Attracting students into careers in food supply veterinary medicine

Abstract

The Food Supply Veterinary Medicine Coalition (FSVMC) was formed in 2004 with a mission to assure the public that food continues to be abundant, safe, and wholesome by ensuring that veterinarians are appropriately involved throughout the food supply system. The premise of the FSVMC is that safety and wholesomeness of food are enhanced when veterinarians are included in all steps of production and processing.Studies were commissioned by the FSVMC in May 2004 to implement a far-reaching research program to examine the demand and supply patterns for food animal veterinarians and the issues that affect and shape those patterns. The FSVMC provided support and guidance during development of the research program.Members of the FSVMC include Health provided substantial financial support and participated in discussions regarding conduct of the studies."Attracting students into careers in food supply veterinary medicine" represents the first in a series of 3 articles that will provide results and analysis of the information gathered during the research program. The other 2 articles in the series (one will evaluate effects of changing careers within veterinary medicine, job retention, job satisfaction, and career commitment on the demand for and availability of veterinarians for careers in food supply veterinary medicine, and the other will examine the future demand, likely shortages, and strategies for creating a better future for veterinarians in food supply veterinary medicine) will be published in subsequent issues of the JAVMA. These 3 articles constitute the Executive Summary for the research program.It is hoped that this series of articles generates meaningful discussions and yields creative and appropriate solutions for this important aspect of the veterinary profession.

Schädel-Hirn-Traumen bei einem Traberfohlen

“…Eine Befragung aus München stellte sogar ein nahezu ausgewogenes Interesse an der Nutztierpraxis bei männlichen (41,1%) und weiblichen (37,4%) Studierenden fest (6). In einer amerikanischen Studie zeigte sich, dass Studierende die eine Karriere in der Nutztiermedizin planten, typischerweise bereits vor Studienbeginn Erfahrung mit Nutztieren gesammelt hatten, lieber in einer ländlichen Gegend leben wollten und überwiegend männlich waren (9).…”

Recruitment of Veterinarians for Rural Communities through Education: The Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas

“…1,2,3 Likewise the number of new graduates from the twenty-eight veterinary colleges located in the United States dedicated to practicing in rural communities seems to be diminishing. This shift has been attributed to a decreased number of current veterinary students who have rural backgrounds, lack of social and cultural opportunities in many rural communities, the lack of suitable career opportunities for spouses of veterinarians in farm communities, increasing veterinary student educational debts at the time of graduation, and starting salaries for veterinarians in many rural communities.…”

“…This shift has been attributed to a decreased number of current veterinary students who have rural backgrounds, lack of social and cultural opportunities in many rural communities, the lack of suitable career opportunities for spouses of veterinarians in farm communities, increasing veterinary student educational debts at the time of graduation, and starting salaries for veterinarians in many rural communities. 4,5,6 Also, as the veterinary colleges have expanded curriculum and faculty in response to the increasing demand for clinical specialties in small animals, the proportion of curriculum dedicated to food animal education has dwindled. Veterinarians play an important role in the social structure of rural communities and the loss of veterinary practices may be detrimental to a community as a whole.…”

A proposed novel food animal health care delivery system

“…Other investigators 3,4 have considered the increased age of many food animal practitioners and new opportunities in food safety and projected a shortage of veterinarians dedicated to careers in FSVM. It has been predicted in some studies 1,2 that there will be a decreased need for FSVM practitioners because increased consolidation of the dairy industry is following the already consolidated and vertically integrated swine and poultry industries.…”

“…3,4 Although these 2 reports, as well as other reports, provide valuable insights into the motivations of veterinary students and practitioners, the information cannot be properly evaluated independently. 3,4 Although these 2 reports, as well as other reports, provide valuable insights into the motivations of veterinary students and practitioners, the information cannot be properly evaluated independently.…”