The Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) received additional support for its program to support diversity, equity and inclusion in the fields of veterinary medicine and animal welfare this spring via a partnership with Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology, a Duval County Public School. JHS was awarded a $10,000 grant from Corporate Traffic Logistics to provide stipends to students participating in the program. Corporate Traffic Logistics is an asset-based third-party logistics company family-owned and headquartered in Jacksonville since 1992.
As part of the program, students enrolled in the Agriscience and Vet Assisting Academy will spend 250 hours at the Jacksonville Humane Society for their internship. Of those, six students will work directly with the JHS veterinary team to master nine skill competencies. Upon mastery, students will become certified veterinary assistants through the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA). The certification provides an excellent foundation for immediate employment after high school, or for entering college programs in veterinary technology or attending veterinary college. Benefits of becoming certified include being highly respected and sought after by employers who value the formalized training and skill competencies.
The program’s aim is to create paths for employment, both in Jacksonville and in the fields of animal welfare and veterinary medicine, for historically under-represented populations. A study[1] conducted by The National Center for Bioethics in Research & Health Care and Tuskegee University found that animal welfare predominantly employs white women. Dr. Lisa Greenhill, MPA, EdD, senior director for institutional research and diversity at the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), revealed that minorities only make up 8% of the veterinary workforce[2].
“It is our desire to develop programming that will actively recruit and promote a more diverse population in the field of animal welfare, while also providing education and career training for youth in our community,” said Denise Deisler, JHS CEO. “JHS is thankful for the partnership with Peterson Academies and the support from Corporate Traffic Logistics to make this possible. We are excited to take this actionable step towards inclusivity and equity in the world of animal care.”
“We are honored to support this amazing partnership between JHS and Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology,” said Chris Cline, President of Corporate Traffic Logistics. “We can’t wait to see the impact of this donation in providing future educational and employment opportunities in the veterinary profession.”
For more information on the Jacksonville Humane Society, please visit jaxhumane.org or call 904.725.8766. Information about Corporate Traffic Logistics, a National Top 100 Logistics Company and 2021 Jacksonville Business Journal “Best Place to Work” winner, is available at corporatetraffic.com.
About the Jacksonville Humane Society
The Jacksonville Humane Society provides care, comfort and compassion to animals in need while engaging the hearts, hands and minds of our community to bring about an end to the killing of abandoned and orphaned shelter animals. More information about the Jacksonville Humane Society is available at www.jaxhumane.org.