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THE BAJA POST
NEWSROOM
SOURCE: PR NEWSMEDIA
For the third consecutive year, the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) and blendVET are teaming up to host a full day of hands-on learning. Seventy local middle school students from Central Florida will participate in Believe & Belong in Veterinary Medicine, a national education program created for students in underrepresented communities. This event will take place at the 42nd annual Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX 2025) at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in Orlando, FL, on Tuesday Jan. 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Believe & Belong in Veterinary Medicine, the blendVET pathway event, was created to open the doors to a career in veterinary medicine for underrepresented students and address the lack of diversity in veterinary medicine. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 90% of veterinarians are white, with as few as 1.3% Black, 5.9% Asian and 5% considered to be Latin X.
Alongside nationally recognized veterinarians and veterinary nurses/technicians, students will participate in immersive training, conduct physical exams, learn to draw blood on models, perform CPR on veterinary models, and gown up in surgical attire to learn surgical techniques. This year, for the first time, returning students will dive into specialized areas of veterinary medicine including ophthalmology to explore animal eye care and large animal medicine, where they will learn how to approach and examine horses. The event will help them prepare for varying pathways as they navigate a career in veterinary medicine.
«I am thrilled to announce our continued collaboration with NAVC for the third consecutive year hosting the Believe & Belong in Veterinary Medicine program at VMX,» said Niccole Bruno, DVM and blendVET founder and CEO. «This year, we are proud to expand our offerings, providing tailored experiences for both new participants and returning blendVET students. It’s particularly rewarding to see some of our scholars who have been with us throughout all four of our Florida events excitedly return to deepen their knowledge of the profession and strengthen their skills.»
The Jan. 28 event includes several practical learning and hands-on stations:
- General Practice, where students will learn how to perform a physical exam and explore key topics such as heartworm disease and intestinal parasites.
- Emergency Medicine, where students will learn how to perform CPR, bandage wounds and identify household items and foods that are harmful to pets.
- Zoological Medicine, where students will dive into the world of exotic animal medicine by learning the importance of animal husbandry and how to care for different species.
- Dentistry, where students will learn how to scale tartar off teeth, review dental radiographs and practice suturing using dental models.
- Nutrition, where students will learn the importance of proper nutrition and learn how to measure food appropriately to avoid obesity and associated diseases in pets.
