Encouraging Signs for Women's Leadership in the AVMA House of Delegates in 2014

By Donald F. Smith, Cornell University, and Julie Kumble, Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts

In the companion article posted on July 31^st,[1] we reported that the percentage of women delegates in the current House of Delegates (HOD) is 31.4%.[2] As hopeful as those data appeared relative to the proportion of women we reported a year ago (25%),[3]  we also expressed concern that the voting power of women delegates was constrained because of the proportional weight of the delegates from the ten largest states, eight of whom are men. This is not to imply that men who serve on the HOD fail to make wise and informed decisions, but rather that the deliberations of a decision-making body as critical to the profession as the HOD, should be more representative of the gender profile of the AVMA membership, which is now well over 50% women.

In this article, we present data that further define the demographic profile of women in the House. The following graph shows the percentage of men and women HOD members (delegates and alternates are combined in this graph), segmented by years of graduation from veterinary college.

The high proportion of women HOD members who graduated in the most recent five-year periods (including the years 1995-99 and 2000-04) represents the period when the percentage of women graduates increased from approximately 65% to 72% of the aggregate of US colleges. Though the number of HOD women delegates and alternates who graduated during these two five-year periods is not large (15 and 5, respectively), there appears to be a close parallel between the percentage of women graduating during this period and the percentage of women delegates and alternates in the House. 

Percentage of men and women in House of Delegates 

segmented by years of graduation from veterinary college. 

Delegates and alternates are combined in this graph.

(From AVMA website, www.AVMA.org), July 1, 2014)[4]

This is especially encouraging because it shows progress over the proportion of women in the HOD who graduated in the 15 previous years (1980-1994). Women who graduated during that earlier period have lower proportionate representation in the HOD compared to their male colleagues. For example, while the proportion of women graduates ranged from about 40% in the early 1980s, increasing to 50% in the late 1980s, and to 60% in the early 1990s, the percentage of women currently in the HOD who graduated during that period was far less, ranging from 20% (early 1980s) to less than 40% a decade later. 

There may be multiple personal, professional and even institutional reasons why women who graduated more recently (1995-2004) are proportionately well-represented in the House. We do not assume that these demographic changes are happening simply because more women are graduating and joining the profession.  After all, the evidence from earlier graduating years (noted above) do not support that conclusion any more than well-documented evidence from other professions.

Though the numbers are not high, the data presented here are encouraging. In the future, we would like to explore potential causative factors and propose recommendations for replicating successful strategies to encourage even greater proportions of female participation.

While not simply a numbers issue—women don’t add value by just being at the table—we believe that the women who have been in the HOD and who are being added now in greater numbers, are not only making a substantive and positive difference, but have great capacity to add real value to the profession as we face the challenges ahead.

By Dr. Donald F. Smith and Julie Kumble, Director of Grants and Programs, Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, Easthampton, Massachusetts 01027. She can be reached at juliek@womensfund.net.

The authors thank Dr. Lisa Greenhill, Associate Executive Director for Institutional Research and Diversity at AAVMC, for her contributions and review of this story; also Mr. Nate Watson ’17 for his contributions to data collection.

Dr. Smith invites comments at dfs6@cornell.edu

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[1] Smith, Donald F. and Julie Kumble. “Women in the AVMA’s 2014 House of Delegates, with Some Government Comparisons.” Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine, July 15, 2014.

[2] AVMA web site, Jul 1, 2014. 

[3] Smith Donald F. and Julie Kumble. “Women’s Leadership in the U.S. Congress and the AVMA’s House of Delegates: Exploring Parallels and Looking Forward.” Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine, April 28, 2013.

[4] Source, AVMA website, July 1, 2014, Ibid. 

Women in AVMA's 2014 House of Delegates, with some Government Comparisons

By Donald F. Smith, Cornell University and Julie Kumble, Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts


In April 2013, we reported on the gender makeup of the AVMA’s House of Delegates (HOD).[i]  We thought readers might be interested in seeing an update of the current composition of this important legislative body of the veterinary profession in as they meet for their semi-annual HOD meeting this week in Denver.[ii]

Graph 1 below shows that 22 (31.4%) of the 70 HOD delegates are women.[iii]  This is a higher proportion than we reported last year when women comprised 25% of the HOD delegates. The percentage of female delegates representing the 52 states (including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia) is  26.9% and the percentage representing the allied organizations is 44.4%.

