More action is needed on vet shortage

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) says that 74 food animal and public health veterinarians will receive educational loan assistance in exchange for a three-year service commitment to practice in a USDA-designated veterinary shortage area.

These awards were made as part of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), which helps protect animal agriculture and public health in rural communities by ensuring adequate access to veterinary services.

In total, this year’s VMLRP awards will fill 74 shortages across the country. VMLRP has become more important to agricultural communities as veterinary student debt now exceeds $140,000 on average, or more than $167,000 for veterinary students who graduate with debt.

Rural

Rural salaries are often lower than urban veterinary salaries, which can make food animal and public health careers cost-prohibitive for many veterinarians.

“Our local veterinarian owned the only large animal clinic in town and was desperate to retire, but he couldn’t find a younger veterinarian to take his place,” said Dr. Kaki Nicotre, a 2015 VMLRP award recipient based in Clifton, Texas.

“The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program made it possible for me to take over his practice and continue caring for the community’s livestock and pets. Now, I’ve settled down in Clifton and I’m looking forward to treating local animals for years to come.”

Since the program’s inception in 2010, VMLRP has helped place veterinarians in more than 415 federally-designated shortage areas across 45 states. Despite the program’s success, 113 shortage areas remain unfilled this year.

Act

In order to fill these areas of need and expand the VMLRP’s effectiveness and reach, AVMA is asking Congress to pass the VMLRP Enhancement Act, which would lift a 39 percent income withholding tax on the program’s awards. By ending this tax, which is covered by USDA, Congress could effectively expand the program’s reach without needing additional funding.

AVMA encourages the veterinary community to contact Congress on this issue.

Additional information on the program can be found on NIFA’s website. Now that 2018 awards have been made, NIFA is working with state veterinarians to identify further shortage areas and access needs for 2019.