UPDATE: AAVMC LGBT Student Climate Survey

For those of you that aren't familiar with the AAVMC outside of your veterinary college applications, the AAVMC has been working hard the past few years to understand the campus climate with regards to diversity at the veterinary colleges.

How did we get to the LGBT Student Climate Survey?
In the Spring of 2011 the AAVMC launched the AAVMC-AVMA DiVersity Matters Climate Survey.  With an overall response rate of 48.1%, the survey was able to get a clearer picture of the LGBT community within the nation's veterinary colleges.  These initial findings allowed the AAVMC to narrow in on the LGBT student experience with a focused LGBT Student Experience Survey in the Fall of 2012.  The LGBT Student Experience Survey was an open answer survey, which is still being analyzed.

Impressions of the LGBT Student Climate Survey based on the webinar:



We are so thankful that the AAVMC has undertaken this task and is pushing to improve the student experience for future veterinarians across the country.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.aavmc.org/Diversity/AAVMC002DAVMA-DiVersity-Matters-Climate-Survey.aspx

http://www.aavmc.org/Diversity/DVM-LGBT-Student-Experience-Study.aspx

LGVMA Strategic Planning Re-cap

You’ve seen the schedule,so you know what we were up to...in theory.  But what you don’t see in the hour by hour breakdown is that there was so much more than mission statement wordsmithing and action planning taking place in Las Vegas.  Its hard to say where to begin, because every time I think about the trip I get wrapped up in all the moments that made me so happy to be there.

This is one of those moments.

As you may know, I’m one of the current leaders of Broad Spectrum Veterinary Student Association.  If you want to know more about me, there’s an entire interview of myself and Arturo from last year on this blog.  This has been an amazing year, and I’m so glad I finally got involved in the LGBT community.  Before veterinary school, I never felt that I was a part of a queer community.  I strongly believe that all veterinary students, no matter where your diversity stems from, deserve a community that understands you. Life is stressful enough for us already.

Group Photo: the LGVMA Strategic Planners

So what do you do to prepare for a Strategic Planning meeting? You do some research!  I honestly didn’t know much about the history of the LGVMA before the meeting.  Everything I knew was based on the brief history on the LGVMA website and what Ken (Dr. Gorczya) told us about the LGVMA at last year’s Broad Spectrum meeting.  Some of our resources included the LGVMA NAVMEC Report from 2011 regarding LGBT acceptance and safety in the veterinary profession.  We also read the Special Edition of Good News! (the LGVMA newsletter) that focused on the personal stories of veterinarians integral to the creation of the LGVMA.  If you’re interested in reading any of these resources we can send them your way!  Reading all of these resources made me so grateful to be a part of the community and even more grateful for all the hard work that has been done already.

Liam layin' it out.

All attendees and some student/LGVMA leaders filled out a survey asking about our views on the current LGVMA and where we would like to see the organization go.  After the survey closed everyone attending the meeting was able to read all responses (which were anonymous) to each question.  I reviewed these on my 3 plane trips from Ithaca to Las Vegas.

Dr. Apryl Steele and Table 2, hard at work.

I arrived at the Red Rock Casino and Resort (which was about 10 times larger than I had imagined) just in time for our first meeting to start.  As you can imagine, as with most things that involve discussion, we didn’t stick to the schedule exactly, but we started, ended, and took breaks as indicated.  From breakfast until around 5pm we were together, getting to know each other personally and professionally outside of meeting discussions.  

Nikki presenting the fruits of our labor

In summary, we talked a lot and made some awesome charts.  It was difficult at times.  Sitting in the same room for hours only reminds me of vet school, but we were always engaged and participating to make this process successful.

Discussing organizational structure

You also probably saw us all posting on Facebook from inside the meetings, and after the meetings.  Despite being jetlagged and tired from early starts each day, a group of us took a trip to see the Vegas strip.  I’m so glad we did this!  I got to see the famous Bellagio fountains and walk through the Venetian.  You didn’t expect us to spend all of our time working did you?

Cruisin' in a convertible with LGVMA President Dr. Sandy Hazanow

Sin City!

Las Vegas: Where you never know if it's day or night

Amanda with the wizard of all street performers!

After a majority of the hard work was done, some of us also took a trip into the desert on Sunday afternoon (Red Rock Canyon Park) to go on an “easy” hike.  The views were beautiful and totally worth it. It was nice to spend the afternoon outside in the sunshine.  We were lucky to have excellent weather while we were there.  It was chilly for certain people who go to vet school in the southern USA, but it was heavenly compared to Ithaca in February.

Student leaders at Red Rock Canyon Park.  Hiking in business casual and flip flops, NBD. 

Taking a lunch break at Red Rock Canyon Park

The work isn't done.  We are still putting time into developing the new and improved LGVMA website and discussing how to improve the organization's structure.  I am so glad that I went and met more like-minded colleagues and hopefully lifelong friends.  I’ll be seeing some familiar faces at SAVMA Symposium in less than a week, and hopefully I’ll be meeting some new people as well.

