Women's Leadership Development Workshop Featured at the 2014 AVMA Convention

Donald F. Smith, Cornell University

Co-author, Julie Kumble, Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts

Posted July 11, 2014

If you are coming to Denver for the AVMA Convention, consider enrolling in the workshop for Women’s Leadership in Veterinary Medicine.

What: Women’s Leadership Development Workshop (AVMA number 16518)
When: Friday, July 25th 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Where: Colorado Convention Center: 702
Attendees: Veterinarians, veterinary students, technicians, and administrative staff in organized veterinary medicine. MEN particularly welcomed.
Cost of Workshop: $60.00 (student and trainee scholarships still available), contact Dr. Smith at dfs6@cornell.edu

Presenters:

• Julie Kumble, MEd, Interim CEO, Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts
• Donald Smith, DVM, Professor of Surgery and Dean Emeritus, Cornell University

Kumble and Smith are both founding members of the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative.

       

Julie Kumble, MEd	Donald F. Smith, DVM
Interim CEO, Women’s Fund	Professor and Dean Emeritus,
of Western Massachusetts	Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine
(Photo provided by Julie Kumble)	(Photo provided by Dr. Smith)

  

Outline of Workshop

Session I. I:00 - 1:50

The Critical Role of Women in Veterinary Leadership

Lecture on the current status of women's leadership within the four main areas of veterinary medicine (practice, professional associations, academia, and industry) including an overview of the factors contributing to the leadership gap and critical elements to closing the gap.

Session II. 2:00 - 2:50

The Role of Mentoring in Career Advancement

From deans to industry professionals to veterinary medical association leaders, nearly all women praise and appreciate the role of mentors in their success. This session explores the elements that make for successful mentor/mentee relationships, and helps participants identify resources for finding the right mentors for them at different career stages.

Session III. 3:00 - 3:50

How Women Lead in a World They Didn't Design

Lecture and interactive discussion using case studies on three key areas: grassroots relationship, "contrapuntal management," and sustaining critical mass.

Session IV. 4:00 - 4:50

Practicing Essential Leadership Skills: Trauma-free Negotiation, Public Speaking

This highly interactive session will allow participants to practice and develop some key leadership skills.

Veterinary students are especially invited to attend this workshop. When we presented a similar program earlier this spring at Cornell1, many of the students were concerned by the current state of women’s leadership in the profession. However, they were also encouraged by the opportunities that lay before them. One of the participants was Michelle Forella, president of the Cornell Student Chapter of the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative (WVLDI). She summarized her feelings this way,

Since we began the conversation, I have been equally surprised by the barriers my classmates already face, and awed by the motivation they have to overcome them. It is exciting to know that we are entering this profession with a network of colleagues already dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women.2

Michelle will be attending this workshop, as will Becky Donnelly, another Cornell WVLDI officer. She adds,

From every new statistic that I read to each conversation that I engage in regarding women’s leadership, I become more motivated not only to break down models that prohibit women from attaining leadership positions but to also encourage my peers and colleagues to pursue any and all leadership opportunities.3

The attendance limit is approaching as we draw near to the convention, so consider enrolling now before it is too late.

Dr. Smith welcomes comments at dfs6@cornell.edu

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1 Smith, Donald F and Julie Kumble. “Women’s Leadership in Veterinary Medicine: A Course for Veterinary Students.” Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine April 2, 2014.
2 Forella, Michelle (President, Student Chapter of the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative), email to Donald F. Smith (Cornell University), July 7, 2014.
3 Donnelly, Rebecca, (Officer, Student Chapter of the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative), email to Donald F. Smith (Cornell University), July 8, 2014.

A Male Veterinary Student Reflects on a Course in Women's Leadership

Guest Author: Drew Enders, Cornell University, Class of 2015
Posted April 30, 2014

Editor’s Note:: Drew Enders is one of three male students who joined 32 female colleagues in a one-day symposium on Women’s Leadership in Veterinary Medicine held at Cornell University on March 1, 2014.1 A requirement of the course was to interview a woman veterinarian regarding her experiences in some aspect of the profession. Drew’s takeaways from the course and his summary of the interview with Dr. Jessica Platz of Colonial Veterinary Hospital in Ithaca, NY are reported in this story.

Donald F. Smith

I’ve spent the majority of my life, and most importantly the last three years, in a classroom. It was no different on the first Saturday of March when I walked into Cornell’s first symposium on women’s leadership in veterinary medicine. I was one of only three males in attendance – daunting odds to anyone who hasn’t gone to veterinary school in the last two decades. Admittedly, I was a little wary at first, not because of my minority group status, but that as a male, I wouldn’t get much out of a women’s leadership course or that my opinion on the subject would be an affront to the group of female pioneers around me.

