There was a very interesting thread recently on the AVMA General Discussion Forum. It made me think about the veterinary profession and it's future. It also made me brainstorm about what could be. I forwarded the thread to colleagues, friends and even family! It reminded me of how fortunate we are to be entering a small but well respected profession. Please read the following thread and post your thoughts and opinions. There are a few questions after the passage to assist with brainstorming!
Courtesy of: Brent Swenson, DVM Lilburn, GA
"I don’t know that expansion of the numbers of veterinarians is a bad thing per se. There is no more reason to artificially limit the number of veterinary professionals than there is to do so with electricians or barbers. The market is a perfectly legitimate was to regulate numbers. The food animal practitioner is a case in point. When there is a market for same, there will be no shortage unless the supply is artificially limited.
I do suspect that the means for the expansion or limitation of candidates can be problematic though. There is no reason the cost of a veterinary education need be as high as it is, nor is there any legitimate reason that anyone who is capable should not be able to become a veterinarian if he chooses to do so. We are limiting options by rigid adherence to the present educational model. The criteria we use to judge competency to enter the profession is passing a licensing examination which in turn requires graduation from an accredited vet school.
But there is no evidence that either actually measures competence very well. If the licensing exam is the final arbiter, why not let anyone take the exam, and if they pass, practice. Education could be greatly streamlined by offering necessary basic sciences in an undergraduate curriculum and doing clinical rotations under a licensed practitioner. I know of no legal reason that such a background would preclude accountability in the form of license sanctions or litigation. If you
practice, you practice and are subject to all the rights,responsibilities and liabilities thereof.
The opportunity to practice veterinary medicine (or any occupation for that matter) should be limited by the market, not the professional guild."

What is your opinion & why? Should we limit the number of veterinarians? Why do you feel this way? What would happen to veterinary medicine if we didn't limit the number of veterinarians? How would this affect the business aspect of veterinary medicine? What would happen if everyone who wanted to be a vet- actually become a vet? Do you agree that graduating from an accredited vet school and passing a licensing exam does not measure competency? Why or why not? Do you think veterinary education should be "streamlined"? Why or why not? If a vet tech. was able to pass the NAVLE after several (or a few) years of working as a vet tech. do you think it would be okay to allow the tech. to begin clinical rotations or obtain a DVM degree without eight years of education? Why do you feel this way? Do you think there is a shortage of veterinarians now? Why? How is this affecting veterinary business? What should we do about it? Do you think there is an overabundance of veterinarians now? Why? How is this affecting veterinary business? What should we do about it?

I'm really looking forward to hearing from all my Southern Chapters!!

Kelly S. McDaniel
Mississippi State University
College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2013
2011-12 VBMA Regional Leader
2010-11 President- Student Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society
2010-11 Vice President & Secretary- Veterinary Business Management Association
2010-11 Vice President- Disaster Animal Response Team
The Honest Kitchen Student Rep.
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