JHU's Diandre White is Breaking Barriers in Lab Animal Medicine

Community and classes come together during this DE&I fellowship at Johns Hopkins University co-sponsored by Charles River Laboratories

Diandre White, a graduate student at Tuskegee University in Alabama, didn't follow the usual career path of other laboratory animal medicine specialists. His path unfolded gradually, through the influence of his family and an open mind to what the world has to offer.

A native of Baltimore, Diandre had no early ambitions of becoming a veterinarian. In fact, growing up he didn't even have a pet. "It wasn't until high school that I began thinking about veterinary medicine. My cousin Yolanda - a mentor to me - was taking veterinary classes at Tuskegee University in Alabama, and we talked often about her experience," says Diandre. "I learned first-hand how compelling the veterinary program was and when I visited campus as a high school senior, I fell in love with Tuskegee. It was an easy choice to enroll for my undergraduate degree."

With Tuskegee University feeling like home, he continued with graduate school - noting, "there was nowhere else I wanted to go." That is, until his academic advisor sent him an internship application for the Charles River Labs Summer Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine - back home in Baltimore.

JHU Fellowship a perfect fit for Diandre

Amanda Maxwell, assistant professor at the medical school, and Diandre's Summer professor, shared that, "we're invested in hosting this fellowship for talented students like Diandre. Our goals are to give students experience in the field, acquaint them with the practice of translational research, and increase diversity in the laboratory animal veterinarian workforce. Diandre was an incredible professional in the lab and everyone here looks forward to seeing how his journey unfolds."

Diandre says the 12-week internship was the perfect fit at the right time.

"I had a desire to go home for the Summer, and this fellowship was the perfect opportunity to learn more about the research side of veterinary medicine and work with different animals on a large scale," Diandre commented. "Everything fell together, and I considered myself very lucky to be selected for this internship and work with a great research team led by Amanda."

Diandre completed his time at Johns Hopkins working on clinical skills such as catheterization, venipuncture, and intubation on a variety of species from mice to sheep. "I hadn't worked with large animals before, so it was amazing to see how much I could learn in such a short time so early in my career."

One of the standout moments of Diandre's internship came early on when he was tasked with suturing an animal during a procedure. It was an unexpected responsibility, and he embraced the challenge. "I thought I would just watch or maybe assist, but they trusted me to take the lead, and that was a huge confidence boost."

He also worked on a major research project, comparing two different fecal PCR tests for diagnosing Shigella, a diarrhea-causing bacteria that can be dangerous. Diandre's goal was to validate a testing method which could deliver a quicker, on-site turn-around time for the test saving the time and money it takes to utilize an outside lab. The project was so successful, Diandre presented a poster (shown above) at the Veterinary Scholars Symposium at the conclusion of his Fellowship.

Diandre White with Rocket.

"It was exciting to be part of a project that could make a real difference in how we care for these animals," he says. "This kind of research wasn't something I saw myself doing, but now I can see how important it is."

Beyond the technical skills, the internship also helped Diandre develop critical interpersonal abilities. He had to navigate working with a variety of professionals, from veterinarians to principal investigators (PIs) and researchers. "I learned so much about communicating with people who have different roles in animal care and research. It's a skill that will be invaluable no matter where my career takes me," reflected Diandre.

It's not all work and classes for Diandre. In his downtime, he enjoys running through nearby fields with his 6-month-old puppy, a German Shepherd-Pitbull mix, Rocket. He's a big baseball and football fan and is excited about the playoff aspirations for both the Baltimore Orioles and the Baltimore Ravens. Diandre is also interested in mythology and counts "Percy Jackson" as one of his favorite movies.

Diandre is quick to acknowledge the value of initiatives like the DE&I fellowship that Charles River and John Hopkins co-sponsored. "Programs like these are crucial for creating a more inclusive environment in veterinary medicine," he explains. "They give students like me a chance to see where we might fit in, which is an important part of finding the right career path."

Though Diandre has three more years at Tuskegee University, he has a clearer vision for his future. "I see veterinarians who are happy with their careers, and it gives me hope," he says. "I've already gotten a pretty good start, I believe in myself, and I think I'm on the right track."

(Top image shows Diandre White with JHU Post-Doc Fellow Alex Bailey.)

Editor's Note: Do you know someone who would be interested in the 2025 John Hopkins Fellowship Program? Bookmark this page (https://mcp.bs.jhmi.edu/veterinary-students/) to find out more about the Johns Hopkins' 2025 program.

Jonathan Renes is part of the RMS Marketing Department at Charles River Laboratories

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