Veterinary schools and the profession: a search for bearings in the new century

Geographic trends in research output and citations in veterinary medicine: insight into global research capacity, species specialization, and interdisciplinary relationships

“…Although conclusions about specialization based solely on species-specific journals are limited, it is clear that veterinary research output in the US and Western Europe has expanded notably in companion animal specialty areas, while research output in most regions of the world remains strongly focused on agriculture and food animal production. An emerging relevance gap along species lines could affect the ability of wealthy countries to contribute to veterinary training and research in developing countries, underlining concerns about the profession’s ability to meet global animal health and food security needs [1-4,7]. Facilitating international collaboration and focusing resources on fewer veterinary faculties also could help strengthen the quantity and quality of veterinary research and enable all regions to compete effectively.…”

“…During the past few decades, the veterinary profession has undergone a profound shift in focus from agricultural animals to companion animals in the United States (US) and to a lesser extent in Western Europe [1-4]. Several demographic and socioeconomic factors have contributed to this shift, including consolidation of the livestock and food production industries [5,6], urbanization, changing social attitudes [4,7], a gender shift towards women in veterinary medicine [7,8], species-based tracking in veterinary curricula [9], and expanding clinical specialization [10]. The number of veterinary graduates entering food animal practice in the US has declined significantly since 1989 [11] and more than 75% of new graduates now enter small animal practice or specialized training in fields such as oncology and orthopedic surgery [12].…”

“…Today, 76.9% of veterinarians in the US work primarily with companion animals and 7.8% work primarily with food animals [13]. This shift has had major implications on educational and research programs; created shortages of veterinarians in laboratory animal medicine, research, food animal practice, regulatory veterinary medicine, and public health; and led to concerns about the profession’s ability to meet global animal health and food security needs [1-4,7]. Despite rapid globalization of the veterinary profession, our understanding of the scope and quality of these demographic changes in other regions of the world, their potential effects on veterinary education and research, and their relationship to quantitative demographic indicators is limited.…”

Attracting students into careers in food supply veterinary medicine

“…In addition, the threat of zoonotic diseases, public anxiety about biodiversity, and the impact of large and highly concentrated food production systems on the environment are expected to influence the supply and demand for food supply veterinarians. [5][6][7][8] Failure to systematically study in a scientific-based manner this changing mix of threats and opportunities will leave FSVM professionals uninformed and unable to prepare for a reality that will be nothing like the world of James Herriott. Responses to the challenges that endanger the health of the veterinary profession must be guided by sound theory and good data.…”

“…10,11,13-17 • Greater awareness of career opportunities in FSVM. 5,9,11,12,15,17 • Exposure to careers in FSVM in high school. 1,11,[15][16][17] • Creation of veterinary centers of excellence and cocurricular programs.…”