Addressing the Critical Shortage
of Rural and Food-Systems
Veterinarians in America

Veterinarian delivering a checkup at a farm

Systems Solutions Designed to Scale for Impact:

A NATIONAL PROGRAM OF

Farm Journal Foundation provides a series of tangible solutions to address the structural challenges facing the food-animal veterinary industry, including expanding the role of universities and partners to increase opportunities for supporting a robust pipeline of veterinary professionals. Above all, the underlying spirit of this proposal and project framework is based upon centralizing knowledge and resources to enable collaboration across sectors.

Veterinary Workforce Solutions Program

Veterinary Solutions Mapping Group

Advisory coalition of leaders from veterinary medicine, academia, and the agriculture industry that meets regularly to inform our programming, elevate ideas, and recommend new initiatives.

1

Veterinary Education Pipeline Program

Series of learning content tailored to high school, undergrad, and veterinary medical students, as well as early career professionals, aimed at increasing financial and business literacy and preparing aspiring veterinarians for rural, food-systems careers.

2

State Readiness Program

Analyzes state-level data to understand local drivers of veterinary shortages and makes tailored recommendations so that states can address workforce challenges.

3

Veterinary Ambassador Program

Core group of thought leaders who serve as champions for addressing the rural veterinary shortage issue and speak directly with key decision makers and audiences to increase awareness and drive solutions.