Campaign for Federal Veterinarian Pay Parity

By Gina Luke, Assistant Director of the GRD

Last July, the AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) passed resolutions in support of increasing the numbers of federal veterinarians and improving pay for individuals serving in federal positions. In response to the HOD actions, the AVMA and the National Association of Federal Veterinarians (NAFV) have begun an advocacy campaign to improve pay and other incentives to recruit and retain federal veterinarians.

Federal veterinarians are currently eligible for just two additional pay opportunities – specialty pay and board certified pay, while physicians and dentists have access to several other opportunities to increase their total compensation package – variable special pay, board certified pay, additional special pay, incentive special pay, multi-year retention bonuses and accession bonuses.

Veterinarians are on the front lines of current food safety, public health, animal health and homeland security efforts. With a projected shortage of public health veterinarians, now is the time to correct inequities to ensure the nation's animal and public health is adequately protected.

"Congress has an opportunity to make this right before we face serious shortages of veterinarians in federal agencies." said Dr. Mark Lutschaunig, director of the AVMA's Governmental Relations Division. "Already, hundreds of veterinarians are needed to fill essential positions in federal service while hundreds are on the cusp of retirement. This is an issue of equity and fairness for professionals working to ensure the public's health and food safety. Continued failure to value the contribution of federal veterinarians will result in recruitment and retention difficulties."

Demonstrating broad-based support within the veterinary and agriculture community will be essential if the issue is to gain traction on Capitol Hill. All AVMA member organizations of the House of Delegates are urged to join the AVMA/NAFV letter to Congress. Already 31 groups including 18 state veterinary medical associations have agreed to be listed. If your organization wants to sign the letter, email Gina Luke at gluke@avma.org by October 31, include the association's name (no acronyms), identify a primary point of contact along with her/his phone and email address.

If you have questions about the letter or the issue please contact Gina Luke, Assistant Director, Governmental Relations Division, American Veterinary Medical Association, at 202-289-3204 or email gluke@avma.org.

For more information, contact Gina Luke at gluke@avma.org.

¹Figure does not include contractors.
²The number of USPHS veterinarians is included in agency counts thus is unduplicated in the total number of federal veterinarians.