All in a weekend's work

2012 SAVMA Symposium RECAP!

Last week, the inaugural board members of Broad Spectrum--William Gilles (Outreach Co-Chair), Sonia Fang (Outreach Co-Chair), and Nikki Wright (LGVMA Liaison)-- finally convened at Purdue University for the 2012 SAVMA Symposium.  Though we had been working hard and had been in near-constant communication (the wonders of email, Skype, GChat, and Facebook), it was the first time we were physically in the same space at the same time...IN A  YEAR.  Excitement levels were at all-time highs! 

Friday
Friday morning and early afternoon were spent tending to the LGVMA and Broad Spectrum VSA booth.

Professional Business Occurring.  Photo: W Gilles.

We were very excited for the turn-out.  We informed people about our organization, happy hour at the Egyptian Cafe Bar, and LGVMA’s Student Scholarship.  Free skittles probably didn’t hurt either!

Spiffy Flyer!

After clocking in a day of hard work, we were able to switch into more casual attire and head to the Egyptian Cafe Bar for some LGVMA-sponsored fun!  We had an amazing time talking to students from all over the US.  

Dr. Ken Gorczyka and Nikki.  Photo: N Wright.

Amazing people.  Photo N. Wright

We stuffed ourselves on hummus and pita, fried mushrooms, and nachos.  We were even able to enjoy some hookah.   

Hoorah!  Photo: C. Parsley

Liam, looking very pensive.  Photo: C. Parsley

Making new friends!  Photo: C. Parsley

Liam and Sonia celebrating a good year.  Photo: C. Parsley

Sonia and Nikki, in awe of everyone's awesomeness.  Photo: C. Parsley

Smizing.  Smiling with the eyes.  An extraordinary talent.   Photo: C. Parsley

BFF!  Photo: C. Parsley

Broad Spectrum Leadership 2011-2012!  Sonia is in pain.  Photo: C. Parsley

What a great event!  Photo: C. Parsley

Saturday
LGVMA Leadership Breakfast
On Saturday we attended the Leadership Breakfast bright and early at 8 AM.  Dr. Ken Gorczyka, the Executive Secretary of the LGVMA, gave a very powerful and moving welcome, explaining the origin of the LGVMA and how far we’ve come.  So many people showed up.

Ken discussing the origins of the LGVMA.  Photo: N. Wright

Great Turn Out!  Photo: N. Wright

Giving Ken our Thank You Card!  Photo: N. Wright

Broad Spectrum Meeting
Then at 9 AM, the time had come...for Broad Spectrum’s first national meeting since its founding!

 Our First Birthday...http://www.our-everyday-art.com/2011/01/brainstorm-1st-birthday-party-themes.html

We reviewed our organization’s history, the impetus for our formation, and everything we’ve done this year.

HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS
In the last year, we really developed our infrastructure, web presence, and social media:

• Liam built our fantastic website: broadspectrumvsa.org
• I (SF) worked on this blog you are currently reading: broadspectrumvsa.blogspot.com
• We started a facebook:  facebook.com/BroadSpectrumVSA
• We even started a twitter @BroadSpectrumVS

We established many resources, many of which had never been attempted prior to Broad Spectrum:

• Different club organizations at each school
•  Analysis of the different non-discrimination policies of each school
• Launching an interview series with veterinarians and students
• Covering events going on at different schools, including World AIDS Day, and National Coming Out Day
• Writing a manual on how to start a club

At the meeting, we established that students would love to have access to a list of speakers and a way to share event ideas across schools.  We established a need to work with Lisa Greenhill, the Associate Executive Director for Institutional Research and Diversity at the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, to better formulate our organization’s mission and long-term strategy.

Congratulations to our new leadership!

Broad Spectrum VSA 2012-2013

Arturo Otamendi (LSU)

Amanda Lynnea Fischer (Cornell)

Charlie Alex (VMRCVM)

Stephen Cole (Penn)
Caitlin Parsley (Auburn)

The 2011-2012 Leadership would like to thank

The LGVMA for being a tireless advocate of our organization, allowing Broad Spectrum to be visible, showcasing our writing in Good News, sponsoring so many of our events and sharing space at the booth, amongst an ever-growing list of things!

Dr. Ken Gorczyka for being such a great contact, consistently informing us of new events, potential interviewees, and leadership/scholarship opportunities.

Dr. Sandra Amass (Professor, Veterinary Clinical Sciences &
Associate Dean for Engagement Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine) for making Broad Spectrum visible at Purdue University, for being so supportive of our organization and our students. 

Tony Wynn (Operations Manager of AAVMC/VMCAS) for being so supportive and offering to help with our website.

Maggie Placer '14 for helping coordinate our events at Symposium

Purdue University for hosting an amazing and unforgettable Symposium
Lisa Greenhill for offering her expertise to make us a sustainable organization.

This has been such an amazing experience.  Thank you. 

Sonia Fang (Broad Spectrum Outreach Co-Chair 2011-2012)

William Gilles (Broad Spectrum Outreach Co-Chair 2011-2012)

Nikki Wright (Broad Spectrum LGVMA Liaison 2011-2012)