The Profession of Veterinary Medicine

Professional Career Development

Veterinary ScienceExtension Veterinary Medicine

Texas AgriLife Extension ServiceCollege of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Texas A&M Systemhttp://aevm.tamu.edu

Objectives

Define veterinary medicine Describe the different career opportunities in

veterinary medicine Discuss the role of veterinary medicine in

animal health

Profession of Veterinary Medicine

To learn and accomplish Specific diagnosis (accurate) (diagnostician) Specific treatment regimen (correct, effective)

Drug therapy (Pharmacologist) Surgical therapy (Surgeon) Physical therapy (Physiologist) Dietary therapy (Nutritionist)

Specific prevention, control and eradication protocols (Epidemiologist)

To understand advanced sciences Know why, not just what and how No guess diagnosis No shotgun therapies

To improve the quality of life of people and animals Foster health and well-being of animals Enhance production of animal populations Increase economic efficiency and profitability of

animal operations Improve production of safe and wholesome food Improve the recreational or working relationship

of owners and their animals Companionship, human-animal bond, pleasure

Careers in Veterinary Medicine

Positions of employment Veterinarian – 4 years pre-vet college, 4 years

veterinary college (8 years college) Veterinary Technician – 2 years college Veterinary Assistant – study course, work

experience 4-H Veterinary Science Program

Career-oriented curriculum Job-trained apprenticeship

Fields of employment Companion animal health Exotic animal health Food animal health Laboratory animal health Human health

Kinds of employment (types) Private veterinary practice

Clinical service – individual animals, animal populations

Laboratory service Consultant service

Public veterinary practice Education – teaching, extension (university) Research (university, military) Clinical service (university, military) Laboratory service (university, government) Regulatory (government – USDA, TAHC)

Industry (Corporate) veterinary practice Research Laboratory service Clinical service Sales

Professional Career DevelopmentDoctor of Veterinary Medicine

Evaluate interests and abilities Advanced sciences Animal well-being Kinds of employment Involvement of sick, diseased animals (live and

dead) (blood, odor) Compassion and caring for people and animals

Communication skills (people person) (people skills)

Business skills (private practice) Long work days (night, week-end emergencies -

private practice)

Not based on: “I love animals.”

Make commitment (focus, blinders) Highly motivated and dedicated

Work with veterinarians Develop veterinary experience

Work with animals Develop animal experience

Plan HS curriculum with advanced sciences Calculus Physics Chemistry Zoology (genetics, nutrition, biology) Microbiology Animal science (Ag Sc)

Participate in extra-curricular leadership and citizenship activities 4-H Veterinary Science Program 4-H animal projects FFA animal projects Ag Co-op program Animal associations/societies memberships Animal publication subscriptions Animal show/performance clubs

Initial enrollment Junior college (transfer after 31 hours) Senior college

Know how to study Study habits Time management Focused Large classes

http://www.cvm.tamu.edu

Academic PreparationPre-professional College Academic Programs Pre-requisites completed in 2 – 4 years (61 hours)

Biology Microbiology Genetics Nutrition Inorganic chemistry Organic chemistry Biochemistry Calculus Physics English Animal Science

Life Sciences Category

17 credit hours General biology with lab – 4 General Microbiology with lab – 4 Genetics – 3 Animal nutrition or feed and feeding – 3 General animal science – 3

Physical Sciences Category

32 credit hours Inorganic chemistry with lab – 8 Organic chemistry with lab – 8 Biochemistry – 5 Calculus or statistics – 3 Physics – 8

Non-Sciences Category

12 credit hours Composition and rhetoric – 3 Literature – 3 Speech communication – 3 Technical writing – 3

Alternate Career Program – B.S. Degrees

Biomedical Science (TAMU) Animal Science

TAMUS - CS, Commerce, Kingsville, Stephenville, Canyon

Texas Tech SFA SHSU Sul Ross TSU

Zoology (many)

B.S. Degrees Texas A&M University – College Station

College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Biomedical Science

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Animal Science Biological & Agricultural Engineering Biochemistry Genetics

College of Science Biology Chemistry Microbiology Molecular & Cell Biology Zoology

Leadership activities Citizenship activities Veterinary experience Animal experience Academic rigor Course loads

Professional Preparation

Professional Program Application Process CVM-TAMU Submit application by October 1

(400 applicants) Application score – 300 points

http://www.cvm.tamu.edu

Academic Performance Score – 180 points OA GPA 40 points Sci GPA 40 points L45 hrs GPA 40 points GRE 60 points

Analytical - 25 Quantitative - 25 Verbal - 10

Professional Preparation Score – 120 points Veterinary experience 16 points Animal experience 12 points Course load 12 points Academic rigor 12 points Background 28 points Interview score 40 points

Interview 225 applicants Top academic and professional preparation

scores (veterinary and animal experiences) Select 132 applicants in March

Successfully complete professional curriculum Have personal qualities, motivation and dedication to

be a veterinarian Top academic and professional preparation scores

Professional College Academic Program

Curriculum (165 credit hours) Four years (off summers VM1 and VM2)

1VM (21 and 19 credit hours) Anatomy, microbiology, physiology, public health

2VM (20 and 20 credit hours) Nutrition, parasitology, pathology, pharmacology,

toxicology, surgery/anesthesiology, radiology 3VM (18 and 21 credit hours)

Large animal medicine, small animal medicine, surgery, clinics, clinical skills, practice management, electives

4VM (46 credit hours clinics) 30 weeks – basic case rotations 12 weeks – elective rotations and electives 4 weeks – externship 2 weeks – vacation

DVM Degree State and National Board Exams Licensed Veterinarian by State

http://www.cvm.tamu.edu

Career DevelopmentVeterinary Technician

Associate Degree (2 years college) Veterinary Technology

(Lone Star College, The Vet Tech Institute, Cedar Valley College,Palo Alto College, Sul Ross State University, Midland College,McLennan Community College)

B. S. Degree (4 years college) Biomedical Science

(Texas A&M University)

State and National Board Exams Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) American Veterinary Medical Association

http://www.avma.org

Career DevelopmentVeterinary Assistant

Study courses, work experience 4-H Veterinary Science Program

Career-oriented curriculum Job-trained apprenticeship http://aevm.tamu.edu

State Board Exam Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVT) Texas Veterinary Medical Association http://www.tvma.org