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ACZM DEAI Resources

The ACZM recognizes that diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are essential to the college's core mission. We value all our diplomates and colleagues for their individual identities, including but not limited to ethnicity, race, nationality, cultural background, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, language, physical ability, cognitive style, and perspective. We are committed to recruiting, developing, and promoting a diverse culture of professionals that accurately reflects the communities we serve.

Zoo and Aquarium DEAI Resources

Start here for zoo- and aquarium-specific organizations, research initiatives, and practical DEAI tools.

Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion

Information about AZA’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across the zoo and aquarium profession.

Modeling Zoos and Aquariums as Inclusive Communities of Science (MoZAICS)

Research, tools, and practical guidance to help zoos and aquariums improve inclusion for autistic individuals across visitor experiences, programs, volunteering, internships, and employment.

Minorities in Aquarium & Zoo Science (MIAZS)

Membership, scholarships, professional development, career resources, and community support for racial and ethnic minority professionals and students in aquarium and zoo sciences.

Veterinary DEAI Education, Training, and Career Resources

Find learning opportunities, professional development, and career support related to DEAI in veterinary medicine.

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Belonging and Engagement in Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary-focused articles, podcasts, webinars, and practical resources addressing diversity, inclusion, belonging, and workplace culture.

AVMA Brave Space Certificate Program

A self-paced, seven-module certificate program offering continuing education on unconscious bias, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, racism, interpersonal violence, and workplace harassment. The program is free for AVMA members and available for a fee to nonmembers.

Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) Resources

Resources for academic veterinary medicine, including public data, organizational health and wellbeing materials, professional development, grants, scholarships, and tools for veterinary education programs.

blendVET

Veterinary-specific diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging training, continuing education, workplace resources, and youth career pipeline programs.

Developing Veterinary Medicine Careers

Information about scholarships, conference education grants, leadership programs, and other initiatives that expand access to veterinary careers and support students and professionals.

Journey for Teams

Practical educational modules, discussion guides, and communication tools designed to help busy veterinary teams strengthen diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and workplace engagement.

Pawsibilities Vet Med

Mentorship, professional development, community support, and career, scholarship, and internship resources for veterinary students and professionals from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment (VOICE)

Information about a student-run veterinary organization promoting cultural awareness, inclusion, cross-cultural competency, and mentorship through campus chapters, events, educational resources, and chapter toolkits.

Veterinary Professional Communities and Organizations

Connect with professional communities offering mentorship, networking, advocacy, and support across a range of identities and backgrounds.

American Association of Veterinarians of Indian Origin (AAVIO)

Membership, educational events, professional networking, and resources supporting veterinarians and veterinary students of Indian origin, including internationally trained professionals.

Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals (AAVMP)

Membership, mentorship, scholarships, student chapters, wellness resources, and a professional directory that supports and connects Asian veterinary professionals and students.

BlackDVM Network

Membership, networking, events, a professional directory, job listings, and educational resources for Black veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary assistants.

Chapter VIII: Veterinary Inclusion and Intersectionality Initiative

Advocacy, education, art, and accessibility initiatives supporting veterinary professionals with intersecting marginalized identities.

Latinx Veterinary Medical Association

Membership, mentorship, scholarships, professional opportunities, a veterinary directory, and bilingual resources supporting Latinx veterinary professionals and students.

Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association (MCVMA)

Membership, events, scholarships, research, professional resources, and advocacy supporting racial and ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion in veterinary medicine.

National Association for Black Veterinarians (NABV)

Information about mentorship, scholarships, student chapters, professional development, conferences, and efforts to increase Black representation throughout veterinary medicine.

Natives in VetMed

Membership, mentorship, scholarships, networking, and professional resources supporting Indigenous veterinary students, professionals, and communities.

Pride Veterinary Medical Community (PrideVMC)

Membership, advocacy, education, networking, and professional resources supporting LGBTQIA+ veterinary professionals, students, and allies.

Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative (WVLDI)

Leadership development, educational resources, networking, and advocacy for women and allies seeking leadership opportunities throughout the veterinary profession.

Animal Welfare and Community Equity

Explore how equity, access, and community engagement shape animal welfare and veterinary care.

Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE)

Research, education, community programs, scholarships, and resources addressing racial equity, bias, and access in animal welfare and veterinary care.

Allyship and Civil Rights Resources

Build your understanding of allyship, LGBTQ+ inclusion, transgender rights, and broader civil rights issues.

Advocates for Trans Equality

Legal, policy, educational, and practical resources for transgender people, including information about identity documents, name changes, healthcare, legal rights, and legal support.

The Guide to Allyship

A free, open-source introduction to allyship, with practical guidance on listening, using privilege responsibly, responding to mistakes, and supporting people affected by systemic oppression.

Human Rights Campaign Foundation

Research, reports, training, and practical resources addressing LGBTQ+ inclusion in workplaces, schools, healthcare settings, and communities.

Inclusive Language and Communication Resources

Use these guides to communicate more accurately, respectfully, and inclusively across professional, scientific, and public-facing settings.

ADA National Network: Guidelines for Writing About People With Disabilities

Practical guidance on using accurate, respectful, and neutral language when writing about people with disabilities.

United Nations: Guidelines for Gender-Inclusive Language

Practical guidance for avoiding gender bias in written and spoken communication, including gender-neutral job titles, pronouns, and alternatives to unnecessarily gendered language.

