the road less traveled: alternative career paths in veterinary medicine kathy williams center for...
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The Road Less Traveled:The Road Less Traveled:Alternative Career Paths in Alternative Career Paths in
Veterinary MedicineVeterinary Medicine
Kathy WilliamsCenter for Career Development
The majorityThe 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.
Other OpportunitiesOther Opportunities
Academia & ResearchAcademia & Research
• Teach• Conduct Research• Care for animals
Industry Industry
• Develop, test and supervise production• Navigate regulatory
processes
USDA FSISUSDA FSIS
USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)
• Healthy animals and products enter our food supply
USDA APHISUSDA APHIS
USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)• Veterinary Services • Animal Care • International Services • National Institute of Food
and Agriculture
Public HealthPublic Health
• Investigate animal and human illness, including zoonotic diseases
• Ensure the safety of food processing plants, restaurants and water supplies
U.S. Public Health ServiceU.S. Public Health Service
Commissioned Corps• Epidemiology,
pathology, toxicology, lab animal medicine and more.
Environmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental Protection Agency
• Study effects of pesticides and industrial pollutants
Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration
Center for Veterinary Medicine• Evaluate safety and
effectiveness of medicines, medical products, pet foods and food additives
Health and Human ServicesHealth 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 Centers for Disease Control and PreventionPrevention
• Investigate zoonotic diseases and disease outbreaks• Develop programs
to prevent spread of diseases
Department of Homeland SecurityDepartment of Homeland Security
Protect health and safety of animals and people
• Develop disease surveillance and antiterrorism procedures and protocols
UC Davis
Military Military
US Army Veterinary Corps
US Air Force
State VeterinarianState Veterinarian
• Protect health and welfare of animals• Target livestock diseases
State Public Health VeterinariansState Public Health Veterinarians • Work for the state
health department • Zoonotic disease
control and prevention • Protect public health
Diagnostic Veterinary MedicineDiagnostic Veterinary Medicine
Federal • National Veterinary
Services Laboratories
State • State diagnostic
laboratories
Forensic Veterinary MedicineForensic Veterinary Medicine
• Apply veterinary knowledge to questions of law • Investigation of animal
crime, neglect, and cruelty
ASPCA
ASPCA
Aquatic, Wildlife and Zoo Aquatic, Wildlife and Zoo Veterinary MedicineVeterinary Medicine
• Zoos• Aquaria• State departments of
natural resources• U.S. Dept. of Interior
Organized Veterinary MedicineOrganized Veterinary Medicine
• Local • State • National • Veterinary or
veterinary-related organizations
Expanding fieldsExpanding fields
• Animal welfare (e.g. humane inspections)
• Aquatic veterinary medicine
…and even more!
Show me the money!Show me the money!
Small animal exclusive: $70,000State/local gov’t $70,000Military $70-90,000**Industry $88,000
** Comparable civilian pay
Recent grads, 1-2 years experience
A foot in the door…A foot in the door…
• Externships• Internships• Fellowships
For more info…For more info…www.avma.org/vcc/student_externships/
Where are the jobs?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
Parting adviceParting advice
• Do what you love…passion is the key to success
Parting adviceParting advice
• Don’t hesitate to explore opportunities…often they show up when you least expect them
Parting adviceParting advice
• Don’t ever forget why you became a veterinarian in the first place
Parting adviceParting 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