Attracting students into careers in food supply veterinary medicine

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The Food Supply Veterinary Medicine Coalition (FSVMC) was formed in 2004 with a mission to assure the pub- lic that food continues to be abundant, safe, and wholesome by ensuring that veterinarians are appropriately involved throughout the food supply system. The premise of the FSVMC is that safety and wholesomeness of food are enhanced when veterinarians are included in all steps of production and processing. Studies were commissioned by the FSVMC in May 2004 to implement a far-reaching research program to exam- ine the demand and supply patterns for food animal veterinarians and the issues that affect and shape those pat- terns. The FSVMC provided support and guidance during development of the research program. Members of the FSVMC include the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, American Association of Avian Pathologists, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, American Veterinary Medical Association, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, and the USDA-Food Safety and Inspection Service. In addition, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association was extremely supportive of this research program and instrumental in promoting data collection in Canada. Bayer Animal Health provided substantial financial support and participated in discussions regarding conduct of the studies. Attracting students into careers in food supply veterinary medicine represents the first in a series of 3 articles that will provide results and analysis of the information gathered during the research program. The other 2 articles in the series (one will evaluate effects of changing careers within veterinary medicine, job retention, job satisfaction, and career commitment on the demand for and availability of veterinarians for careers in food supply veterinary med- icine, and the other will examine the future demand, likely shortages, and strategies for creating a better future for veterinarians in food supply veterinary medicine) will be published in subsequent issues of the JAVMA. These 3 arti- cles constitute the Executive Summary for the research program. It is hoped that this series of articles generates meaningful discussions and yields creative and appropriate solu- tions for this important aspect of the veterinary profession.