By Donald F. Smith, Cornell University
Posted February 7, 2014
Recognizing Women's Leadership in Veterinary Medicine and Honoring Black History Month
An expanded version of this story was posted in Feb 10th at http://veterinarylegacy.blogspot.com/2014/02/dr-andrea-dennis-lavigne-to-become.html
Posted February 7, 2014
Recognizing Women's Leadership in Veterinary Medicine and Honoring Black History Month
An expanded version of this story was posted in Feb 10th at http://veterinarylegacy.blogspot.com/2014/02/dr-andrea-dennis-lavigne-to-become.html
"It's a great conversation piece," Dr. Andrea Dennis-LaVigne says of President Obama's personal note and signature on a poster in the Bloomfield Animal Hospital, the hospital she began 20 years ago just north of Hartford, Connecticut.
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| During a visit to the White House, Dr. Dennis-LaVigne received an autograph and personal greeting from President Obama and Bo Photo provided by Dr. Dennis-LaVigne. |
Dr.
Dennis-LaVigne grew up in Connecticut, the oldest of three girls, raised by a single
mother who taught her to be industrious and self-sufficient. At the age of 17
she went off to Cornell, but the racial tension she found there in the early
1970s proved too much for this young African-American woman, and after one year
she transferred to the University of Connecticut where she continued to pursue
her undergraduate degree.
Andrea
had wanted to be veterinarian since childhood, but her advisor at UCONN told
her, “You’ll never be a veterinarian.” Undaunted, she switched advisors,
applied as a junior and started veterinary college in 1978. She almost didn’t
accept the offer from Tuskegee ―“George Wallace was governor, I can’t go there,”
she said―but her advisor encouraged her, telling her to just go and she’d be
fine in Alabama. He insisted that she would fulfill her dream of becoming a
veterinarian and, by matriculating as a junior, would even save a year of
college and tuition. “One
person believed in me,” Dr. Dennis recalls sentimentally. “One person believed in me.”
She
had a wonderful time in Tuskegee. “It was a small school and the Dean, Dr. Walter
Bowie was
great, and everyone was a mentor. Everyone had my back.”
After
graduation, Dr. Dennis completed an internship in large animal medicine and
surgery at the University of California, Davis, then taught for a year at the
newly-opened Ross School of Veterinary Medicine. Ross was still located on the
island of Dominica when she started, and she actually experienced the move to
the island of St. Kitts.
But
after the year, she decided to go into practice back in the Northeast and, for
the next eight years, worked in two small animal practices. While she learned a
great deal observing how these owners ran their practices, she yearned to start
her own business.
So in 1992, she started out on her own. Using a house that she co-owned with her mother as collateral, she borrowed $100,000 from the bank and acquired a wonderful array of used equipment given to her by the the local hospital to complement new equipment purchases. Even in her first year, the business at her Bloomfield Animal Hospital business was above expectations and she has never looked back. In 1997, she was joined by Dr. Eva Ceranowicz and together they have built a thriving practice with a diverse and supportive clientele.
Dr. Dennis-LaVigne is passionate about giving back and supporting her community. She has held many leadership positions at her undergraduate alma mater, the University of Connecticut, and currently serves on it Board of Trustees. In 2011, she gave the commencement address for the university in front of some 8,000 graduates, family members and friends.
A firm believer in organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Dennis-LaVigne will become the sixth woman president since 2000, of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association. Just as she was the first African American veterinarian in Connecticut, she will also carry that distinction to the presidency.
So in 1992, she started out on her own. Using a house that she co-owned with her mother as collateral, she borrowed $100,000 from the bank and acquired a wonderful array of used equipment given to her by the the local hospital to complement new equipment purchases. Even in her first year, the business at her Bloomfield Animal Hospital business was above expectations and she has never looked back. In 1997, she was joined by Dr. Eva Ceranowicz and together they have built a thriving practice with a diverse and supportive clientele.
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| Dr. Andrea Dennis-LaVigne and her associate, Dr. Eva Ceranowicz Photo provided by Dr. Dennis LaVigne |
Dr. Dennis-LaVigne is passionate about giving back and supporting her community. She has held many leadership positions at her undergraduate alma mater, the University of Connecticut, and currently serves on it Board of Trustees. In 2011, she gave the commencement address for the university in front of some 8,000 graduates, family members and friends.
A firm believer in organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Dennis-LaVigne will become the sixth woman president since 2000, of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association. Just as she was the first African American veterinarian in Connecticut, she will also carry that distinction to the presidency.
I thank Ms. Julie Kumble, Interim CEO, Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, Easthampton, MA
01027, for arranging an interview for the two of us with Dr. Dennis-LaVigne on January 28, 2014. The information in this blog is based upon that interview to support our ongoing research in women's leadership in veterinary medicine.