To my surprise and delight, that weekend discussion was completely worthwhile and I feel like my eyes were opened to an omnipresent issue that I was ignorant to beforehand. Throughout the one-day interactive seminar we focused on exploring the role of women and their unequal representation in veterinary leadership. Some of the major themes of the day included discrimination, career ambitions, balancing work with family, applying for and negotiating for associate positions in clinical practice, and mentorship.

 

Drew Enders, DVM Class of 2015, participates in a mentoring exercise

with three female colleagues (two from his class and one from the Class of 2016) at the course,

Women’s Leadership in Veterinary Medicine.

(Photo by the author, 2014)

The discussion was so fruitful that it prompted me to interview a close friend about her experiences as a young veterinarian. Dr. Platz graduated from Mississippi State University where she earned both the MS and DVM degrees. Since then she has become a certified veterinary acupuncturist, completed a rotating small animal internship, and now works as an associate in a small animal hospital. I chose to interview Dr. Platz because she has accomplished so much in the three short years that I have known her. Furthermore, I value her opinion and have been grateful for the helpful advice she has shared with me over the course of our friendship. Our interview was stimulating, free flowing, and intriguing.

I was, and continue to be, baffled by the dichotomy between the overwhelming majority of women who make up veterinary classes and their severe underrepresentation in higher positions. Dr. Platz told me that she is not surprised by the inequality,2

Men naturally lean towards more power positions in their early careers; whereas, women both want to work and have a family. I don’t see that changing. The onus is on women to come up with ways to get more involved in leadership positions and find a better balance between work and family.

I asked her if she thought it was harder for women to advance themselves in veterinary medicine or the workforce in general. “Yes”, she said, “child-bearing is the crux women bear and it’s something we can’t control, but that issue isn’t as big an impediment as it once was.”

Stereotypical gender roles with regards to child-care responsibilities are no longer as strong as they were in the past. More women report the desire to have fulfilling careers, while more men are expressing their desire to become more involved in family life and becoming stay-at-home dads.3 Although veterinary medicine may lag behind in this trend, I believe female veterinarians are the epitome of driven, career-seeking women and they need to work to create more of a gender balance for child-care responsibilities in the family.

With regards to leadership roles, Dr. Platz reiterated my own feelings by saying more people in power positions are older and that the older men in power now came from a generation where men made up the majority of veterinary professionals. I believe with time, as newer, younger generations predominately composed of women, begin to take on those positions, a shift will occur in the leadership.

Despite the naturally-occurring shift, the current situation begs us to question, “Why wait?” Strong, independent, brilliant women currently make up the majority of this profession and must make a stand so our leadership reflects their representation.

It’s difficult to control discrimination on all levels, but in a professional setting it shouldn’t be tolerated. During the symposium, an alarming number of my peers relayed stories of experience with male private practice owners who admitted to being hesitant to hire new female graduates because of their fear they would be starting a family soon. These stories struck a cord with me. If the women’s leadership initiative is to succeed, this level of duality, the male and female agenda, in the profession can no longer be tolerated. New graduates are on the precipice of long, rewarding careers after having spent almost two decades in school. They should not have to choose between starting a family and having a career.

I asked Dr. Platz what she would like to see change for women in veterinary medicine. She said she would like to see practices begin to offer paid maternity leave, citing the progressive thinking of other countries that offer both paid maternity and paternity leave. Sadly, at this time she couldn’t name a practice that did offer it. I followed up by asking if she thought most women would feel comfortable bringing up the idea of starting a family during a job interview and Dr. Platz did not think they would. It’s ironic that the idea of starting a family has become taboo in a profession predominantly composed of women.

I find it shameful that women are faced with the dilemma of hiding their desire to start a family from a potential employer out of fear they won’t be hired. I believe women need to defend their self worth and assert their convictions. If they feel like they need to interview for a job under a shroud of deception, rather than with honest open dialogue, then perhaps they need to reevaluate if that practice is truly the place they want to work. At the same time, male veterinarians need to support their female colleagues; excellent qualifications should be the only requirement to fill a position. The workforce at most practices, both veterinarians and veterinary technicians, is overwhelmingly made up of women. Both employer and employees need to be able to discuss family openly so workforce adjustments can be made for the benefit of the entire practice.

At the symposium, we also discussed strategies to improve negotiating skills that included exploring dual MBA programs or devoting clinical externship time to pursuing business externships.

