The Profession of Veterinary Medicine
Professional Career Development
Veterinary Science
Extension Veterinary Medicine
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Texas A&M System
http://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 Development
Doctor 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 Preparation
Pre-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

Professional Preparation






Leadership activities
Citizenship activities
Veterinary experience
Animal experience
Academic rigor
Course loads
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
Sci GPA
L45 hrs GPA
GRE



Analytical - 25
Quantitative - 25
Verbal - 10
40 points
40 points
40 points
60 points
 Professional Preparation Score – 120 points






Veterinary experience
Animal experience
Course load
Academic rigor
Background
Interview score
16 points
12 points
12 points
12 points
28 points
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 Development
Veterinary 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 Development
Veterinary 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