Why Representation Matters in Vet Med and Everywhere.

By Jordy Oriantal

My name is Jordy Oriantal. I am a proud son of Haitian immigrants and was raised in Queens, New York. My journey into veterinary medicine is a little different from many of my colleagues, and it all began with my family, my culture, and one unforgettable movie.

Growing up in a Haitian household, there were a few careers that were always seen as the path to success. The options were simple: become a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer. To my family, these professions represented the American Dream—the very dream that motivated them to leave Haiti in search of greater opportunities for future generations.

At the same time, I was obsessed with dinosaurs.

From Dinosaur Dreams to Veterinary Aspirations: A Childhood Passion Evolves

My favorite movie, to this day, is Jurassic Park. I’ve watched it hundreds of times—well over 600 if I’m being honest—and I can still recite entire scenes word for word. As a child, I was convinced I would become a paleontologist. I dreamed of discovering fossils, studying prehistoric creatures, and somehow bringing the wonder of dinosaurs back to life. Of course, the Jurassic Park franchise gives us plenty of reasons why that might not be the best idea.

As I got older, however, the thought of spending my life digging up fossils became less exciting. Then a new idea came to me: if I couldn’t work with dinosaurs, I could work with their closest living relatives—the animals that walk the earth today.

At just ten years old, I traded my dream of becoming a paleontologist for a dream of becoming a veterinarian.

Unlike many childhood ambitions, this one never faded. It followed me through elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. Yet throughout those years, I had never met a Black veterinarian. In fact, the idea of a Black veterinarian felt almost mythical. I wasn’t even sure they existed. Still, I held onto my dream of becoming one.

Navigating Uncertainty: Graduating and Pursuing Veterinary School Amidst a Pandemic

In 2020, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Bridgeport. It was a strange and uncertain year. The COVID-19 pandemic had turned the world upside down, and for a while, I genuinely questioned whether pursuing veterinary school even made sense. Why apply if it felt like the world was falling apart?

It was during that uncertainty that I met one of the most influential people in my veterinary journey—my mentor. Dr. Jonathan Dumas.

One day, while scrolling through Instagram, I came across a post from Ross University featuring a Black male veterinary student holding an iPad that read, “Black Veterinarians Matter.” Standing beside him was his miniature schnauzer. I was stunned. This was the first Black male veterinary student I had ever seen highlighted online.

Without hesitation, I sent him a message.

As we talked, I discovered we had much in common. He was Haitian, just like me, and he was also a member of a Divine Nine historically Black fraternity. I shared my dream of becoming a veterinarian, my uncertainty about the application process, and my need for guidance. He immediately stepped into the role of mentor.

From Rejections to Life-Changing Opportunities in Veterinary Medicine

He helped me understand where to gain experience, what schools to consider, how to strengthen my personal statement, and how to become a competitive applicant. His guidance gave me direction when I needed it most.

Finding veterinary experience during the height of COVID proved difficult. I applied to countless jobs and received rejection after rejection. Eventually, West Hills Animal Hospital gave me an opportunity as a veterinary assistant in their emergency department.

That job changed my life.

It was there that I met the first Black veterinarian I had ever seen in person: Dr. Jasmine Duperval.

I still remember that moment vividly. I looked at her with a mix of amazement, admiration, and relief. For the first time, I saw someone who looked like me standing in the exact position I hoped to one day achieve. Even more meaningful, she was Haitian too.

As one of the only Black males in the hospital at the time, seeing Dr. Duperval made me feel seen. It made my dream feel real.

I was also fortunate to be surrounded by an incredible team of doctors, technicians, and nurses who believed in me. They encouraged me, answered my questions, offered advice, and constantly reminded me that becoming a veterinarian was possible.

Their support paid off.

I was accepted into my dream school: Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Finding Community and Family at Tuskegee: A Journey to Becoming a Veterinarian

Tuskegee represented everything I had been searching for. For four years, I was surrounded by students and faculty who looked like me, understood my experiences, and shared similar stories. I found community, mentorship, and lifelong friendships. I studied, grew, struggled, persevered, and ultimately passed the NAVLE.

Along the way, I also found something even more valuable—a family. My friends and support system, affectionately known as “MMPR,” stood beside me through every challenge, every exam, every victory, and every setback. Their support carried me through veterinary school and will likely continue for the rest of my life.

Today, I am a licensed veterinarian and am completing a one-year Small Animal Rotating Internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists. Every day, I have the privilege of caring for animals, supporting families, and continuing to learn in the profession I dreamed about as a ten-year-old child.

As I reflect on my journey, I realize something powerful: I am living the dream that once felt impossible.

From Dinosaur Dreams to Veterinary Role Model: Inspiring Future Generations

The little boy from Queens who loved dinosaurs and watched Jurassic Park on repeat became the veterinarian he always hoped to be.

Now, my goal is to become the representation I once searched for—to be the veterinarian that a young Black student sees and thinks, “If he can do it, maybe I can too.”

Because sometimes changing the future starts with simply being visible enough for someone else to believe theirs is possible.