Purdue University Press explores women in leadership roles in veterinary medicine

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A new title from Purdue University Press explores the role of women leaders in veterinary medicine.

Women now account for 55 percent of the active veterinarians in the field, and nearly 80 percent of veterinary students are women. However, average salaries for women in the industry have dropped as this shift has occurred, and even with women in the vast majority, only 25 percent of leadership roles are held by women.

"Leaders of the Pack: Women and the Future of Veterinary Medicine" by Julie Kumble and the late Dr. Donald Smith, explores key themes in leadership and highlights women in veterinary medicine whose stories embody those themes. In it, the authors put together more than three years of interviews to profile a wide variety of women as they share triumphs, challenges, lucky and tough breaks and the sound advice and words that inspired them to take their careers in unanticipated directions.

"We are excited that the Purdue University Press is sharing these stories of women in veterinary medicine and hope that this inspires a whole new generation of women veterinarians to pursue leadership positions in the veterinary profession," said Willie Reed, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The book is part of an ongoing series from the University Press.

"This is an important work and a valuable addition to our New Direcition in the Human Animal Bond series,” said Peter Froehlich, director of Purdue University Press. “We are proud to be its publisher." 

Writer: Megan Huckaby, 765-496-1325, mhuckaby@purdue.edu

Sources: Peter Froehlich, 765-494-8251, pfroehli@purdue.edu

Willie Reed, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, wreed@purdue.edu