Project Grant 20237002440673

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** FOOD ANIMAL VETERINARY SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DEPENDENT ON THE ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF PRODUCER ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS. RECENT GRADUATE FEEDBACK AND PREVIOUS PUBLISHED WORK HAVE IDENTIFIED WAYS THAT ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS CAN HELP, LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROJECT. INEXTRICABLY LINKED, THE SUCCESS OF PRODUCERS AND VETERINARIANS DIRECTLY AFFECT THE SURVIVABILITY OF ONE ANOTHER. OVER TIME, A NEGATIVE FEEDBACK LOOP IS DEVELOPED. PRODUCER FAILURE AND FARM EXIT ULTIMATELY DILUTES AVAILABLE LIVESTOCK, LEAVING REMAINING LIVESTOCK DISPERSED OVER A GREATER GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, WHICH MAKES PROVIDING VETERINARY SERVICES MORE TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE. THIS IN TURN AFFECTS THE SURVIVABILITY OF RURAL VETERINARY PRACTICES AND CONTRIBUTES TO VETERINARY SHORTAGE SITUATIONS BY LIMITING OPPORTUNITIES TO GENERATE SUPPORTING INCOME. LACK OF INCOME ULTIMATELY LIMITS THE ABILITY OF VETERINARY PRACTICES TO RETAIN OR HIRE ADDITIONAL VETERINARY STAFF THUS EXACERBATING SHORTAGE SITUATIONS. THIS SITUATION IS COMMON, UNFORTUNATELY LEADING TO VETERINARIAN BURN OUT, AND DISCOURAGES STUDENTS INTERESTED IN RURAL VETERINARY MEDICINE FROM PURSUING VETERINARY EDUCATION AND RETURNING TO THEIR HOME AREA. CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF THIS FEEDBACK LOOP FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE IS ACHIEVABLE, AND VETERINARY MEDICINE IS THE UNIQUELY POSITIONED DISCIPLINE THAT CAN ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES.IN AN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, MORE RECENT TRAINING EFFORTS FOR FOOD ANIMAL VETERINARIANS HAVE INCLUDED HERD HEALTH AND PRODUCTION MEDICINE. RECENT GRADUATES SURVEYED REVEALED THAT THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE MORE ADVANCED PRODUCTION MEDICINE SERVICES IS LIMITED. OFFERING EXPANDED SERVICES IS CONSTRAINED BY IMMEDIATELY NEEDING TO PROVIDE TRADITIONAL VETERINARY SERVICES, AND THE RESULTING LACK OF TIME AND OPPORTUNITY UTILIZING PRODUCTION MEDICINE TECHNIQUES SOON AFTER GRADUATION ALLOWS THE SKILLSET TO EXPIRE. THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES THROUGH THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES. OBJECTIVE 1 WILLEQUIP VETERINARIANS WHO HAVE GRADUATED IN THE PAST FIVE-YEARS WITH ADVANCED PRODUCTION MEDICINE SKILLS. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH MONTHLY VIRTUAL TRAINING SESSIONS AND TWICE YEARLY IN PERSON WORKSHOPS AT LOCAL DAIRY FARMS TO SOLIDIFY KEY CONCEPTS PRESENTED DURING VIRTUAL SESSIONS. ENROLLED VETERINARIANS WILL ALSO COLLABORATE WITH A DAIRY PRODUCERIN THEIR PRACTICE, USING THE FARMS FINANCIAL AND PRODUCTION DATA TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES AND IMMEDIATELY RETURNA DELIVERABLE TO THE DAIRY PRODUCER. OBJECTIVE 2 WILL MATCH PRECLINICAL YEAR VETERINARY STUDENTS IN THE PENNVET FOOD ANIMAL CLUB WITH RECENT GRADUATE VETERINARIANS FROM OBJECTIVE 1 FOR TWO-WEEK EXTERNSHIPS. FOOD ANIMAL CLUB MEMBERS ARE INTERESTED IN, BUT NOT COMMITTED, TO RURAL FOOD ANIMAL MEDICINE. THE AIM OF THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS TO EXPOSE VETERINARY STUDENTS TO THE NUANCES OF RURAL FOOD ANIMAL MEDICINE AND ESTABLISH LONGER-TERM MENTORSHIP POSSIBILITIES. OBJECTIVE 3 IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PA CENTER FOR DAIRY EXCELLEN,CE AND THE WALTER B. SAUL HIGH SCHOOL (PHILADELPHIA, PA). THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL PROVIDE TWICE-YEARLY ON-FARM EXPERIENCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON LOCAL DAIRY FARMS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR HOMETOWN RECENT GRADUATE VETERINARIANS. THE GOALOF ON-FARM EXPERIENCES IS TO OFFER HANDS-ON FORMAL TRAINING IN REAL WORLD SETTINGS DISPLAYING ALL FACETS OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, INCLUDING VETERINARY TECHNICIAN AND ANIMAL CARE RELATED ROLES. ON-FARM EXPERIENCES WILLENGAGE, EXPOSE, AND ENCOURAGEHIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO CONSIDER CAREERS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE USING FAMILIAR, LOCAL FARMS AS AN EXAMPLE.