endeavor and will serve as ambassadors of the college, the program and veterinary medicine.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
The specific objectives of the program were: 1) To recruit talented African-American Hispanic and Native-American students interested in veterinary medicine into the DVM program at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and 2) To ensure the retention and enhance the professional experience of the Multicultural Scholars at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine throughout their four years in the DVM program. Five students were selected to participate in the Multicultural Scholars Program. All five multicultural scholars entered their second year of the DVM program in the fall of 2004 in good academic standing. The Multicultural Scholars engaged in a wide variety of academic activities that enhanced their academic, clinical and research knowledge base, participated in numerous professional development activities and developed their leadership skills through participation in professional organizations. Specific experiences of the scholars
were as follows: Hindatu Mohammed was the co-president of Veterinarians One in Culture and Ethnicity(VOICE is a student organization at Cornell Veterinary College whose goal is to promote diversity efforts within the college community) for the 2004-2005 academic year. In the summer of 2004, Hindatu won a grant from the Anatomy Department to study native birds in Costa Rica. April Rogers was the co-president of VOICE for the 2004-2005 academic year and the president of Christian Veterinary Fellowship (CVF) at Cornell during the same time. She represented the College at the 15th Iverson Bell Symposium on Diversity Matters in Veterinary Medicine at the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges in Washington DC in March 2004. In summer 2004 she worked as a veterinary technician at California Animal Hospital which is run by Dr. Stephen Ettinger. Michelle Moyal was the president of the Emergency and Critical Care Society at the college during the 2004-2005 academic year as well as
an active participant in VOICE, Zoo and Wildlife Society, Cornell Veterinary Holistic. In summer 2004, Michelle spent seven weeks as a veterinary extern at the Animal Medicial Center in NYC. Amber Cohn (Arriola) served as treasurer of VOICE and the secretary of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society in 2004-2005. During the school year she enhanced her technical and clinical skills by working as a student technician in the Intensive Care Unit of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. During the summer of 2004 she worked at Advanced Critical Care and Internal Medicine in Orange County, CA. Danielle Brinker: In spring 2004 she worked with neonatal foals in Cornell's large animal Intensive Care Unit. In summer 2004, Danielle was awarded the Dorothy Havemeyer Summer Research Fellowship to work in Dr. Douglas Antzack's laboratory at the Baker Institute for Animal Health at Cornell University where she worked on equine reproductive immunology.
PRODUCTS: None
OUTCOMES: Five promising minority students were selected into the Multicultural Scholars program and are being successfully trained towards their DVM degrees which they are on track to receive in May 2007. As a result of the experiences, training, opportunities and support they have received, they are poised to become high impact individuals in the field of veterinary medicine upon graduation.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Information about the Multicultural Scholars Program at Cornell was shared with attendees as part of the discussion about recruitment of minority students, financial aid and training for leadership at the annual summer meeting of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges in Minneapolis in July, 2004.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: The Multicultural Scholars will be entering a new phase of their veterinary education-clinical training. As part of their training they will have the opportunity to rotate at specialty practices and other university hospitals to explore their options for post-graduate training. All five scholars are currently interested in completing internships after they obtain their DVM degrees. They will be working closely with mentors, and the Director of Student Services towards this end.
Impacts
The Multicultural Scholars program has had a significant impact on the educational experiences of the selected students as well as the cultural climate and support system for other minority students in the college. Participation in the program has allowed the scholars to explore their leadership potential and instilled in them a need to 'give back' by actively recruiting minority students into the profession through giving presentations at schools and serving as mentors to undergraduate students.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Focus of current Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) at the College of Vet. Med. at Cornell is to I.D./support promising under-represented minority vet. students in educational & career aspirations. From a group of 12 under-represented minority students matriculated in Class of 07, 5 were selected in Fall 07 to participate in the (MSP): Hindatu Mohammed (African American), Amber Arriola (Hispanic), April Rogers (African American), Michelle Moyal (African American) & Danielle Brinker (Multiracial-African American/Caucasian). Students were selected on basis of leadership/extracurricular activities, potential role models for future minority students contemplating entry into vet med., academic performance prior to & in their 1st course in DVM curriculum. Scholars completed 2 foundation courses- The Animal Body & Animals, Vets & Society (A). These courses ran from 8/21-10/31 03. They are enrolled in next set of foundation courses Genetics & Development & Animals, Vets &
Society (B) from 11/10/03-1/16/04. All 5 Multicultural Scholars completed their 1st 2 foundation courses of Fall 2003 in good academic standing. All 5 students have been assigned a peer mentor & faculty advisor. Peer mentors served as resources to students on a variety of topics incl. ref. books for courses + electives to enroll in. We are in process of I.D. appropriate alumni mentors to offer scholars career guidance, supt. & opportunities to network. November 5, 2003 Multicultural Scholars attended Career Connections Forum at College. Purpose of Career Connections forum is to provide a venue where DVM students can prepare for post DVM careers (make informed career decisions) by attend. seminars on topics pertaining to practice management, explore alt. career paths in vet med. & network/interview w/prospective employers. Involvement helps students explore & articulate their skills/interests. Event incl. a 2-hour lecture by Cynthia Wutchiett, CPA on Pave your road to success: Choose
your 1st practice wisely, & a panel on alt. careers in vet med. Speakers/participants on panel incl. Dr. Terry Wollen, Dir. of Animal Health & Wellbeing, Heifer Int'l., Julie Pomerantz, DVM, '97, Dr. Kurt Venator, DVM ('03) PhD, Dr. Alfonso Torres, DVM, PhD, Assoc. Dean of Vet. Public Policy. Panelists spoke of their career paths & offered students advice on how to avail of & create opportunities, carve career paths in NGOs, industry, conservation medicine & USDA & international organizations. They had opportunity to network w/33 private practitioners from NY, NJ, PA, Mass. & VA who attended the event. Over the course of the next month, Dir. of Student Services & Multicultural Affairs will work w/Multicultural Scholars to I.D. & explore potential summer opportunities. 2 of the 5 scholars expressed interest in participating in our Expanding Horizons Program. Program provides funding for Cornell vet students interested in vet related experiences in developing countries.
Impacts
Through participation in the program, the Multicultural Scholars have received individualized attention to their personal and academic concerns and career goals.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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