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Protecting Animal and Public Health: Homeland Security and the Federal Veterinarian Workforce, Testimony of W. Ron DeHaven
testimony 6 of 8
Title: Protecting Animal and Public Health: Homeland Security and the Federal Veterinarian Workforce, Testimony of W. Ron DeHaven
Date: February 26, 2009
Author: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia
Institution: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia
Bibliographic Entry: “Protecting Animal and Public Health: Homeland Security and the Federal Veterinarian Workforce.” February 26, 2009. Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia. Witness testimony of W. Ron DeHaven
http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=c34dd856-a58a-4ab8-9588-258131fd817a (Accessed March 24, 2009)
Electronic Link: http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/_files/TestimonyDeHaven20090226.pdf
Key Words: veterinary workforce, federal veterinary workforce, veterinarians, animal and public health, agriculture, food supply veterinarians
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions: Dr. W. Ron DeHaven serves as the CEO of The American Veterinary Medical Association. His testimony highlighted the importance of veterinarians to the public health workforce and provided reasons as to why there is a shortage of veterinarians when they are in high demand. For more than 100 years, veterinarians have been responsible for some of the most significant advances in public health, including the near eradication of diseases such as tuberculosis and brucellosis in domestic animals. Unfortunately, the number of veterinarians available to serve in key public health roles does not meet current demand, and the situation will only get worse without aggressive intervention now. According to a recent report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinary medicine is ranked 9th on the list of the 30 fastest-growing occupations for 2006 through 2016. It is estimated that jobs for veterinarians will increase by 35 percent in the next several years. Dr. DeHaven provided three reasons for the veterinarian shortage in the federal government:
1. A growing disconnection from rural living and life on the farm is contributing to fewer students pursuing a career in food supply veterinary medicine.
2. As farming operations become more consolidated, the links in the family farming chain –and the important exposure to the veterinarians who help these families care for their animals –are weakening, leading to fewer food supply veterinarians.
3. Educational debt is another obstacle standing in the way of students pursuing a career in food supply and public health veterinary medicine. It is estimated that the average student debt for a veterinary school graduate in 2008 exceeded $120,000, up from about $106,000 in 2007.
Name of Researcher: Ashanti Z. Corey
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: April 2, 2009