blendvet™ is owned and backed by a diverse group of vet med leaders prioritizing the people of our industry.
Dr. Niccole Bruno
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
(she/her)
Dr. Niccole Bruno, is the CEO & Founder of blendvet™, a veterinary hospital certification program in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). As an Afro-Latina, Dr. Bruno's navigation into veterinary medicine has had its share of challenges. During her career, the experiences of racism, misogyny, and stereotypical behaviors, caused Dr. Bruno to develop a sense of disengagement from a profession she once dearly loved. Nevertheless, her perseverance prevailed and her passion for veterinary medicine resumed when she was offered the role of Medical Director, for a veterinary hospital in Long Island, NY. For roughly eight years, her sincere and dedicated service as a hospital leader in both NY and Houston fueled her heartfelt endeavors to ensure a culture of diversity and inclusiveness.
Today, Dr. Bruno continues in her efforts of diversity, equity, and inclusion through speaking engagements, mentorship, and building the pathway of BIPOC students (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) into the profession. Following completion of the Purdue University and Inclusion program in 2020, her awareness, continual exploration, and study into the diversity deficiencies of our profession, ignited her vision to create blendvet™.
Blendvet was launched in December 2021 at Fetch DVM 360’s San Diego conference where a track was offered in DEIB. In the Fall of 2022, blendvet’s program officially launched at Lincoln Memorial University Masters of Clinical Care, a program for veterinary technicians. In 2023, Blendvet™ launched its first hospital certification program with Rarebreed Veterinary Partners. In addition to veterinary educational training, blendvet has executed several pathway events at veterinary conferences such as the American Association of Animal Hospitals (AAHA)and at the North Atlantic Veterinary Conference (NAVC) VMX 2023.
Dr. Bruno currently serves as an Advisory Board member for Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine and Pawsibillities, a mentorship platform for BIPOC students interested in veterinary medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys activities with her family, traveling, her Peloton, football, and binge-watching her favorite shows.
Dr. Genine Ervin-Smith
Chief Operating Officer
(she/her)
Dr. Genine Ervin-Smith is a Los Angeles, California native, and a 2007 graduate of Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. After veterinary school, she continued in her studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to receive a Master of Public Health degree in Environmental and Global Health Sciences.
Her veterinary journey has spanned across the avenues of clinical practice, investigative analysis, community activism, and leadership as a multi-unit hospital Director of Veterinary Quality for Banfield Pet Hospitals in Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas, Research & Development veterinarian with Virbac US, and Chief of Staff for Veterinary Centers of America, Inc. (VCA).
While the majority of Dr. Ervin-Smiths career has been positive, she has also witnessed and been exposed to nepotism and systemic disempowerment among multiple levels of veterinary culture. Despite the continued stereotypes, manipulation, and prejudice she’s endured from colleagues and clientele, she continues toward changing the hospital climate for the better and focuses on her accolades & accomplishments as reminders of achievable success.
Dr. Ervin-Smith has an infinite love for traveling and the arts, and she and her husband currently reside within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, enjoying every opportunity to mentor others and create opportunities for growth and change!
Opeyemi Oyekanmi, CPA, CGMA
Chief Financial Officer
(he/him)
Stiles Foster
Chief Learning Officer
(he/they)
Sara Ott
Head of Marketing & Design
(she/they)
Aaron Davis
Pathway Program Director
(he/they)
Alycia Washington, DVM
E-learning Specialist
(she/her)
Ebony Richardson
Social Media Manager
(she/her)
We are supported by a group of advisors and collaborators building a better future in veterinary medicine.
Addie Reinhard, DVM, MS
Founder & CEO, MentorVet
Alyssa Mages, BS, CVT
CVO, Empowering Vet Teams (EVT)
Andrew Luna
Founder & CEO, hound
Billy Worthy Jr, MSIS, BS
DEI Student Support Coordinator, Academic Affairs
Bonnie E. Price, DVM, MPH
Associate Professor Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University
Ginger Templeton, DVM, MS, CPC
CEO and Leadership Development Coach, Vet to Vet Coaching, LLC
Irving McConnell, DVM
Founder & CEO, The McConnell Group
Jasmine Bruno, DVM
Forensic Veterinarian
Josh Vaisman, MAPPCP (PgD)
Lead Positive Change Agent, Flourish Veterinary Consulting
Joya Griffin, DVM, ACVD
Star of Pop Goes the Vet with Dr. Joya on Disney+ & Nat Geo
LaKisha A. Watson, CPLC
Independent Operations Executive
Laura P Clark, DVM, PhD
Sr Academic Affairs Manager in Academic & Professional Affairs, Zoetis
Mariea Ross-Estrada, DVM
Clinical Assistant Professor of Small Animal Primary Care, North Carolina State University
Sam Morello DVM, DACVS
Morello Veterinary Insights, LLC
Associate Professor, Cornell Center for Veterinary Business & Entrepreneurship
Timbrala Marshall, DVM
Former Director of Equity Inclusion & Diversity, VCA
Will Draper, DVM
CEO & Founder, The Village Vets Practice Group
Zenith Ng, DVM, MS, ABVP
Clinical Assistant Professor of Community Practice, University of Tennessee
Angie Arora, MSW, RSW
Veterinary Wellness Coach, Educator & Advocate
Christina Whetsel
DVM Candidate, Michigan State University
Christopher Inniss, DVM
Gwinnett County Area Chief of Staff, Banfield
Erika Lin-Hendel, VMD, PhD
Mariacamila Garcia Estrella, MPH
DVM Candidate, Cornell University
Mia Cary, DVM
CEO, Cary Consulting
Pam Hale, DVM, MBA
Consulting Chief Operating Officer
Quincy Hawley, DVM
Co-Founder, Get MotiVeted
Rhesa Houston, DVM
Principal Consultant, Assistance Animals Consulting
Sarah Hammond, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Tyron Vereen, Ed.D, MPA, MS.Ed, PMP, MCHES
Sr. Project Manager, Harris County Public Health
Valerie Marcano, DVM, PhD
CEO, Pawsibilities
Walter Brown, BS, RVTg ,VTS (ECC)
Veterinary Technician Liaison, United Veterinary Care
We offer everything from single session modules to full-service workplace certifications, all created specifically with veterinary medicine in mind.
Set your own pace and access on demand modules that fit your needs. Each module is tailored specifically for vet med.
Over 10 weeks, you'll join other veterinary professionals as you deepen your understanding of DEIB aspects & their application.
As a whole team, you'll utilize the individual perspectives of team members to address & advance the adoption of DEIB.