Dr. Iverson Bell, Jr. Gives Keynote Address During PVM’s Inclusive Excellence Week

Dr. Iverson Bell, Jr. pictured with <a href=Purdue VOICE officers" class="wp-image-3483" />
Dr. Iverson Bell, Jr. is joined by officers of PVM’s VOICE Chapter (left-right): Destiny Evans, vice-president; Walter-John McGowan, social chair; Annadele Harris, broad spectrum liaison; Taylor Bolinger, historian; Linette Aponte, secretary; Jesse Whitfield, treasurer; and Edris Grate, president.

The 2019 VOICE (Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment) Inclusive Excellence Week was punctuated with a Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote Address on Wednesday, January 23, by Dr. Iverson C. Bell, Jr., who is a teacher, training doctor, and psychiatrist at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.  Dr. Bell is one of four Black training directors out of 248 psychiatry residency programs and one of the 840 Black psychiatrists out of 28,000 in the U.S. He also is known in veterinary circles as the son of a small animal veterinarian who practiced in Terre Haute, Ind., and lectured at Purdue.  Dr. Iverson Bell, Sr. worked tirelessly to promote equal opportunity for all and to increase diversity in the veterinary profession, and his legacy is honored through both the national Iverson Bell Symposium hosted by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), and the Iverson Bell Midwest Regional Diversity Summit.

Dr. Iverson Bell, Jr. pictured
Dr. Iverson Bell, Jr. gives the keynote lecture for PVM’s Inclusive Excellence Week.

The address by Dr. Iverson Bell, Jr., titled “Wellness Challenges for Students and in the Real World”, introduced the idea of coping with burnout by making decisions for the intended outcome of holistic fulfillment. In particular, Dr. Bell encouraged individuals to make career decisions around their love and joy for the work and to also serve as peer support for individuals who may be experiencing burnout in school and/or in their career. He emphasized that self-care plays an integral part in reaching personal fulfillment. The event was co-sponsored with PVM’s Diversity Action Committee (DAC).

The keynote address was one of several special events during Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Inclusive Excellence Week, presented by VOICE.  “Initiated in the spring of 2018, Inclusive Excellence Week is designed to inspire, empower, and engage groups by sparking discussions around diversity and inclusion,” said VOICE president Edris Grate, of the DVM Class of 2021. He added, “It was an honor to host Dr. Iverson Bell, Jr., not only for his knowledge pertaining to wellness and psychology, but also for the legacy of his father, Dr. Iverson Bell, Sr.”

Writer(s): Latonia Craig and Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

New Purdue Veterinary Medicine Associate Dean for Academic Success Named

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to announce that Dr. Wendy Townsend, professor of ophthalmology in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, has been appointed as the next associate dean for academic success.

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

Today we are congratulating Jennifer Danaher, who is a department secretary for Veterinary Clinical Sciences, for being recognized as a helpful colleague in our college.

Boo the Miracle Dog: A Story of Bravery, Breakthroughs, and a Bond That Inspires

Our series of articles about animals and their owners who've found help and healing at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital continues with the story of "miracle dog" Boo Davis. At 13 years old, Boo Davis is living proof of the power of persistence, expert veterinary care, and the unshakable love between a pet and her person. Affectionately known as Lisa’s “miracle dog,” Boo’s journey is one that not only has extended her life, but also has helped shape the future of cancer treatment for other pets, too.

Placating Pets to Help them COPE this Fourth of July

Despite the excellent tips experts provide each year for pet safety and welfare on the 4th of July, many pet families still run into trouble and lose their pets. What are we missing and how can we even better protect our animal companions? That question is answered in an article by Dr. Candace Croney, director of the Center for Animal Welfare Science.