Great people, achievements, and connections

At Banfield^®, we're committed to creating talented, qualified, and diverse veterinary teams while embracing and including all cultures and perspectives. It’s not just the right thing to do – it’s a big part of providing exceptional service for pets and the people who love them, in every community.

Black History Month is a perfect opportunity to showcase how much this means to us. And it’s an especially great time to celebrate the achievements of Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama, which has been helping transform aspiring veterinarians from students to doctors, and from dreamers to achievers, for more than 75 years.

Paving the way to success: Tuskegee

Since it began, Tuskegee has been a leader in the effort to increase diversity in the veterinary medical field. In the United States, 70% of all African American veterinarians are Tuskegee graduates, which remains the only historically Black college campus with a veterinary medicine program. Tuskegee graduates pave the way for future generations and are an important pipeline for the Banfield Pet Hospital^® family.

Banfield's Student Jobs program, which helps veterinary students gain real-world experience and prepare for practice, has benefited from all the Tuskegee students who have participated, and we recognize their hard work and dedication. We also proudly acknowledge the great Tuskegee graduates who today practice veterinary medicine at Banfield. They are leaders in our field, advocates for inclusion within our organization, and shining examples of why we must continue to push for positive change.

Learn more about Banfield’s Student Job Program in our Veterinarian Spotlight with Dr. Charles Robinson III, who was in the summer program while studying at Tuskegee.

Creating the next generation of veterinarians

In September 2020, a Banfield study revealed that an estimated 75 million pets in the U.S. may not have access to the veterinary care they need by 2030. A projected shortage of veterinarians, including vets from diverse backgrounds, is one of the barriers.

To help improve the diversity pipeline in veterinary medicine, Banfield announced plans for a $1 million investment in equity, inclusion, and diversity efforts to increase representation, offer training, and support industry efforts. We also partnered with Royal Canin and the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine to launch the Banfield & Royal Canin Student Support Fund, with an initial $125,000 gift to help Tuskegee veterinary students who have financial need.

“The veterinary profession is not only essential – we are in increasingly high demand,” said Brian Garish, Banfield’s president. “Banfield is committed to partnering with the veterinary industry to ensure the talent pipeline grows and diversifies to meet the evolving needs of pets, people, and society.”