Personally, I can’t imagine the success of the women’s leadership initiative without both genders working together to improve the profession. I had never explored the subject of women’s leadership prior to the symposium and decided to attend with the hope of taking away something new. I had no idea how fascinating the intricacies of the women’s leadership initiative is or that I would walk away from that day with lingering thoughts.

I felt immense pride not only for myself, but also for my male peers who also decided to come in on a weekend and show support for the advancement of women’s leadership. It’s critical that male veterinarians recognize the need to support their female counterparts to ensure the continued betterment of the profession. Since the symposium, I have promoted the ideas of the women’s leadership movement with my peers on my clinical rotations. So many of my colleagues (male and female) are unaware of the initiative and I enjoy remaining connected to the movement by serving as liaison between the symposium and the hospital. I am already looking forward to next year’s gathering and hope my distribution of information will prompt more of my colleagues to participate.

 

1 Smith, Donald F and Julie Kumble. Women’s Leadership in Veterinary Medicine: A Course for Veterinary Students. Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine. April 2, 2014.
2 Platz, Jessica, MS, DVM (Colonial Veterinary Hospital, Ithaca, NY). Interview with Drew Enders (Cornell University DVM student) conducted in person March 8, 2014, and April 18, 2014.
3 Ludden, Jennifer. Stay-At-Home Dads, Breadwinner Moms And Making It All Work. National Public Radio, May 15, 2013.

Dr. Smith welcomes comments at dfs6@cornell.edu

This story is also posted at www.veritasdvmblog.com

Western Veterinary Conference Hosts Women's Leadership Symposium

By Donald F. Smith, Cornell University

February 27, 2014

Last week’s symposium on Women’s Leadership in Veterinary Medicine at the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas attracted over 100 people during the four-hour presentation. The audience included recent graduates, like Dr. Eva Evans, a Las Vegas practitioner who graduated just 20 months ago from the University of Tennessee, and Dr. Sarah Coburn, a Public Health Officer and practicing veterinarian on the North Slope of Alaska. She graduated from Colorado State University in 2009.

Most of the attendees were already experienced leaders in the profession. Jennifer Durenberger, DVM (2002), JD, is the Director of Racing for Massachusetts. Colonel Robin K. King, DVM, PhD, Dipl American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, another mid-career veterinarian, told me that she came to the symposium because she wanted to learn more about women’s leadership opportunities in the military. Dr. Dave Gerber, as practitioner in Idaho, excitedly told me he “gets it” —that is, he understands the need for more women in leadership. He shared with me his interest in reading Sheryl Sandberg’s book “Lean In,” given to him recently by one of his daughters.

Besides Dr. Douglas Aspros, immediate past president of the AVMA and one of the four speakers, other senior AVMA executives included Dr. Ted Cohn, president-elect, and Dr. Janet Donlin, CEO of the AVMA’s Professional Liability Insurance Trust.   

Also present was Dr. Karen Padgett, Chief Operating Officer of Ceva Animal Health, LLC. At the midway juncture of the morning’s presentation, she presented a check for $15,000 to Dr. Karen Bradley, president of the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative (WVLDI). This extraordinary financial support—the first of its kind from industry and just six months after the WVLDI was established—provided an unquantifiable boost to morale for those who have worked tirelessly to launch the initiative.  Just two months ago, the American Veterinary Medical Association provided $25,000 in program support. This support from Ceva and the AVMA allows the WVLDI is to launch several new initiatives, and make plans to reach broader audiences of veterinarians.

As I listened to Dr. Padgett speak to the WVLDI directors later that day in a joint strategy meeting, I could not help but remark publically that I had seldom met anyone whose leadership skill was so evident in personal style, commitment, and action. What an honor for the group to benefit from her company’s support and encouragement. 

Lea-Ann Germinder of Germinder & Associates, Inc, one of the leading communications specialists in veterinary medicine, announced the attendance of many representatives of the media, in including the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and DVM360.

Dr. Karen Bradley, Onion River, Vermont

The program featured four presenters. Drs. Aspros, Dr. Bradley and I represented organized veterinary medicine, practice ownership, and academia. Julie Kumble of the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts represented the broader domain of women’s leadership in society.

Julie Kumble and I lectured for the first two hours under the title, “Minding the Gap and Sharing Solutions,” referring to the gap between the large percentage of women in the profession as a whole, and the relatively small percentage who occupy senior leadership positions. We presented data and anecdotal information gathered from interviewing over 40 leaders in the veterinary profession—including several men—to raise the awareness of leadership challenges (we used the prevailing term, “leadership gap”) in the four areas of organized veterinary medicine, academia (especially the dean level), industry, and clinical medicine (especially ownership of veterinary practices).  

