Launch of the new Veterinary Debt Solutions Program
Farm Journal Foundation is partnering with the Zoetis Foundation to launch a new program aimed at finding solutions for student debt relief in the veterinary industry. The long-term goal of the effort is to address shortages of veterinarians to work with farmers in rural areas.
The new Veterinary Debt Solutions program will bring together leaders from the animal husbandry, academic, non-profit and veterinary sectors to overcome the barriers veterinarians face in building long-term careers in rural areas. High levels of student debt, combined with relatively lower rural wages and demanding workloads, discourage many young and diverse professionals from specializing in large animal veterinary science and entering the workforce. , especially in underserved rural areas.
The veterinary profession is currently experiencing an urban-rural divide, with only about ten percent of final-year veterinary students expressing an interest in working with livestock after graduation, according to survey data from the American Veterinary. Medical Association. As a result, approximately 500 counties across the United States are now facing vet shortages.
(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters)
