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

2. The majority 97% enter clinical practice or pursue advanced training Shepherd AJ, Majchrzak S. Employment, starting salaries, and educational indebtedness of year- 2010 graduates of US veterinary medical colleges. JAVMA 2010: 237, 795-798.

3. Other Opportunities

4. Academia & Research Teach Conduct Research Care for animals

5. Industry Develop, test and supervise production Navigate regulatory processes

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

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

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

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

10. Environmental Protection Agency Study effects of pesticides and industrial pollutants

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

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

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

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

15. Military US Army Veterinary Corps US Air Force

16. State Veterinarian Protect health and welfare of animals Target livestock diseases

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

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

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

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

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

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

23. 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

24. A foot in the door… Externships Internships Fellowships

25. For more info… www.avma.org/vcc/student_externships/

26. Where are the jobs? www.usajobs.com www.avma.org/vcc BioMed Central Career Network Career Builder, Monster, and other job search sites Military recruiters Specialty organizations

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

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

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

30. 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

31. © American Veterinary Medical Association, 2010