Veterinary Veterinary MedicineMedicine

Why People Consider Why People Consider Veterinary Medicine As a Veterinary Medicine As a

CareerCareer Compassion and respect for animalsCompassion and respect for animals Interest in science and medical Interest in science and medical

research research Skills and patience necessary for a Skills and patience necessary for a

helping/service professionhelping/service profession Desire to improve the welfare of Desire to improve the welfare of

both animals and humansboth animals and humans

Veterinary EducationVeterinary Education Admission to vet school requires certain Admission to vet school requires certain

coursework be completed but not coursework be completed but not necessarily a bachelor’s degree. The necessarily a bachelor’s degree. The average successful applicant has over four average successful applicant has over four (4) years of education.(4) years of education.

There are 27 veterinary schools in the There are 27 veterinary schools in the United States.United States.

There are about 8000 veterinary students There are about 8000 veterinary students in the U.S.in the U.S.

Most veterinary schools accept Most veterinary schools accept applications on a regional or applications on a regional or statewide basis.statewide basis.

Males and females are accepted in Males and females are accepted in approximately a 25/75 ratio.approximately a 25/75 ratio.

One’s chances of being accepted on One’s chances of being accepted on one application are between 12% and one application are between 12% and 33%.33%.

While admission is difficult, 90% of While admission is difficult, 90% of students who enter will graduate.students who enter will graduate.

Admission to the University of Admission to the University of TennesseeTennessee

Academic profileAcademic profile GPA GPA Aptitude test scoresAptitude test scores

Personal profilePersonal profile Letters of referenceLetters of reference Autobiographical statementAutobiographical statement Experience with animalsExperience with animals Experience with veterinary medicineExperience with veterinary medicine Personal interviewPersonal interview

There Are About 70,000 There Are About 70,000 Graduates in the U.S. Today Graduates in the U.S. Today

(1300 in Tennessee)(1300 in Tennessee) Currently, 2/3 of veterinarians are Currently, 2/3 of veterinarians are

male, but this is changing.male, but this is changing. Most veterinary school classes are Most veterinary school classes are

75% female75% female..

Animal Population FiguresAnimal Population Figures

AnimalAnimal Population Population (millions)(millions)

% % Household Household

owningowning

DogsDogs 5353 3737

CatsCats 5757 3131

HorsesHorses 77 22

CattleCattle 9696

SwineSwine 5656

SheepSheep 77

BirdsBirds 2020 1010

What Veterinarians Do:What Veterinarians Do:

Private PracticePrivate Practice 70% of all veterinarians70% of all veterinarians 85% of first year graduates are in private 85% of first year graduates are in private

practicepractice

100% Pet Practice100% Pet Practice 50% of all veterinarians50% of all veterinarians Income and hours worked (48.8) Income and hours worked (48.8)

is averageis average Tends to be most Tends to be most

technologically sophisticated technologically sophisticated practice group. Most practice group. Most procedures performed on procedures performed on animals were perfected on animals were perfected on animals.animals.

Affords many opportunities to Affords many opportunities to practice good medicinepractice good medicine

Work is indoors, not physically Work is indoors, not physically strenuous and is typically strenuous and is typically located in urban or suburban located in urban or suburban areasareas..

Mixed Practice - 20% All Mixed Practice - 20% All Veterinarians Veterinarians

Income below Income below average and hours average and hours worked above worked above average.average.

Tend to be a Tend to be a generalist knowing generalist knowing an amazing lot about an amazing lot about many different many different animals.animals.

Small town lifestyle Small town lifestyle appeals to many.appeals to many.

Large Animal Practice Large Animal Practice 7% of All Veterinarians7% of All Veterinarians

The pay is above The pay is above averageaverage

Tend to be more Tend to be more specialized specialized

Physically more Physically more demandingdemanding

Get to be Get to be outdoorsoutdoors

Exists in rural or Exists in rural or suburban areassuburban areas

About 25% of Veterinarians Are About 25% of Veterinarians Are SalariedSalaried

Colleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities

5%5%

RegulatoryRegulatory ResearchResearch

Colleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities

5% of all veterinarians5% of all veterinarians Most have post D.V.M. educationMost have post D.V.M. education Any facility housing experimental Any facility housing experimental

animals must have a veterinarian.animals must have a veterinarian. Teaching and researchTeaching and research

GovernmenGovernmentt

Federal government employs about Federal government employs about 5% of all veterinarians.5% of all veterinarians.

State and local government – 2%State and local government – 2% Disease control and regulatoryDisease control and regulatory Food inspectionFood inspection ResearchResearch Starting salary is above average and Starting salary is above average and

hours worked are lower.hours worked are lower. Regular hours and job security Regular hours and job security

MilitaryMilitary

1% of all 1% of all veterinariansveterinarians

Public health and Public health and researchresearch

Enter as a 1Enter as a 1stst Lieutenant or Lieutenant or CaptainCaptain

Good benefits Good benefits Regular hours Regular hours

Private IndustryPrivate Industry 5% of all 5% of all

veterinariansveterinarians Research and Research and

drug testingdrug testing Post DVM Post DVM

educationeducation Excellent salary Excellent salary

and benefitsand benefits

Disadvantages of Veterinary Disadvantages of Veterinary MedicineMedicine

Starting salary is low Starting salary is low ($47,000) compared to ($47,000) compared to the level of education.the level of education.

Many in private Many in private practice resent the practice resent the attention which must attention which must be paid the to business be paid the to business aspect of practicing aspect of practicing veterinary medicine.veterinary medicine.

Veterinarians see more Veterinarians see more suffering and death suffering and death than any other than any other segment.segment.

Advantages to Veterinary Advantages to Veterinary MedicineMedicine

Opportunity to help both Opportunity to help both animals and humans can be animals and humans can be very fulfilling.very fulfilling.

Above average income Above average income ($76,000).($76,000).

100% employment.100% employment. Above average social status Above average social status

in the community.in the community. Work is non-repetitive.Work is non-repetitive.

Questions???Questions???