The Road Less Traveled: Alternative Career Paths in Veterinary Medicine Kathy Williams Center for Career Development

The majority 97% enter clinical practice or pursue advanced training Shepherd AJ, Majchrzak S. Employment, starting salaries, and educational indebtedness of year graduates of US veterinary medical colleges. JAVMA 2010: 237,

Other Opportunities

Academia & Research Teach Conduct Research Care for animals

Industry Develop, test and supervise production Navigate regulatory processes

USDA FSIS USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) Healthy animals and products enter our food supply

USDA APHIS USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services Animal Care International Services National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Public Health Investigate animal and human illness, including zoonotic diseases Ensure the safety of food processing plants, restaurants and water supplies

U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Epidemiology, pathology, toxicology, lab animal medicine and more.

Environmental Protection Agency Study effects of pesticides and industrial pollutants

Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine Evaluate safety and effectiveness of medicines, medical products, pet foods and food additives

Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Library of Medicine Pathology, toxicology, lab animal medicine, research, and more

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Investigate zoonotic diseases and disease outbreaks Develop programs to prevent spread of diseases

Department of Homeland Security Protect health and safety of animals and people Develop disease surveillance and antiterrorism procedures and protocols UC Davis

Military US Army Veterinary Corps US Air Force

State Veterinarian Protect health and welfare of animals Target livestock diseases

State Public Health Veterinarians Work for the state health department Zoonotic disease control and prevention Protect public health

Diagnostic Veterinary Medicine Federal National Veterinary Services Laboratories State State diagnostic laboratories

Forensic Veterinary Medicine Apply veterinary knowledge to questions of law Investigation of animal crime, neglect, and cruelty ASPCA

Aquatic, Wildlife and Zoo Veterinary Medicine Zoos Aquaria State departments of natural resources U.S. Dept. of Interior

Organized Veterinary Medicine Local State National Veterinary or veterinary-related organizations

Expanding fields Animal welfare (e.g. humane inspections) Aquatic veterinary medicine …and even more!

Show me the money! Small animal exclusive: $70,000 State/local gov’t$70,000 Military$70-90,000** Industry$88,000 ** Comparable civilian pay Recent grads, 1-2 years experience

A foot in the door… Externships Internships Fellowships

For more info…

Where are the jobs? BioMed Central Career Network Career Builder, Monster, and other job search sites Military recruiters Specialty organizations

Parting advice Do what you love…passion is the key to success

Parting advice Don’t hesitate to explore opportunities…often they show up when you least expect them

Parting advice Don’t ever forget why you became a veterinarian in the first place

Parting advice Don’t forget that you have a responsibility to participate in and give back to a profession that enriches your lives, the lives of animals, the lives of your clients and those of the public

© American Veterinary Medical Association, 2010