IVMA, ISU study food animal DVM trends

Ames, Iowa-The Iowa Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) and Iowa State University (ISU) is finishing up a major survey of state practitioners to identify income and retention in practice.

Dr. Pat Halbur, president of the IVMA and associate professor in ISU's Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, reports the professional study is still under way, but he plans to have the results of the 400-practitioner survey by the end of August.

The 20-minute survey is being conducted through the Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology at ISU.

One of the study's goals, Halbur adds, was to gather practitioner data to have available to get proactive legislation to help turn the tide of a food animal practitioner shortage.

He adds that there is a need for proactive legislation at the state level, including possible reimbursement for students selecting food animal veterinary medicine or even legislation designed to remedy manpower shortages in underserved places, which the human medicine market currently enjoys.

Halbur adds the study was very comprehensive consisting of telephone interviews with veterinarians. He presented the information at the Nine States Veterinary Conference in Des Moines, August 22-24.