Thank you for this. I didn't realize just how few veterinary schools existed in the US. I know that Kentucky doesn't have one, we have a deal with Auburn University where KY residents get in state tuition for DVMs. What happens with postgraduate qualifications, I'm unsure. I have zero excuses since I worked with research DVMs with additional letters at our medical school and then worked with a veterinary radiologist who had.an impressive 10 total letters. Our community colleges don't even offer LVT programs, a few for profits have attempted this but it's always just a scam. There is I believe one LVT program at Morehead. It's always seemed strange to me. With The Ohio State and Purdue both offering programs I guess it didn't feel as limited as it truly was.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Back in 2023 I wrote about the number of vet schools and the sudden incoming expansion, with at least *11 more* in the pipeline. That may not sound like many, but it would represent a 33% increase in just a few years!
One of the examples I provided was actually Murray State, which is looking to start their own program. I suspect this will cannibalize students from Auburn's enrollment both directly and indirectly (many AU students hail from even if they didn't participate in the formal partnership with Kentucky).
I'm not opposed to new schools per se, but we have to do it thoughtfully and not water down the standards in the process. Otherwise our pets and our own health may suffer.
And yes, it's a separate issue, but we legitimately do have a shortage of LVTs/RVTs. Maybe new schools would help, though I suspect the biggest barriers are the high educational cost and low financial return. Many of the people who might be interested in becoming vet techs end up going into nursing or become dental hygienists, which use similar skills but pay way better
Everything you're saying sounds valid to me, mostly techs don't make enough money, not generally and the cost of everything keeps rising. A 33% increase is a big increase! I'm not going to say it only happens to women because I've seen it used on sympathetic male veterinarians as well; this idea that if you were a "good" veterinarian you should somehow be willing to work not just for free but have miracle financing for all your education and equipment, plus rent and insurance etc. People who work with young children, teachers, animals, and the elderly as well. It's a real problem because many people choose these fields because they kind of WOULD do much of it for free but usually not the chores people are whining about. I've rarely really just felt compelled to express anal glands, lol.
Vets have long suffered from the “if you loved animals, you’d do it for free” guilt trip. You would never ask your dentist for a free root canal because they are “jazzed” about working on dirty teeth, and for sure people would not dare ask a mechanic or a plumber for a discount! Unfortunately, a lot of the smart college kids who are more money-motivated go into human medicine, law, MBA, finance, etc, so us bleeding hearts stay in caring-oriented professions like vetmed and the salaries stay relatively low :/
I've for whatever reason never been especially interested in making a lot of money, my feelings about it predate my politics, by years. I didn't exactly set myself on a goal to be a failure (although I'm sure it might appear thusly to some lol) it's just not a great motivator for me. I like providing necessary help, there are tons of positions in multiple fields but not one of them will make a living salary if you've got a family.
Dr. John H. Greve at Iowa State once told me that my DVM was a professional degree, not an academic degree like my thesis MS, or the PhD in veterinary pathology I was then busily pursuing. I didn't fully understand the difference until years later when I was working with several excellent board certified pathologists and realized that we had different approaches to the same medical problem. For example, they rarely asked "why" does this specific animal have this specific disease? Or "how" can we improve a diagnostic test? The AVMA is a professional organization. Good luck in getting them to usefully understand the importance of an academic approach to medicine.
Thank you for this. I didn't realize just how few veterinary schools existed in the US. I know that Kentucky doesn't have one, we have a deal with Auburn University where KY residents get in state tuition for DVMs. What happens with postgraduate qualifications, I'm unsure. I have zero excuses since I worked with research DVMs with additional letters at our medical school and then worked with a veterinary radiologist who had.an impressive 10 total letters. Our community colleges don't even offer LVT programs, a few for profits have attempted this but it's always just a scam. There is I believe one LVT program at Morehead. It's always seemed strange to me. With The Ohio State and Purdue both offering programs I guess it didn't feel as limited as it truly was.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Back in 2023 I wrote about the number of vet schools and the sudden incoming expansion, with at least *11 more* in the pipeline. That may not sound like many, but it would represent a 33% increase in just a few years!
One of the examples I provided was actually Murray State, which is looking to start their own program. I suspect this will cannibalize students from Auburn's enrollment both directly and indirectly (many AU students hail from even if they didn't participate in the formal partnership with Kentucky).
I'm not opposed to new schools per se, but we have to do it thoughtfully and not water down the standards in the process. Otherwise our pets and our own health may suffer.
And yes, it's a separate issue, but we legitimately do have a shortage of LVTs/RVTs. Maybe new schools would help, though I suspect the biggest barriers are the high educational cost and low financial return. Many of the people who might be interested in becoming vet techs end up going into nursing or become dental hygienists, which use similar skills but pay way better
You can read the original piece here: https://allscience.substack.com/p/an-explosion-of-vet-schools
Everything you're saying sounds valid to me, mostly techs don't make enough money, not generally and the cost of everything keeps rising. A 33% increase is a big increase! I'm not going to say it only happens to women because I've seen it used on sympathetic male veterinarians as well; this idea that if you were a "good" veterinarian you should somehow be willing to work not just for free but have miracle financing for all your education and equipment, plus rent and insurance etc. People who work with young children, teachers, animals, and the elderly as well. It's a real problem because many people choose these fields because they kind of WOULD do much of it for free but usually not the chores people are whining about. I've rarely really just felt compelled to express anal glands, lol.
Vets have long suffered from the “if you loved animals, you’d do it for free” guilt trip. You would never ask your dentist for a free root canal because they are “jazzed” about working on dirty teeth, and for sure people would not dare ask a mechanic or a plumber for a discount! Unfortunately, a lot of the smart college kids who are more money-motivated go into human medicine, law, MBA, finance, etc, so us bleeding hearts stay in caring-oriented professions like vetmed and the salaries stay relatively low :/
I've for whatever reason never been especially interested in making a lot of money, my feelings about it predate my politics, by years. I didn't exactly set myself on a goal to be a failure (although I'm sure it might appear thusly to some lol) it's just not a great motivator for me. I like providing necessary help, there are tons of positions in multiple fields but not one of them will make a living salary if you've got a family.
You’re in Philly?! For how long? Got time for a coffee?
Unfortunately just a one week stint, I fly out Saturday morning. But I may be back for a future locum! Will definitely need to plan better next time
No worries! Next time give me a shout, even if it’s just to drive you to or from the airport!
Dr. John H. Greve at Iowa State once told me that my DVM was a professional degree, not an academic degree like my thesis MS, or the PhD in veterinary pathology I was then busily pursuing. I didn't fully understand the difference until years later when I was working with several excellent board certified pathologists and realized that we had different approaches to the same medical problem. For example, they rarely asked "why" does this specific animal have this specific disease? Or "how" can we improve a diagnostic test? The AVMA is a professional organization. Good luck in getting them to usefully understand the importance of an academic approach to medicine.