Abstract
COVID-19 has had significant effects on the field of veterinary medicine. Adaptation to pandemic-related and post-pandemic challenges requires engagement from all levels of the professional pipeline, including veterinary college students. Insights gained from this group may inform curriculum design, help the veterinary profession innovate, maximize opportunities for positive change, and avoid negative outcomes. The current study aimed to understand the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on veterinary medicine, as foreseen by second-year veterinary students in an online discussion during a public health course in the spring of 2020. Twenty-one percent of the 113 students agreed to participate in this qualitative research study. We used an inductive coding process and distilled the student responses into descriptive themes to capture diverse perspectives and understand possible post-pandemic pathways for the veterinary profession. Four themes emerged from the student discussion posts, describing how veterinarians might be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) economic and social impacts, (2) adapting to challenges, (3) collaborations to improve public health, and (4) disparities and diversity. These themes are a starting point for discussion and innovation as veterinarians plan for the post-pandemic world; further investigation will provide additional guidance for veterinary leaders.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic’s immediate effects on veterinary medicine included substantial changes in operating protocols in the face of shortages of drugs, personal protective equipment (PPE), and staff
40% intended to do an internship or residency and 40% intended to join a private practice. This group of students were less likely to be interested in private practice than the general veterinary student population and more likely to be interested in alternative career paths [19]
This suggests that the students most interested in the COVID-19 discussion were those already thinking outside the box of traditional veterinary roles
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic’s immediate effects on veterinary medicine included substantial changes in operating protocols in the face of shortages of drugs, personal protective equipment (PPE), and staff. Veterinarians found themselves in the spotlight as animal health experts when SARS-CoV-2 positive animals were identified [3]. They demonstrated their expertise in diagnostic testing and outbreak response [4, 5]. At the very beginning of the pandemic, we engaged second-year veterinary students in a discussion of how the COVID-19 pandemic may impact veterinarians and veterinary medicine. These students were concurrently studying the public health role of veterinarians; this topic was an appropriate and timely addition to their course
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