Food Supply Veterinary Medicine ? Attracting Students, Retaining Veterinarians and the Future

May 31, 2006 — 

In 2004, the Food Supply Veterinary Medicine Coalition (FSVMC) was formed to reinforce the important role the food animal veterinarian plays in ensuring a safe, wholesome and abundant food supply. The FSVMC is comprised of a number of specialty veterinary organizations, including the AASV, and USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). In May 2004, the Coalition commissioned a far-reaching research program to examine the demand and supply patterns for food animal veterinarians. The AVMA is publishing the Executive Summary of the findings of that research in a series of 3 articles published in subsequent issues of the JAVMA beginning with the June 1st issue.

The first article explores the challenge of attracting students into careers in food supply veterinary medicine. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 28,000 veterinary job openings nationwide by 2012. The effects of changing careers within the veterinary profession, job retention and job satisfaction will be discussed in the second installment due out in the June 15th edition of the JAVMA. The final article, in the July 1st edition, will explore the future demand for food supply veterinarians.