SAVMA Chapter President Jonathan Dumas discusses the diversity, equity, and inclusion reality as a veterinary student

This episode VIN Foundation Board Member Dr. Matt Holland is having a conversation with Ross Veterinary School SAVMA Chapter President and SAVMA Chapter President Representative-elect Jonathan Dumas.

Jonathan is candid and transparent about his unique path to veterinary school and shares a realistic view on how the veterinary profession is dealing with diversity, equality, and inclusion. Facing his steepest challenge yet, Jonathan admits that veterinary school is difficult, and this raw conversation provides insight into his touching story of perseverance and dedication. As Jonathan says, faith without work is dead.

HOST AND GUEST BIOS:

Matt Holland, DVM

Matt Holland graduated from the University of Illinois CVM class of 2017. He is a Veterinary & Pre-Vet Student Advocate for the VIN Student Team and his interests are Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, mental wellness, environmental health, student debt, & policy. His interest in policy led him to Washington, D.C. after graduating, where he completed the AVMA/AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Congressional Fellowship in the office of Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos and the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship at the USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture. Originally from a suburb of Chicago, IL, he came to veterinary medicine as a second career. After graduating in 2007 from Drake University with a B.A. in radio and television journalism, he worked as a freelance television producer for various media outlets in Chicago and New York City including Big Ten Network, Major League Baseball Network, and the Chicago Bears. During veterinary school, he found a love for giving back to the profession, and one of his proudest achievements is serving as SAVMA President. He is thankful for the opportunity to keep giving back as a VIN Foundation board member and excited for the future of the VIN Foundation.

Jonathan Dumas

Jonathan is from Miami, Florida, and attended the University of Florida where he received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. He then went on to receive a dual master’s in Agricultural and Extension Education and International Agriculture and Development from Pennsylvania State University. Jonathan spent five years working in Washington, D.C. as a Program and Policy Analyst for both USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services, and USDA, Departmental Management, Office of Human Resources Management respectively. It has been Jonathan’s lifelong dream to become a Veterinarian, and since starting Veterinary School he has developed interests in mixed animal medicine, animal nutrition, and public policy. Jonathan currently serves as the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine SAVMA President and is the National SAVMA Chapter Presidents Representative-Elect.

LINKS AND INFORMATION:

• Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine: https://vet.rossu.edu/
• SAVMA: https://www.avma.org/membership/SAVMA
• USDA Pathways Program: https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/careers/usda-pathways-programs
• USDA APHIS: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/home/
• USDA DM Office of Human Resources Management: https://www.dm.usda.gov/employ/
• Dr. Matt Holland episode: https://vinfoundation.podbean.com/e/a-haiku-a-veterinarian-and-the-coronavirus/
• VIN Foundation Vets4Vets®: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/vets4vets/

You may learn more about the VIN Foundation on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!