DVMC Makes an Impact at the 97th WVC Annual Conference
For nearly a century, the Western Veterinary Conference has stood as a cornerstone of professional development in veterinary medicine. As the 97th WVC Annual Conference approached this March, the towering hotels of the Las Vegas Strip prepared once again to welcome thousands of veterinary professionals seeking knowledge, connection, and inspiration.
With its sprawling 500,000 square foot Exhibit Hall, hundreds of hours of continuing education, and reputation as one of the industry's premier gatherings, WVC represents both the history and future of veterinary medicine. Yet amid this impressive tradition, a question lingered for the Diversify Veterinary Medicine Coalition: how could we ensure this invaluable experience was accessible to everyone with the talent and dedication to excel in our field?
"There's only 2.2% of people of color in vet med," reflects Marisa Maness, one of this year's grant recipients. "Going to this conference and meeting these people, I thought, this is like a step closer to me achieving that goal of changing the percentage of people of color in vet med."
The Announcement
In late 2024, DVMC proudly announced a comprehensive education grant that would cover conference registration, hotel accommodations, and airfare expenses for veterinary professionals from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Our social media channels buzzed with excitement as we shared the opportunity. The response was overwhelming. Applications poured in from talented DVMs, veterinary technicians, and students across the country, each sharing their unique journey and vision for contributing to a more holistic veterinary profession.
Karen Catano, who would later become one of our grant recipients, saw the announcement as a chance to expand her impact: "Just to be able to represent my community as a Latin woman is great. I just want to be a source to people that is welcoming because it's hard to go through things alone."
Our 2025 Grant Recipients
As the selection process concluded, five exceptional individuals emerged as this year’s DVMC WVC Education Grant recipients:
Marisa Maness
Victoria Ryan
Natasha George
Natasha Welch
Karen Catano
Their selection represented a commitment to building a veterinary profession that better reflects and serves the full spectrum of the society we live in. "DVMC providing this opportunity to me, being able to meet new people from all different walks of life and learn from each other, I'm just so excited to create those connections," shared Natasha Welch as she prepared for the journey to Las Vegas.
Vegas Bound
As March approached, excitement built among our recipients. For many, this represented their first major veterinary conference, a chance to step into the wider professional world and see possibilities they hadn't previously imagined for themselves.
Natasha George expressed her enthusiasm for the community aspect: "It's incredible to see how our community gets together to help each other in the field. I'm so excited to make connections with everyone because we all come from very different backgrounds."
The Conference Experience
As the conference unfolded across four intensive days, our grant recipients immersed themselves in everything WVC had to offer. From specialized lectures to hands-on labs, networking events to innovative exhibits, they absorbed knowledge that would shape their professional futures.
Beyond the formal learning, something equally valuable was happening. Connections were forming, mentorships, friendships, and professional relationships that transcended the conference itself. Our recipients were becoming part of a community and seeing themselves reflected in spaces where they had previously felt underrepresented.
One of the most meaningful highlights of WVC 2025 was the special grant reception held to honor our grant recipients. In this intimate gathering of industry leaders, mentors, and peers, each recipient had the opportunity to share their unique journey in veterinary medicine and their vision for the future.
For the DVMC team, witnessing these exchanges reinforced exactly why this grant program matters. When unique voices are amplified, the entire profession benefits from broader perspectives and innovative approaches to veterinary medicine.
The Ripple Effect Beyond the Conference
The impact of the DVMC WVC Education Grant extends far beyond a single conference experience. Each recipient returned to their community carrying new knowledge, connections, and perhaps most importantly, a strengthened sense of belonging in the veterinary profession.
They've become ambassadors not just for DVMC's mission, but for the countless talented individuals who will follow in their footsteps, those who will see these stories and think, "That could be me."
The success of this year's grant program has only strengthened DVMC's commitment to creating pathways for underrepresented individuals in veterinary medicine. We're already planning expanded opportunities for next year's WVC conference and developing additional programs to support talent throughout their veterinary careers.
Because ultimately, this initiative is about reshaping a profession to better serve all communities through the power of unique perspectives, experiences, and voices.
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