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Women in Leadership and Management in Animal Health (WILMAH) was founded to meet the needs of the increasing number of women who work in the animal health field. WILMAH members unite to provide professional resources, development opportunities and advocacy.  

WILMAH began several years ago from discussions involving a few key female leaders sharing personal leadership journeys. It was from these open and honest discussions that the idea and need for an industry-wide organization began to develop. The name, WILMAH, was born along with a vision to ignite a culture of empowering current and future female leadership.

WILMAH took shape during a project planning meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana in September 2016 where attendees discussed the landscape, inspiration, values, priorities and future trajectory for the organization. Those participants and advisory board members resolved that WILMAH will function through a dynamic lens of trust, intention, engagement and innovation.

Be part of a movement to develop, support and enhance the personal and professional success of women who work in animal health.

Together, WILMAH members aim to:

  • Establish paths to help, encourage and inspire each other in our current, developing and evolving roles
  • Identify and overcome common challenges and barriers to success
  • Provide resources, events and mentorship opportunities for women to enhance and improve our career possibilities
  • Provide advocacy, action and enrichment for women in animal health

Why WILMAH?

Women now constitute upwards of 80% of graduating doctors of veterinary medicine and 55% of direct sales representatives in animal health, and women play a growing management role in animal health-related companies. WILMAH endeavors to connect these female leaders to create a network to enhance our development, support and personal and professional success. 

55% of DSRs in animal health are female

Vet Advantage 2016 Reader Survey

Only 15% of current top executives at 10 largest veterinary drug manufactures are female

Animal Pharm

Corporate America promotes men at 30% higher rates than women during their early career stages

Women in the Workplace 2016

82% graduating DVMs are women

AVMA 2015 Report

Compared to male DVMs, female veterinarians make a 3.5% lower starting salary

AVMA 2015 Report

Entry-level women are significantly more likely than men to spend 5+ years in the same role

Women in the Workplace 2016