Culture and People
AAHA’s DEIB committee: Its evolution, key values, and future
AAHA’s DEIB committee is about to celebrate its five-year anniversary! Learn more about what inspired its formation, some of their early efforts, and where they hope to go from here.
AAHA formed its first internal DEIB committee in 2020, after recognizing the need to lead the way for greater recognition of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in veterinary medicine. As the committee approaches its five-year anniversary, we wanted to look back at what it’s accomplished—and what goals it has in mind for the future.
Members of the DEIB committee volunteer their time because they care about creating a safe and inclusive environment in vet med spaces and because they want to see this reflected in AAHA’s thought leadership and outreach efforts.
Samantha Motyl, AAHA marketing coordinator and a member of the DEIB committee, recalls how the committee saw the need to improve the ways in which AAHA connected with the veterinary community at large. Some examples include using more inclusive imagery that is representative of the diversity of the veterinary community, along with an expanded content strategy designed to cover a wider range of topics, resources, and subject matter experts.
“We were missing huge opportunities to connect with our members and beyond,” Motyl said. “We wanted everyone in vet med and the pet owner space to know AAHA was a place they could feel valued, included, represented, AND safe.”
AAHA’s DEIB committee in advocacy
Fueled by this goal, one of the committee’s earliest and most impactful contributions was collaborating on AAHA’s position statements about DEIB issues, such as the plea to end discrimination and violence towards Asian American and Pacific Islanders . These statements paved the way for AAHA’s renewed and deeper commitment to inclusivity and equity. They also marked AAHA’s official act of championing DEIB values both internally and within the broader veterinary community during the 2020s.
The DEIB committee has also guided AAHA’s participation in other projects. One notable milestone was AAHA’s signing of the Gender Identity Bill of Rights (GIBOR) pledge, a testament to the organization’s commitment to inclusivity.
Additionally, the committee has championed internal education and celebration initiatives, highlighting cultural and religious holidays, heritage celebrations, and awareness dates. These efforts fostered a greater understanding and appreciation of diversity among AAHA staff.
Our DEIB committee in action
Another significant accomplishment was the collaboration with blendVet over the last three years.
This organization is dedicated to providing DEIB-focused training and certification programs for veterinary teams. The organization also funds veterinary pipeline events that inspire children and young adults to consider careers in veterinary medicine. They have collaborated with K-12 schools in underserved communities across cities including Nashville, Orlando, Miami, St. Petersburg, and San Diego.
As part of this partnership, AAHA sponsored blendVet pathway events at AAHA Con in 2023, 2024, and the upcoming 2025 conference. Each of these events has provided opportunities for AAHA employees and conference participants to volunteer their time and expertise to inspire and uplift future veterinary professionals.
The DEIB committee played a key role in enhancing inclusivity at AAHA Con through initiatives such as gender-neutral bathrooms, neuroinclusive accommodations, and a nursing and pumping lounge. The inclusion of pronoun sharing and a formal Code of Conduct further emphasized the organization’s dedication to belonging.
DEIB in writing
Beyond events, the committee has advocated for the publication of diversity-focused articles in both digital and print publications and has spearheaded solidarity-focused social media campaigns. The committee also promotes DEIB-focused webinars (from AAHA and other organizations) to AAHA employees as well as to external audiences.
The future of the DEIB committee
Internally, the committee continues to grow and take on more projects.
The committee and meetings are structured to allow both members and nonmembers to collaborate on projects aligned with their passions, and opportunities.
Expanding its internal education process for celebrating cultural heritage and identity dates such as Neurodiversity Awareness Week and Indigenous Peoples’s Day is a current committee goal. Looking ahead, the committee remains a pillar of AAHA’s cultural evolution and aims to position AAHA as an industry leader in all things related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in veterinary medicine.
Photo credit: designer491/iStock via Getty Images
Disclaimer: The views expressed, and topics discussed, in any NEWStat column or article are intended to inform, educate, or entertain, and do not represent an official position by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.