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