You've likely heard the acronym "DEI" before (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Recently, there's been a push to add a "B" for Belonging, making it DEIB. And for good reason. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion doesn't just happen, and belonging takes that a step further: having diverse voices in the workplace not only seen and heard but recognized and celebrated.
True belongingness is achieved when underrepresented individuals are comfortable being their authentic selves and speaking up. If you give them a seat at the table but they don't feel psychologically safe, they won't speak up. As leaders in vet med, we must make a concerted effort to ensure workers of all races, backgrounds, and identities have the opportunity to truly belong.
We teamed up with Dr. Niccole Bruno, CEO and Founder of blendvet, a DEIB certification program designed by vet med for vet med.
Why Belonging Matters in Vet Med
Lack of diversity vs. increased diversity of pet owners. Veterinarians were once called the whitest profession in America. Since then it has improved, but: 12% of veterinarians are racially diverse, 21% of vet techs, and 20% of assistants. Meanwhile, the HABRI-Petco Love survey found 53% of pet owners of color agree it is important that veterinary staff reflect the racial/ethnic diversity of the communities they serve. If pet owners don't see themselves represented, they won't feel like they belong.
Buying power of diverse communities is rising. BIPOC buying power in the U.S. has grown dramatically, and veterinary practices must intentionally create environments that foster belongingness and remove cultural barriers in the exam room.
Retention costs. According to AAHA's Compensation and Benefits report, the average yearly veterinary team turnover rate is 23%: 16% for associate veterinarians, 23.4% for vet techs, 32.5% for receptionists. Vet med is small and word of mouth drives recruiting. Poor belonging fuels attrition and higher costs.
The blendvet Framework for DEIB
blendvet organizes DEIB work into three areas: Being (self-awareness), Building (cultivating teams), and Belonging (community).
Being: Self-Awareness
What is DEIB?
Intersectionality. People are not one-dimensional. Each person is made up of multiple identities, and how those intersect makes up who they are. Those identities affect how they exist in society and how much they feel like they belong.
Unconscious bias. We all have them. They're not limited to race or ethnicity. Age, gender, gender identity, physical abilities, religion, sexual orientation, and weight can all be subject to bias. Unlearning them is a constant process.
Building: Cultivating Strong Teams
Hire for culture add, not culture fit. "Culture fit" tends to trigger affinity bias and prohibits diversity. Instead ask: How will this person add to our culture? What perspectives and life experiences will they bring? What gaps do they fill?
Create safe and vulnerable spaces. If you hire for culture add but don't openly encourage diverse thoughts, opinions, and experiences, you've only cracked the door open. This takes self-awareness, empathy, and open communication.
Foster feedback loops and continual learning. Feedback must flow both ways. CE budgets alone aren't enough; proactively encourage skills-based and knowledge-based learning.
Belonging: Encouraging Community
Maintain the culture you've built. DEIB is not a one-and-done process. As you hire new team members, welcome new clientele, or the social climate shifts, reassess and take inventory of what is working.
Engage with your greater community. Host street clinics, volunteer at community events, support minority-owned businesses, publish transparent pricing, and provide multiple payment options to be inclusive of lower-income clients.
Build the pathway for future generations. Create shadowing opportunities for children from all backgrounds who may not have thought a career in vet med was possible. blendvet's pipeline program is leading the way.
DEIB Is Not Transactional. It's Transformational.
You will never "finish" getting better at belonging. As you gain new team members and clients, you must always make a concerted effort to ensure everyone who walks into your practice feels like they belong.