Dr. Douglas Aspros, New York

One goal of our presentation was to describe challenges women face in attaining leadership positions by examining institutional and systemic barriers to women’s advancement. We also shared information about those gender-based perceptions and personal traits that sometimes hinder attainment of leadership positions for women. To give concrete examples of success stories gleaned from our many interviews, we shared best practices from within and outside of the veterinary profession. For example, we presented data on how Iowa State Veterinary Medical Association has made institutional changes to assure greater representation of women and also younger veterinarians in their leadership team in the past 12 years.

Ms Julie Kumble, Massachusetts

The second part of the symposium, presented by Drs. Bradley and Aspros, was aptly named, “Women of Vetlandia, How to find personal and professional success in the world of organized veterinary medicine.”  By tag-teaming in an entertaining and informative manner, they outlined how veterinarians can get involved in the professional affairs at a regional, state, and national level. They described the number and variety of opportunities in a manner that made it appealing for veterinarians in all stages of the profession, as well as how to balance day-job responsibilities with broader service. As the more recent graduate, Dr. Bradley shared personal insights into how this balance could be achieved, even as a mother, wife, and co-owner of a three-doctor practice.

During the final hour of the symposium, the audience was invited to sit in the front of the auditorium. The four speakers and two additional directors of the WVLDI (Drs. Rachel Cezar and Stacy Pritt) convened a more direct exchange, providing the opportunity for everyone to participate. For many attendees, this was the most interesting part of the session.

Dr. Cezar, who also served as moderator of the program, had the additional responsibility of collecting and summarizing the evaluation forms completed by attendees. She identified several issues that should be addressed before a similar program of this nature is presented in the future. For example, we need to provide greater clarity about what the WVLDI can provide for women veterinarians, such as information on leadership training programs and mentoring. We were also urged to provide information on women in a broader array of specific segments of the profession, such as the military. Some asked how students can get involved; and others were disappointed that we did not provide more opportunity for interactive participation.

We also received many positive comments: “THANK YOU, THANK YOU”; “Every vet should be here [attending];” “This has been a long time coming;” and “Looking forward to getting involved.” Both constructive criticism and positive responses provided encouragement and guidance for moving forward.

For me, the capstone of the feedback was a comment the following morning by Dr. Joni Samuels, a practice owner from southern California and incoming director of the WVC, as we rushed past each other to our respective meetings. A friend for many years, and one whom I can depend upon for being thoughtfully observant, Joni said, “You guys have the right approach and are on track. Now all you need to do is find answers!”

With guidance from people like Dr. Samuels and other leaders in the profession, I think we shall find answers and help move veterinary medicine forward.

Women's Leadership in Veterinary Medicine to be Featured at the Western Veterinary Conference

By Donald F. Smith, Cornell University
Posted February 8, 2014

Join the directors of the Women's Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative (WVLDI) for a four-hour interactive symposium on Women's Leadership in Veterinary Medicine at Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas.

Monday, Feb 17, 2014; 8:00am - 12:00pm

Presenters: Karen Bradley, Julie Kumble, Douglas Aspros and Donald Smith

Karen Bradley, DVM, President WVLDI
Partner, Onion River Animal Hospital, VT

Julie Kumble, MEd
Interim CEO, Women's Fund of Western MA

Douglas Aspros DVM, Past President of AVMA;
Partner, Bond Animal Hospital and
Pound Ridge Veterinary Center

                      

Major Symposium Themes include:

• Understanding the gap in women's leadership in all professions, with special emphasis on veterinary medicine.
• Explaining why 30% women in leadership positions in organized veterinary, college administrations, and veterinary corporate boards is critical to maximizing productivity and promotion a diverse and work-friendly environment.
• Identifying and overcoming some of the factors that contribute to the gap between male and female financial compensation.
• Identifying the advantages of pursuing opportunities for leadership in the AVMA and state associations, and describing how veterinarians can prepare themselves for these positions.
• Providing case examples of state organizations, veterinary colleges and corporations that are advancing women's leadership, and describing institutional and other changes that made this possible.
• Understanding how to develop personal skills to increase the likelihood that you will be prepared for leadership positions.

Please accept my personal invitation to attend part or all of the symposium.

We are grateful to the American Veterinary Medical Association and 
also CEVA Animal Health
for their commitment and generous support.

            

Dr. Smith can be reached at dfs6@cornell.edu