Trailblazing Women in Veterinary Medicine: A Journey Through Time

Throughout history, women in veterinary medicine have faced challenges, broken barriers, and paved the way for future generations. Here’s a look at some of the key milestones that have shaped the profession and opened doors for women in veterinary medicine.

The Early 1900s: Breaking Ground

  • 1903: Mignon Nicholson graduates from McKillip Veterinary College in Chicago. While little is known about her career, she is among the earliest female graduates in veterinary medicine.
  • 1910: Elinor McGrath (Chicago Veterinary College) and Florence Kimball (Cornell University) earn their veterinary degrees. Both pursue small animal practice—an unusual choice at a time when veterinary medicine was largely focused on farm animals. Kimball later leaves the field for nursing, while McGrath practices for 37 years.

The 1930s: Expanding Opportunities

  • 1933: Patricia O’Connor Halloran becomes the first female zoo veterinarian, working at the Staten Island Zoo.
  • 1938-1939: The number of female veterinary graduates rises, with 21 women earning their degrees in 1938 and 10 more in 1939. Meanwhile, approximately 5,000 male veterinarians are members of the AVMA.

The 1940s: Wartime Progress

  • 1945: Captain Thais de Tienne becomes the first woman commissioned in the Army Veterinary Corps.
  • 1947: Dr. Mary Knight Dunlap founds the Association for Women Veterinarians, an organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for women in the field. It remains active for 66 years before disbanding in 2013.
  • 1949: Alfreda Johnson Webb (Tuskegee Institute) and Jane Hinton (University of Pennsylvania) become the first African American women to earn veterinary degrees.

The 1950s: Specialization Begins

  • 1957: Phyllis Lose becomes the first female equine veterinarian, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania.

The 1960s: Shaping the Future

  • 1963: The Federal Equal Pay Act is enacted, addressing wage disparities.
  • 1964: The Civil Rights Act is passed, banning job discrimination based on gender. By this time, there are 277 female veterinary graduates in the U.S.

The 1970s: Legislative Changes Open Doors

  • 1969-1970: Men make up 89% of veterinary school enrollment.
  • 1972: Title IX of the Education Amendments is passed, prohibiting gender discrimination in federally funded education programs. This marks a turning point for women in veterinary medicine.
  • 1972: Catherine Tull becomes the first female veterinarian in the Air Force Veterinary Corps, while Joanne Brown becomes the first woman to achieve the rank of colonel in the Army Veterinary Corps.

The 1980s: Recognizing Women’s Contributions

  • 1980: President Jimmy Carter issues the first proclamation for National Women’s History Week.
  • 1987: Congress expands this recognition to a full month, declaring March as National Women’s History Month.

The 1990s: Breaking Barriers in Leadership

  • 1996: Dr. Mary Beth Leininger becomes the first female president of the AVMA.
  • 1998: Shirley D. Johnston is appointed the founding dean of Western University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, making her the first female dean of a veterinary school.

The 2000s: A Shift in Demographics

  • 2005: The number of female veterinarians reaches 36,383, compared to 43,186 men.
  • 2007: The graduating class is 75.3% female. However, wage disparities remain, with female veterinarians earning a median salary of $79,000 compared to $109,000 for their male counterparts.
  • 2009: For the first time, female veterinarians outnumber males in the profession, 44,802 to 43,196.

The 2010s: Women Take the Lead

  • 2013: Women make up 55% of the nation’s practicing veterinarians. The Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative is established.
  • 2017: Women comprise more than 80% of veterinary students, and for the first time, male enrollment drops below 20%. Additionally, nearly 90% of veterinary technicians are women.

From the first pioneers to today’s majority-female student body, women in veterinary medicine have reshaped the profession. While challenges remain, their resilience and contributions continue to drive progress, ensuring a more inclusive future for all veterinarians.