Careers for Veterinarians
The function of the College of Veterinary Medicine is to educate men
and women in the science and art of veterinary medicine. The college
thus serves to protect the health of all types of animals and to
support public health.
The veterinary medical profession offers excellent opportunities for
those who have an interest in the diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention of animal diseases. Like most medical careers, it
requires strong vocational motivation and dedication. The
compensation varies greatly, but superior professional service
usually is rewarded by an adequate income. |
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Private Practice
Practice may be general or restricted. In general practice
the individual offers service for all species of animals. Currently the
trend is toward restricted practice, in which the veterinarian limits his or
her activity to small animals, cattle, horses, or poultry, etc. Some
veterinarians, by virtue of advanced training and experience, become
specialists and limit their work to fields such as ophthalmology,
orthopedics, diseases of reproduction, or other specialty areas. There is an
accelerating trend toward partnership or group practice. Most new graduates
gain experience by working with an established veterinarian for at least one
year.
Private Corporations
Large corporations employ many veterinarians. These
opportunities range from food animal and poultry production to developmental
work with pharmaceutical companies.
Federal Agencies
The United States Department of Agriculture employs more
veterinarians than any other single agency. For the most part, the work is
concerned with the prevention and control of infectious and parasitic
diseases and the assurance of safe, wholesome, accurately labeled food
products of animal origin.
The United States Public Health Service also employs veterinarians
in the development and administration of programs concerned with the control
of animal diseases transmissible to humans.
U.S. Army Corps
The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps offers career opportunities
in several fields including public health/food safety and clinical practice.
Post-DVM training is available in public health, pathology, microbiology,
pharmacology, physiology, toxicology, food technology, laboratory animal
medicine, and clinical disciplines.
State Governments
Each state has a state veterinarian or similar officer,
usually in the Department of Agriculture, whose duties are to safeguard the
health of animals by enforcing laws and regulations drawn for this purpose.
Many state health departments also employ one or more veterinarians to
advise them on animal diseases that have significance in human health and to
investigate outbreaks of such diseases.
Municipal Governments
Veterinarians are employed as members of health departments
by most cities and by many towns and villages. Their duties are usually
connected with the sanitary control of meat and milk production and with the
investigation of food-poisoning epidemics.
Research
Veterinarians investigate basic and applied problems
concerning food-producing animals, companion or pet animals, laboratory
animals, captive animals, wildlife, and various aquatic species, both to
determine causes of disease and to develop methods for their prevention and
control. This research is sponsored by many organizations and supports many
individuals in academic, corporate, and private settings.
Academic Institutions
There are a wide variety of excellent career opportunities
for veterinarians in the educational field. Seventy-five percent of those in
academia are employed at veterinary schools, and most of the remainder at
medical schools. Their responsibilities include teaching, research, and
service.
Other Career Opportunities
These include laboratory animal medicine, zoo animal
practice, equine sports medicine, wildlife animal medicine, marine biology,
and aquatic animal medicine.
Future Job Market Trends
Surveys and projections indicate a steady demand for veterinary
medical services. It is expected that there will be a growing demand
for veterinary specialists to deal with society’s concerns relating
to animal welfare issues associated with biomedical and
environmental quality, biosecurity, public health, regulatory
medicine, and agricultural animal health. Veterinary graduates
interested in agricultural animal medicine are currently in high
demand and this trend is likely to continue for some time. The next
century will reflect society’s concerns about energy, quality of
food, and human health; veterinary medicine relates to us all.
Salary
Veterinarians’ salaries are based, as in most professions, on
career option, time since graduation, and geographic location. The
mean starting salary of a new DVM graduate is about $52,000 per
year. Most veterinarians in the United States earn over $60,000 per
year within a few years of graduation.
Additional information about a career in Veterinary Medicine
Last Edited: Feb 19, 2007 2:04 PM