Summary

  • VCA has named Dr. Timbrala Marshall as Director of Veterinary Inclusion and Diversity Programs
  • The newly-created role is part of VCA’s agenda to help build a more inclusive veterinary profession, from the inside out
  • Todd Lavender, DVM and President, VCA Animal Hospitals and Petcare Services, says Dr. Marshall shares vision that veterinary professionals should reflect the diversity of the communities we serve

LOS ANGELES (January 8, 2021) – VCA Animal Hospitals today announced it has named Dr. Timbrala Marshall as its new Director of Veterinary Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) Programs.

In her role, Dr. Marshall will lead VCA’s work to strengthen the pipeline of diverse talent in the veterinary profession, helping to build a community of practitioners with equity and inclusion at their core. Part of her work includes nurturing relationships with Historically Black Colleges (HBCs) and Hispanic Serving Institution (HSIs). Today, 7.7% of the veterinarian population in the U.S. are Black, Indigenous, and people of color.1  

Dr. Marshall, a member of the VCA family for seven years, previously served as the Medical Director for Terrell Mill Animal Hospital in Marietta, Ga. 

“Dr. Marshall brings a wealth of talent to this important new role within VCA. She shares our vision that across the industry, veterinary professionals should reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, and that our recruiting efforts should support that goal,” said Todd Lavender, DVM, President, VCA Animal Hospitals and Petcare Services.

Dr. Marshall graduated in 2010 from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and has her B.S. in Animal and Poultry Sciences from Tuskegee University. While at MSU, she created the college's chapter of "VOICE" - Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment. 

Of the new role, Dr. Marshall said: “I’m most excited about the opportunity to help well-deserving students enter the veterinary profession. We’re looking at a shortage of professionals along with an increase in pet adoption. We’ve got an opportunity and responsibility to make our profession inclusive and resilient.” Dr. Marshall reports to Dr. Christine Priest, Vice President, Talent Acquisition, U.S. Hospitals.

About VCA Animal Hospitals

VCA Animal Hospitals operates more than 1,000 small animal veterinary hospitals in the U.S., Canada and Japan. The hospitals are staffed by more than 4,500 fully qualified, dedicated and compassionate veterinarians to give pets the very best in medical care, of which over 600 are board certified specialists who are experts in areas such as oncology, cardiology, emergency and critical care, and surgery for animals. VCA Animal Hospitals provides a full range of general practice services to keep pets well and specialized treatments when pets are ill. As part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, VCA is committed to its purpose—A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.