Organizations to promote veterinary research careers

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The Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine in May announced a partnership with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians to create opportunities for veterinary students seeking careers in laboratory investigations and animal disease surveillance.

Earlier this year, the CPCVM and U.S. Animal Health Association committed to working together to educate veterinary students about jobs in public health, food animal medicine, and other nontraditional career fields (see JAVMA, March 15, 2010).

The CPCVM, which is part of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, and the AAVLD are developing a framework for attracting more veterinarians to an area suffering a serious workforce shortage. Center Director Valerie E. Ragan says the plan will incorporate mentorship and networking opportunities as well as externships.

"Veterinary students who have an interest in diagnostics and laboratory work will have a great opportunity to learn from AAVLD members," Dr. Ragan said. "Many of our students are interested in research, and this will be a good opportunity for them to gain knowledge and have access to those with expertise in the laboratory side of veterinary medicine."

Dr. Ragan also expects the center will keep AAVLD members apprised of veterinary students willing to assist the laboratories with projects or as part of a summer job. She expects the plan will be ready in time for the fall semester.

"This is a great step in working towards addressing the current growing shortage of veterinarians in the areas of diagnostic medicine and research," said Dr. Gary A. Anderson, AAVLD president and director of the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory." We look forward to help develop veterinarians in this sector of veterinary medicine."

For more information on the program, contact Dr. Ragan at (301) 314-6820 or vraganatumd [dot] edu (vragan[at]umd[dot]edu) or Dr. Anderson at (785) 532-4454 or gandersatvet [dot] k-state [dot] edu (ganders[at]vet[dot]k-state[dot]edu).