Addressing income inequities

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In the past, the AVMA has been involved in fighting for fair salaries for federal veterinarians. In the coming months, as approved by the Executive Board, the Association will address inequities in special pays given to veterinarians in the uniformed services. In addition, the AVMA will address the use of special pays to attract and retain board-certified veterinarians in the federal government.

The AVMA will gather information from veterinarians in the military and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, so the Association can propose legislation in the Congress that will provide those veterinarians with increased income through special pays. To build a case, the AVMA will seek input from the Corps, which has said that there is a need to provide pay incentives for recruitment and retention of veterinarians in their branch.

The board also approved gathering more information so that the AVMA might consider proposing legislation that will provide special pays to board-certified veterinarians in the federal government. The AVMA plans to gather information on the federal need for these veterinarians. And the Association will also use salary comparisons of board-certified veterinarians in public versus private or corporate practice, evidence of the benefits of special pays, and estimates of what the pays would cost the government.