Graph 1. Percentage of women and men in current HOD (July 1, 2014) showing total percentage, and also segmented by those who represent states and those who represent affiliated organizations.
(Data from AVMA, www.avma.org, July 1, 2014)

The proportion of women in the HOD does not represent the full story with respect to voting power, however. This is because the voting power for delegates representing state associations (including Puerto Rica and the District of Columbia) is weighted proportionate to the number of AVMA members in each particular state.

For example, delegates from the ten states with the most AVMA members carry approximately half of the total votes apportioned to all states. Because eight of these ten delegates are men (including the delegates from the five largest states), the weighting of male votes is disproportionately high compared to the total number of delegates.

Though the female representation of the allied organizations is higher (44%), the impact of their aggregate voting power is not realized proportionate to their numerical presence in the HOD because these organizations carry only two votes each.  Therefore, in the aggregate, the affiliated organizations provide less than 10% of the total weighted voting power of the HOD, with the other 90% coming from delegates representing state associations.

This is not to diminish the substantial progress that has been made in women’s representation in the House during the past year. Not only has the proportion of women delegates increased substantially, as noted above, but the gender ratio of the alternate delegates for the 10 largest states is now 50%. If some of these alternate delegates become delegates in the next few years, this by itself will have a substantial impact on the weighted vote of the body.

As we did in our story in 2013, we again match our HOD gender profile with data from the US Congress. We also added governors for one additional point of comparison. (See graph 2, below.)

Graph 2. Percentage of women and men delegates in current HOD (July 1, 2014) and of three governing bodies (US Senate and House of Representatives; and State Governors).
(Data from AVMA, www.avma.org, July 1, 2014, and other sources.)

Scholars generally recommend a minimum of 30% women in leadership positions to achieve a critical mass where they effectively influence policy and decision-making.  Unlike in the US Congress and governorships, we have reached that 30% point in the HOD.  Though we have not yet reached the threshold in weighted voting power within the House, we are optimistic considering the progress over the past year and the impact that the Women's Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative also may be having to increase awareness for the importance in achieving more women in leadership positions.  This is a favorable sign in a profession that is now well over 50% women.   

The authors extend thanks to Nathan Watson '17 for his assistance in preparing this story.

Dr. Smith invites comments at dfs6@cornell.edu

[i] Smith, Donald F. and Julie Kumble. Women’s Leadership in the U.S. Congress and the AVMA’s House of Delegates: Exploring Parallels and Looking Forward. Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine, April 28, 2013.

[ii] The House of Delegates meets just prior to the AVMA Convention (July 24-25, 2014).

[iii] This includes on delegates, not alternate delegates (delegates are non voting). The proportion of women among alternates is currently 34.1%.

WVLDI Marks its First Anniversary with Programs at the AVMA Convention in Denver

Sometimes change happens quickly. Occasionally, important things happen very quickly. 

And that’s the case with WVLDI—the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative—often simply called “Wivaldi” (like the classical composer, Vivaldi, but with a “W”). 

Here’s the story.

At last year’s AVMA meeting in Chicago, Dr. Karen Bradley stood for re-election for the position of chair of the House Advisory Council (HAC) of the AMVA’s House of Delegates (HOD).  When the voting was completed, not only was she replaced by a man as chair, but male HOD delegates were selected to fill the three open seats on the seven-person HAC.  As I wrote last year on this site, “Five Days in July”,

The stunning outcome reverberated across the floor and spilled out into the halls as the seven-member House Advisory Committee returned to being all male, having had only two women members in its history.[i]

Many people, men as well as women, were disappointed. AVMA president, Dr. Douglas Aspros shared an observation that would prove prescient. “A historic convention”, he said, referring to the fact that it was the Association’s sesquicentennial, “but bad outcomes for the HOD and great grist for the mill as we advocate for change.”[ii]

Shortly after the meeting ended, Karen Bradley sat at lunch. Composed, self-assured, and even smiling at times, she conferred with colleagues, considering how women could improve their leadership platform in an association where everyone seemed to acknowledge the desirability to have more women engaged, but no one seemed to know how it could be accomplished.

