Conference Keynote Speaker to Encourage Action by Offering Practical Tips on Diversity and Inclusion

August 7, 2020

A woman smiles while holding a dog in a sunny outdoor setting near a body of water.

Dr. Kemba Marshall will encourage participants to talk a little less and act a little more during the 2020 Purdue Veterinary Conference Diversity Keynote presentation to be held Thursday, September 24. During a time when diversity and inclusion are top of mind for us as a Nation, as veterinary professionals, and as individuals, Dr. Marshall’s session will offer practical tips to assess and address gaps in diversity and inclusion. While people likely have been through multiple training sessions on the topics of diversity and inclusion, such programs do not always offer steps to begin or improve diversity in our professional lives. This session will focus on providing participants with practical steps on how to get started.

Dr. Marshall serves as the director of veterinary services for Land O’Lakes, Inc. In addition to providing on-farm veterinary support and veterinary technical support for the company’s Purina customer service and sales team representatives, Dr. Marshall also is involved with new product development.

Dr. Marshall received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Howard University and her DVM degree from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She then went on to complete an avian/exotic animal residency at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Marshall is a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian) and has worked in private veterinary practice, university laboratory animal practice, and corporate retail veterinary practice.

The virtual Purdue Veterinary Conference September 22-25 will offer three days of high quality tracks covering equine, exotics, industry innovations, one health and emergency preparedness, practice management and communication, ruminant, small animal, swine, and topics of interest for veterinary nurses. Attendees can earn up to 24 hours of continuing education, and will have access to a virtual exhibit hall.

This year’s conference would not be possible without the generosity of these sponsors: IDEXX, Banfield Pet Hospital, the Indiana Board of Animal Health/Indiana State Department of Health, Nutrena, Purina, Zoetis, Elanco, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Coyne Veterinary Services.

Click here to view the schedule and learn more about the conference. Click here to register.

Writer(s): Andrea Brown and Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

Taco ’bout our amazing people!

With the conclusion of the summer season rapidly approaching, faculty and staff at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine were treated to a taco luncheon on Friday, August 14 in appreciation of their excellence and dedication throughout the year. Though the event couldn't take place in the Lynn Hall Courtyard as originally planned, the rainy weather that day did not dampen the celebration of the college's incredible faculty and staff.

Reception honors visiting Japanese DVM and veterinary technology students

Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s partnership with two veterinary schools in Japan was the basis for a celebratory reception at the end of last week, as the college honored visiting students from Kitasato University and Rakuno Gakuen University. The eight member delegation included four DVM students and a faculty member from Kitasato University and two veterinary nursing students and a faculty member from Rakuno Gakuen University. The reception on Friday morning, August 14, served as an informal farewell and included a brief recognition program when each of the Japanese visitors received a commemorative certificate.

ADDL and CPB Department welcome new pathology residents and intern

A trio of veterinary graduates started their pathology residencies at Purdue Veterinary Medicine this summer while a fourth veterinarian began a pathology internship in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology. This newest class of students pursuing post-DVM training in pathology includes Purdue veterinary alumni and graduates of universities abroad.

PVM Team Shares Collaborative Approach at National Advancement Conference

When alumni and donors choose to invest their time, talents, and resources in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, they typically are not focusing on departments or organizational charts—they're thinking about the college they love. That simple idea was the foundation of a presentation delivered by Julia Wickard, executive director of the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association and constituent liaison, and April Shepherd, PVM’s senior director of development, at the Association of Veterinary Advancement Professionals (AVAP) Annual Meeting, which was held July 8-10, just prior to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Annual Convention in Anaheim, California.

“Paws Up” for Lanora Lannan – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we are happy to highlight Lanora Lannan, who is the client liaison for Small Animal Primary Care.