National Center on Disability and Journalism: Disability Language Style Guide

A detailed reference guide explaining disability-related terminology, common usage concerns, and person-first and identity-first language.

GLAAD: Media Reference Guide, 11th Edition

Guidance on accurate and respectful language when writing about LGBTQ people, identities, and communities.

JAMA Network: Inclusive Language for Reporting Demographic and Clinical Characteristics

Guidance for scientific and medical writing about race, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and other demographic characteristics.

Zoo and Aquarium DEAI in Practice

These stories offer ideas, examples, and lessons from institutions putting DEAI into practice.

AZA Story: Elevating the Importance of Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion

Examples of how AZA-accredited institutions are advancing DEAI through workplace practices, recruitment, community engagement, and staff education.

AZA Story: Understanding Your Communities

Practical guidance on learning about community demographics, building relationships, gathering feedback, and using community input to inform DEAI efforts.

AZA Story: Making Strides

Examples of DEAI initiatives supporting inclusive workplaces, accessible visitor experiences, community engagement, and equitable opportunities at zoos and aquariums.

AZA Story: We Can’t Do It Alone

Examples of how community partnerships can help zoos and aquariums improve accessibility and inclusion for visitors with diverse needs and identities.

AZA Story: Diversity and Inclusion Are as Different as Each Cultural Attraction

Perspectives and practical examples of how zoos and other cultural attractions are creating more welcoming, accessible, and inclusive visitor experiences.

AZA Story: Disability is Diversity

An example of an inclusive volunteer program that supports people with disabilities in developing skills, contributing to zoo operations, and building community.

AZA Story: Diving Into Inclusion

An example of an aquarium partnering with a Deaf-led organization to improve STEM engagement, ASL access, and inclusion for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

Dissertations and Peer-Reviewed Publications

For a deeper look at the evidence, explore peer-reviewed research on DEAI.

Zoo and Aquarium Workforce and Accessibility Research

Research on workforce diversity, career barriers, accessibility, and inclusion in zoo and aquarium settings.

Lannoye-Hall C, Patrick PG. Diversity Barriers in Animal Care Careers at Zoos and Aquariums. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens. 2025;6(1):9.

Garcia J. Assessing Neurodiverse Inclusion in Zoos, Aquariums, and Nature Centers: A Secondary Analysis of the MoZAICS Project. All Dissertations. 2026;4272.

Sellers V, et al. Autism Engagement Strategies at Zoos and Aquariums: A Mixed Methods View. Visitor Studies. 2026;1–20.

Bonebrake V, Sellers V, Riedinger K, Williams Z. Annotated Bibliography: Modeling Zoos and Aquariums and Inclusive Communities of Science (MoZAICS) for Autistic Individuals. The MoZAICS Project. 2025.

Veterinary Education, Workforce, and Specialty Medicine

Research and perspectives on representation, belonging, training, workplace culture, and inclusion across the veterinary profession.

Dusome KM, et al. Students' Reports of Challenges, Experiences, and Perceptions of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Veterinary Colleges in Canada and the United States. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education. 2026;53(1):85–96.

Cole SD, et al. Development of a Competency-Based Veterinary Education Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Domain. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education. 2025;52(5):584–597.

Stanton MA, et al. Addressing Five Explanations for the Lack of Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Veterinary Medicine in the United States. Results from a Survey of DVM Students and Early Career Veterinarians. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education. 2025;5:e20240128.

Dusome KM, et al. An Investigation of Veterinary College Websites in the US and Canada: Representations and Content of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Journal of Veterinary Medical Educaiton. 2025;52(4):493–500.

Chun R, et al. Can Veterinary Medicine Improve Diversity in Post-Graduate Training Programs? Current State of Academic Veterinary Medicine and Recommendations on Best Practices. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2022;261(3):417–423.

Harrison TM, Morello S, Royal K, Petritz O, Snyder A. Effects of gender on income and family planning for diplomates of the American College of Zoological Medicine. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2022:1-6.

Gonzalez LM, et al. Respondents to an American College of Veterinary Surgeons diplomate survey support the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2023;261(12):1847–1852.

Denk D, et al. Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Veterinary Pathology: Insights and Initiatives From a European Veterinary Specialist DEI Task Force. Veterinary Ophthalmology. 2026;29(1):e70019.

Timmenga FSL, et al. Mental Well-Being and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness in the Veterinary Profession: Pathways to a More Resilient Profession. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2022;9:888189.

Martínez M. Understanding the Why: The Need for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 2024;54(5):753–765.

Gordon EW, Leung D. Beyond Diversity: A One Health Approach to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Animal Health Workforce. Canadian Veterinary Journal. 2024;65(12):1321–1324.

Patterson C, Fogelberg K. Diversity in Veterinary Specialty Medicine: A Robust History with Scant Documentation. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 2024;54(6):xxiii–xxx.

Access to Veterinary Care

Studies examining the financial, geographic, social, cultural, and structural barriers that affect access to veterinary services.

Rausch QR, et al. Access to Veterinary Care in Canada: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Animal Healthcare Organizations and Interventions. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2025;12:1581316.

Pasteur K, et al. U.S. Residents’ Self-Reported Access to Veterinary Care and Implications for Care-Seeking Decisions. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2025;12:1655537.

Neal SM, et al. Putting Access to Veterinary Care on the Map: A Veterinary Care Accessibility Index. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2022;9:857644.