Veterinary medicine contributes $3.3 billion to New Engla...(l veterinarians. Over a quarter of the ...),Health

Date:6/3/2008

l veterinarians. Over a quarter of the region's more than 100 specialized food animal veterinarians will reach retirement age by 2014. With current levels of food animal graduates, the Cummings School will be positioned to replace only half of these vacancies. Overall, 43 percent of New England veterinarians are over age 50; by contrast, 56 percent of livestock veterinarians are over age 50. Until 2014, the study suggests, food animal veterinarians will retire at nearly twice the rate of their companion animal colleagues. With the critical role that food animal veterinarians play in protecting the nation's food supply, this shortage is especially alarming.

"This study confirms the importance and economic impact of veterinary medicine in Massachusetts and New England," said Deborah T. Kochevar, DVM, PhD, dean of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. "Cummings School is proud to serve the citizens of this region by educating veterinary professionals, advancing biomedical research, and serving as a clinical and public health resource for animals and their owners."

The study was supported by the Veterinary Medical Associations of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, the New England Veterinary Medical Association and InTown Veterinary Group. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., was the study's lead industry sponsor.

"In order to best understand the health of the animals in New England, we need to understand the industry that cares for them," said Dr. Christine Jenkins, Director of Academic Affairs at Hill's Pet Nutrition, the study's lead industry sponsor. "This study does just thatand we hope it sheds light on the growing need for veterinarians in the workforce to ensure the care and safety of animals in the region."

The study also revealed interesting findings in each state of New England. Among them:

• Massachusetts has New England's biggest veterinary scient
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Contact: Tom Keppeler tom.keppeler@tufts.edu 508-839-7910 Tufts University, Health Sciences Source:Eurekalert

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