USDA-NIFA Grant Helps Researchers Address Alabama Veterinary Shortage
More than a dozen Alabama counties have a shortage of food animal veterinarians. Food animal veterinarians play a critical role in maintaining the health of animals in the food system by providing important disease testing and health care to the beef, swine, poultry and dairy industries.
However, encouraging new veterinarians to practice in production agriculture, particularly in rural areas, is a long-running problem throughout the country.
A team of faculty at Auburn was recently awarded $246,000 by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to recruit veterinarians to shortage areas and support existing veterinarians already serving the areas.
“Auburn is committed to solving the rural practice problem,” said Glen Sellers, practice management director at Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and member of the grant team. “They need veterinarians in rural communities.”
Enticing new veterinarians to practice in production agriculture in rural areas has several challenges. Two of the most important factors are salary and well-being, according to Sellers. Working in a suburban clinic treating dogs and cats is often more lucrative, and the hours are shorter and more regular. There is also less time spent on the road and fewer emergency calls, which usually means a better work-life balance.
To address the issue, Sellers and a team of veterinarians at Auburn have created a program for rural veterinarians and current veterinary students. It focuses on the financial sustainability of rural veterinary practices and connecting students to practices where they might work after graduation.
“We’re trying to look at the problem very broad brush … almost from a holistic point of view,” said Sellers, referring to the multi-pronged plan. “But my point of view has always been that it starts in those rural practices.”