Redefining success: Women leading change
Join three trailblazing veterinary leaders as they explore how to break free from rigid, outdated norms that don’t reflect the diverse needs of today’s veterinary professionals. Learn how to build innovative and flexible career paths that support a more inclusive and sustainable future for everyone.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Recognize business and practice models that redefine success for women in the veterinary profession.
- Discover real-world examples of successful female veterinarians and what they have learned from their business endeavors.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS:
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Dr. Niccole Bruno Dr. Niccole Bruno is the CEO and founder of blendVETⓇ, a groundbreaking certification program focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) for veterinary professionals. Raised in Queens, New York, she became interested in veterinary medicine at age 12, and earned her DVM from Cornell University in 2006. As an Afro-Latina, she has faced various challenges throughout her veterinary career—including racism, misogyny, and harmful stereotypes—which led to a period of disengagement from the profession she once loved. Her passion was reignited when she became the medical director at a Long Island veterinary hospital, where she spent eight years promoting diverse and inclusive workplace cultures in New York and Houston. In 2020, recognizing the profession's need for greater diversity, Dr. Bruno founded blendVETⓇ. The program offers interactive education through conferences and its Achiever Program, which includes modules, workshops, and facilitated conversations for veterinary professionals to apply DEIB principles in their workplaces. BlendVET also hosts nationwide student pathway programs in collaboration with veterinary schools and conferences, helping expose students, educators, and parents to veterinary medicine. To date, blendVETⓇ has reached over 700 students globally, with the goal of increasing diversity in veterinary medicine. Dr. Bruno also is an advisory board member for the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, the Veterinary Innovation Council, and Pawsibillities, a virtual mentorship platform for BIPOC students. She lives outside Houston with her husband, two children, and cat, Sushi Roll. She enjoys traveling, arts and crafts, and her Peloton. |
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Alyssa Mages, CVT Alyssa Mages is the co-founder and chief visionary officer (CVO) of Empowering Veterinary Teams® (EVT), an organization providing training programs, RACE-approved CE, and coaching opportunities for veterinary practices, and content development and training for veterinary industry service providers. In her role she oversees the content development, clinical skills training, and vision of the company. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of Rhode Island and an associate’s degree in veterinary technology from Manor College. She also was among the inaugural fellows of the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators’ fellowship program. She has over 20 years of experience in the veterinary field and has held many leadership positions, including serving as an advisor for BlendVet and the director of MentorVet Tech. She also is a co-founder and the director of veterinary strategy for nûrtûr, and co-founder of the non-profit organization Project Sticker. She collaborates with several industry providers as a key opinion leader and professional speaker. She has worked with veterinary teams across North America, spoken at national conferences, co-authored a book, written textbook chapters and articles, and has been a guest on podcasts. Through her VetUp online certificate program, Mages provides veterinary teams with the tools to foster professionalism and growth. She is passionate about ensuring everyone has a voice in veterinary medicine to build a stronger, more inclusive profession. |
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Dr. Priscilla Bowens, MPH, JD Dr. Priscilla Bowens—also known as the VetLawnarian©—brings a rich background to the profession as a veterinarian, healthcare corporate counsel, sports enthusiast, public health advocate, sought-after speaker, and published researcher. She provides counsel to businesses in animal and human healthcare on commercial agreements, risk management, technology, marketing, sports regulations, brand management, and compliance. As a veterinarian, she has led diverse teams in general and emergency small-animal practice. She currently is a relief veterinarian in El Paso, Texas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-hosted the YouTube show M.D. + D.V.M.© with her cousin, a neurologist, focused on One Health and the connectedness of human and animal health. She has written articles on topics ranging from the opioid epidemic and food safety to human healthcare service delivery models. She also has presented in the United States and internationally on technology, RT-PCR techniques to determine levels of fungal toxins in human food and animal feed, board compliance, risk mitigation strategies, and diversity, equity and inclusion. In 2023, she was named a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, one of the highest honors for attorneys in the state. Dr. Bowens is a
lifelong tennis enthusiast, former collegiate player, coach, and devoted
sports fan. She lives in El Paso with her husband, Dr. Antonio Bowens, a
veterinary neurologist, and their two daughters. She is president-elect of
the El Paso Veterinary Medical Association and an adjunct professor of
practice at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine |
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ABOUT THE MODERATOR:
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Dr. Laila Proenca Dr. Laila Proença (MV, MSc. PhD, DVM, DACZM) is the founder and CEO (Creative Envisionary Opinionated) of VETAHEAD. She is moving the needle in the veterinary space alongside VETAHEAD's teams. Their "why": No species left behind. What they do: Empower veterinary professionals through knowledge. Their how: Make Zoological (exotic) Medicine accessible by providing professional online courses and resources at vetahead.vet. |
