News
Vet shortage an “urgent crisis”
The nationwide shortage of veterinarians is being called an urgent crisis.
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dr. Laura Molgaard says there continues to be strong demand for vet services across the profession.
“And that’s been most acutely felt in rural areas. And in rural areas there’s a need for veterinarians who can serve a variety of species (including) large animals. And oftentimes we describe those kinds of practitioners as mixed animal practitioners.”
She tells Brownfield the vet shortage is a complicated problem, but there are potential solutions.
“So the part that I’m focusing on is the part that I can influence, so at the College of Veterinary Medicine we focus on what we can control. And that’s really about selecting the next generation of veterinarians and training them.”
Molgaard says some of those strategies involve recruitment, admissions, education, fund-raising for scholarships, and advocating for loan repayment programs.
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I believe veterinary schools globally are failing veterinarians and society. The time is different, the challenges of today’s world are very different from 10-20 years ago. Veterinarians need to be more than great clinicians, surgeons, etc. Technical skills are essential in the profession but if vets are not prepared at the vet school for the mental challenges and difficulties they will face when they hit the ground- the real-world challenges, what is the point? One can be the best surgeon, a great clinician, or an amazing vet but if this professional leaves the profession 3-5 years post-graduation because he/she was not able to cope with the mental stresses and challenges he/she will face when working what does this mean? I believe vet schools have a moral obligation to prepare p[professionals for these challenges. For this reason, I’m embarking on this new journey of working in the mental health space to support vets. I’m a former veterinarian, research scientist and now RTT therapist, certified compassion fatigue professional and studying a Master of Counseling in Singapore.
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My daughter is a college graduate and a long-time trainer and carer for horses, dogs and cats. She would *love* to go to vet school but the pre-requisite courses required would require her to go back to college full-time. As many have mentioned, the cost of vet school is astronomical, especially given how much income they will earn as a working vet. She would definitely be an incredible vet (caring for animals and their humans) but the system is stacked to prevent potential students from going that route.
I have a daughter who is a veterinary and the pure and simple problem is economic. When you have to borrow all of your under and post graduate tuition to pay for this degree, you walk away from school with student loans the size of a moderate house mortgage even before you find a job. The future of moving to a rural veterinary practice where the demands of work and the financial stability are uncertain makes looking at small animal practice much more appealing to future vets. If you do find a fit at a clinic in hopes of buying into the practice someday, you probably find a cooperate entity purchasing the practice and them you find you are just another employee. A current study show suicide rates are higher in veterinarians than the general population. I am proud of my daughter for making the commitment to join this profession but, knowing now what i did not know then, I may not have wished he had been accepted into Veterinary school.