The interest in developing a group to support women’s leadership grew during the day. Dr. Stacy Pritt, who would become Vice President of the future WVLDI, described the momentum as “palpable, with people rapidly signing up to join a Facebook initiative, and plans for a web site and logo were being solidified.”  Under her leadership, those plans came to fruition within just a few short weeks after the Convention.[iii]

Dr. Karen Bradley, President WVLDI

(Photo provided by Dr. Bradley, 2013)

Less than two months later (September 11), Dr. Bradley hosted a conference call that included six women and two men. Three, including herself, are members of the HOD, and two were past presidents of the AVMA. There was one dean, and one dean emeritus. There was also a faculty member from a veterinary college, and a representative from a women’s foundation in Massachusetts.  These nine agreed to become the founding directors of WVLDI, with Dr. Bradley agreeing to serve as the inaugural president.[iv]

Almost immediately, WVLDI established Facebook and Linked In pages that energized grass roots discussions among its members. Lectures and seminars were presented at the North American Veterinary Conference in January, and the Western Veterinary Conference a month later. A presentation given at the Denver student symposium in mid-March ignited student interest that had been kindled at a course in Women’s Leadership held at Cornell two weeks earlier.[v]  Student chapters of WVLDI were quickly established at three colleges,[vi] and a news article on that topic appeared in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.[vii]

Several aspiring female leaders have benefited already from the WLVDI’s mentorship and sponsorship.  They are participating in AVMA-sponsored leadership development programs and serve on AVMA committees.

In February, financial support and sponsorship was received by Ceva. In announcing her support for WVLDI, Dr. Karen Padgett, Ceva’s chief operations officer, companion animal (US), said, “We recognize how important it is to support the advancement of women to leadership, policy and decision-making positions within all areas of professional veterinary activity.”[viii] 

The AVMA’s support for the initiative is strong, and also includes financial commitment, as justified in a March 18^th press release,

The WVLDI’s commitment to diversity and achieving leadership excellence in every sector of veterinary medicine is a natural fit with the AVMA’s strategic goal of enhancing participation and engagement of our membership through the creation of a culture of inclusion, transparency and community. [ix]

 From July 25th – 28^th, WVLDI will be active at the AVMA Convention

Friday, July 25^th, 1:00 – 4:50 pm

Colorado Convention Center, Room 702

Workshop: Develop Practical Skills for Becoming Confident and Effective Leaders[x]

Sunday, July 27^th, 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Colorado Convention Center, Room 207

The Initiative to Develop Women Leaders in Veterinary Medicine (Hot Topics Session)

Monday, July 28^th, 8:00 – 11:50 am

Colorado Convention Center

Women’s Leadership Development Symposium

8:00 - 8:50       Women’s Leadership: Minding the Gap and Sharing Solutions

9:00 – 9:50      Women of Vetlandia: Secrets to Success in the World of Organized Veterinary Medicine

10:00 - 10:50   Stories from the Trenches: Leaders from Multiple Areas of Veterinary Medicine Share Experiences and Lessons Learned

11:00 – 11:50  Round Table Wrap Up: Q and A Healthy Discussion

Monday, July 28^th, 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Meet and Greet Reception

AVMA Welcome Center, Colorado Convention Center

WVLDI Vision:   To achieve leadership excellence in every sector of veterinary medicine that fully reflects the diversity of the profession and society.

WVLDI Mission:   To support women in seeking and achieving leadership, policy, and decision-making positions within all areas of professional veterinary activity.

As one of the inaugural directors of WVLDI, I warmly invite you to participate in the above activities. Men are critical to the success of this initiative, so regardless of your gender or year of graduation, please get involved if you can. At a minimum, please share your thoughts about balanced representation of our membership in the leadership of all sectors of the profession.

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[i] Smith, Donald F. "Five Days in July: Catalyzing a New Wave of Women’s Leadership in the AVMA". Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine. July 29, 2013.

[ii] Smith, Donald F., Ibid.

[iii] Pritt, Stacy (DVM, MS, CPIA, DACAW; Director IACUC, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center). Email to Donald Smith (Cornell University), July 17, 2014.

[iv] Three other directors, including a student representative and an ex officio representative from the AVMA; one of the original directors had to resign because of other responsibilities.

[v] Smith, Donald F. and Julie Kumble. "Women’s Leadership in Veterinary Medicine: A Course for Veterinary Students". Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine. April 2, 2014.

[vi] Cornell, Texas A&M and Virginia-Maryland Regional Colleges of Veterinary Medicine.

[vii] Larkin, Malinda. "Women’s leadership group goes to school". JAVMA News, posted June 18, 2014.

[viii] CEVA US. Women’s Veterinary Leadership Initiative Announces Ceva Animal Health as First Industry Sponsor. www.ceva.us/News, Feb 12, 2014.

[ix] AVMA@Work. "Women’s leadership initiative hitting its stride". March 18, 2014.

[x] Smith, Donald F. and Julie Kumble. "Women’s Leadership Development Workshop Featured at the 2014 AVMA Convention". Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine. July 11, 2014.

Dr. Smith welcomes comments at dfs6@cornell.edu

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.