Influential Women in the Veterinary Field

According to Zippia and the database of 30 million profiles they researched and analyzed, there are over 49,434 veterinarians currently employed in the United States and 62.9% of them are women. Today, ACF would like to acknowledge a few of those women who have been especially influential and have paved their way in the industry.  

​Dr. Annie Harviclicz

Dr. Annie Harviclicz, who graduated from the Virginia Tech School of Veterinary Medicine, is the Chief Medical Officer of the Animal Wellness Centers in LA.  This foundation works to ensure that when the “last resort” of a low-income family or kill-shelter seems likely, they are not forced into euthanizing an animal.  Instead, they can call the Animal Wellness Center and they have another option. Dr. Harviclicz made it the mission of the foundation to find “forever homes” for these pets across the U.S.  They have since saved hundreds of pets from the LA area. She has received multiple awards for her work such as the Sherrie Clark Compassion and Caring Award and the Tobey Award which recognizes her for aiding deserted, lost, or homeless dogs. Annie has also been a part of the national leadership council of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.

​Dr. Justine Lee

Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, who graduated from Cornell University,  is a board-certified veterinary specialist in both emergency critical care (DACVECC) and toxicology (DABT). Her passion for all-things animal and veterinary medicine shines through not only this, but also through her business VETgirl. She is the Director of Medicine and founder of this subscription-based online veterinary continuing education service for veterinary professionals. Dr. Lee is a well-known speaker, scientist, blogger, and author throughout the emergency, critical care, and toxicology veterinary world. She was the co-host analyst on Nat Geo Wild’s Animal ER LIVE. Dr. Lee has written two books geared towards the average pet owner to help them learn about how to keep their animals safe, with a good dose of humor thrown in.  Her impact on the veterinary world and the lives of countless pet owners is clear.

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​Dr. Jane Hinton

Dr. Jane Hinton, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1948, became one of the first two African American women to earn a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, she worked as a small animal veterinarian until 1955, and later that year, joined the Department of Agriculture as a federal government inspector who researched and responded to outbreaks of disease in livestock. Prior to earning her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Hinton was a pioneer in the study of bacterial antibiotic resistance. When she worked at her father’s laboratory at Harvard as an assistant to John Howard Mueller, she co-developed the Mueller-Hinton agar, a medium that isolates Neisseria, which is the bacteria that causes gonorrhea and meningococcal meningitis. Dr. Hinton passed away in 2003, but leaves behind an inspiring legacy of scholarship and perseverance. 
 
Written by Olivia Gullickson

References:
https://todaysveterinarybusiness.com/extraordinary-female-veterinarians/
https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/news/the-history-of-women-in-veterinary-medicine-in-the-u-s/
https://be.chewy.com/meet-the-badass-women-whove-redefined-veterinary-medicine/
https://easy-anatomy.com/famous-female-veterinarians/
https://www.zippia.com/veterinarian-jobs/demographics/
https://www.animalwellnesscenters.com/dr-annie-harvilicz
https://drjustinelee.com/about/
https://vetgirlontherun.com/team/dr-justine-lee/
https://rmamp.colostate.edu/people-of-color-in-stem-jane-hinton/