ISU students tackle rural veterinarian shortage

AMES, IOWA — In the state that ranks first in pork and third in beef production, the food animal veterinarian soon might be an endangered species. Iowa, like all livestock-dense states, faces a shortage of large-animal practitioners.

The state will need at least 120 additional food animal veterinarians by 2008, according to a 2003 survey by Iowa State University (ISU) and the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA).

The impact of such a shortfall reaches far beyond the feedlot, says Dr. Patrick Halbur, interim associate dean of public services and outreach at ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"Food animal veterinarians are a vital link in the food-supply chain; they're critical to safe and economical food production," Halbur says.

As fewer students from agricultural backgrounds enter veterinary colleges, the number of those interested in mixed species or food animal practices continues to decline, Halbur adds.

VSMART

In an effort to reverse the trend, ISU veterinary students, using start-up funds from the IVMA Foundation, have formed VSMART — Veterinary Student Mixed Animal Recruitment Team. VSMART pays for 75 students to travel the state recruiting and mentoring younger students to pursue a career in food animal medicine.

Serving as ambassadors for their future profession, VSMART students have given presentations to more than 3,500 Iowans at fairs, community events, animal science and 4-H club meetings.

They explain the educational requirements and describe what happens in each year of the four-year veterinary curriculum. They often partner with local veterinarians, sharing real-life experiences of the rural practitioner, says VSMART President LeAnn Bouska, a second-year veterinary student.

"We hope that we can make this career seem less intimidating by giving younger students a chance to interact with both a veterinarian and a veterinary student," she says. "Hopefully, we can convince them of the rewards of careers in mixed-animal veterinary medicine and inspire them to enter the profession."

According to the ISU-IVMA survey, veterinarians in food animal or mixed animal practices are satisfied professionally and personally.

"They very much enjoy living in the smaller communities, and their income levels are as good or better than those in other types of veterinary practices," Halbur says. "Times have changed for veterinary colleges. We now need to be heavily engaged in the recruitment process. Our veterinary students are our best advocates."