NC A&T School of Agriculture a Pipeline of Minority Vets

April 14, 1997

Greensboro, NC: The Laboratory Animal Science Program at North Carolina A&T State University has been the last stop before veterinary medical school for nearly half of its recent graduates, making it one of the country's leading sources of minority veterinarians.

According to department statistics, since 1981, 43 percent of graduates from the School of Agriculture's Laboratory Animal Science Program have gone on to attend veterinary medical school, and 57 percent have attended either veterinary school or graduate school.

A second Department of Animal Science program, traditional Animal Science, also prepares A&T students for veterinary school.

"The field of veterinary medicine and animal science in general is growing," said Dr. George Johnson, chairperson of the A&T Department of Animal Science. "With that growth comes increased student interest."

However, Johnson cautions, minority representation in the field of veterinary medicine is small ­ fewer than two percent of practicing veterinarians in the United States are black.

According to the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, minority student enrollment is growing steadily, but slowly, climbing from 7.48 percent in 1991 to 7.76 percent in 1996. Of the 687 minority students enrolled in veterinary medicine programs last year, approximately 20 percent were black.

"Although the situation is improving, much more needs to be done to rectify the disproportionate representation of minorities in the field," said Dr. Tracy Hanner, DVM, coordinator of the A&T Laboratory Animal Science Program. In 1986, Hanner became the first black graduate from North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

According to Hanner, approximately 1,755 veterinarians are active in North Carolina, but only about 30, or 1.4 percent, of those are black. "The Laboratory Animal Science Program at A&T began in 1981 with the hope of diversifying the field of laboratory animal science," said Hanner. "It's the only program of its kind in the state, and it has produced a number of highly respected individuals in veterinary medicine and other related careers."

One of those individuals is Dr. Anjilla Cooley, DVM, a 1988 graduate of the program. Cooley currently works as a lecturer on surgery and anesthesia, teaching third and fourth year vet students at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"I came to A&T intending to become a veterinarian," said Cooley. "As a student in the Laboratory Animal Science Program, I gained experience in working with small animals, and I was able to develop on that experience through vet school at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and through my internship at the University of Missouri and residency at Virginia Tech."

A&T's Department of Animal Science offers two programs of undergraduate study: Laboratory Animal Science and Animal Science. Both provide foundation for an aspiring veterinarian's preparation for one of the 31 veterinary medical colleges in the United States and Canada.

"Laboratory animal science programs began after World War II, in response to a growing interest in biomedical research," said Hanner. "These programs are typically very diverse, seeking to provide students with a complex range of knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines.

"In contrast, traditional animal science programs like that offered at A&T focus on the agricultural importance of animals."

Students in both programs enroll in challenging science courses, including microbiology and organic chemistry, in addition to taking general requirements set forth by the School of Agriculture and the University.

"Although many of our students go on to graduate or veterinarian school, or even on to medical or dental schools, some go immediately into the workplace," said Johnson. "The courses they take prepare them for a number of careers, in addition to veterinary medicine."

For those students who choose to enroll in a veterinary college, the prospects are encouraging. The veterinary medical profession is growing approximately three percent per year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

One reason, cited by Johnson, for this growth is the aging population and this group's traditional devotion to pets. "Many people, especially the elderly, are very committed to finding quality care for their animals, and since pet lovers live in both urban and rural settings, there is a need for qualified veterinarians almost everywhere."

The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that there are more than 58,000 professionally active veterinarians in the United States. Approximately 50 percent of these are self-employed practice owners. The other half work in a variety settings, including teaching, research, government service, public health, military service and private industry.

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For more information, please contact Dr. Tracy Hanner, NC A&T Department of Animal Science, (336) 334-7720.