Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Graduate Programs

Individuals pursing a graduate degree in veterinary medicine should ideally possess the following qualities:

• A desire to help animals
• Belief in animals’ rights to health and quality of life
• Able to work with animals and people (pet owners, zoo caretakers, etc.)
• Have an ability to “stomach” animal wounds and injuries and the side effects of diseases and illnesses
• Compassionate
• Able to take charge, make difficult decisions, and stand by their choices
• Work ethically, honestly, and with integrity

Many people who wish to work in the field of veterinary medicine think only of their love for animals. Keep in mind being a veterinarian sometimes may require you euthanize animals, witness the effects of abuse and neglect, and make difficult choices regarding their well-being.

Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Graduate Programs and Curriculum

In the United States, people who wish to work as veterinarians are required to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and obtain licensure from the state in which they want to practice medicine. Full time students typically earn their degree in 4-5 years. Most programs require students to complete a full year of rotations, practicing veterinary medicine under the supervision of licensed professionals in a variety of settings.

Most students pursuing a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as biology or the physical sciences, or they may be required to obtain a post-baccalaureate degree prior to applying to their chosen program. It may also be useful for individuals to gain experience in the field of veterinary medicine by working as paraveterinarians, or volunteering working at veterinary hospitals or clinics.

Graduate courses in veterinary medicine vary according to an individual’s concentration and the institutions program, general courses might include:

• General chemistry
• Organic chemistry
• Biochemistry
• General Biology
• Physics
• Mathematics

Students interested in earning a veterinary specialist degree might be required to take additional classes in their particular specialization as well as participate in additional internships, extensive research projects, and multi-year residencies. All of these requirements can add years to your education. If you do not wish to become a veterinary specialist, keep in mind you may still be required to complete a multi-year residency following completion of your graduate program.

Typically, once you have completed your graduate work, specialization work (if applicable) and residency, you will be eligible to test for state or board certification or licensure.

Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Career Paths

Doctors of Veterinary medicine typically work within a specialization. Areas of focus include:

• Food and Safety Inspection: Ensure animals and livestock involved in creating food sold to consumers meet government standards of safety.
• Research: Investigate new drug therapies, surgical techniques, and methods to prevent animal born diseases
• Equine: Diagnose and treat horses
• Food Animals: Diagnose and treat farm animals.
• Companion Animals: Diagnose and treat common household pets

Veterinarians can work in a variety of different settings, most commonly they work in private clinics or animal hospitals, but some may work in laboratories, universities, or in the field. Veterinarians are sometimes required to work outside of normal business hours to treat emergent cases.

Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Future Job Outlook

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010 veterinarians earned a median salary of $82,040/year. Veterinarians specializing in food animal exclusive practice earned a median salary of $71,096; those specializing in companion animal exclusive practice earned $69,789. Companion animal predominate practitioners earned a median salary of $69,654, while food animal predominant practitioners earned a median salary of $67,338. Mixed animal practitioners earned a median salary of $62,655 and equine specialists earned $43,405. The average annual wage for veterinarians employed by the federal government was $88,340. The field is expected to grow at a rate of 36 percent between 2010 and 2020 (much higher than the average rate of growth for most fields) with significant job growth in government and farm animal veterinary medicine.

Data according to

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm