State/Territory
Idaho
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Franklin/Bear Lake/Caribou County, Idaho
Shortage Location - May Serve
Location Center
Montpelier, ID 83254
VSGP Status
Open
VMLRP Status
(Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program)
Open
Priority of shortage
High
Fiscal year
Percent FTE
(Full Time Equivalent, based on a 40hr work week.)
30
Type of Shortage
(Veterinary Practice Area / Discipline / Specialty)
Type II Shortage: Private Practice – Rural Area Food Animal Medicine
Must serve
Beef Cattle
Other Must Serve
May serve
Dairy Cattle
Small Ruminant
Other May Serve
Employer
Position Title
Other disciplinary area
Carry Over
Nominator Name
Scott Leibsle
Nominator Title
State Veterinarian
Nominator Org
Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
208.332.8540
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
This 3-county area in SE Idaho (3,516 sq. miles) has had great difficulty recruiting and retaining vets. In Dec. 2020 a mixed animal practice closed its' doors after only being in the valley for 3 years. A solo practitioner has been looking for a successor for multiple years (still without candidates) to facilitate their retirement and another existing solo practitioner has been advertising for an associate for over two (2) years with no success. The only mixed animal clinic in the area lost a vet over a year ago, with no replacement found, as of yet. These fluctuations have left a strain on both large animal and small animal clients to find and meet their veterinary needs. Owners have been left to seek out veterinary care in neighboring states that are a much further distance away than current veterinary clinics within the area. Specifically the beef cattle and small ruminant farms are in great need of consistent veterinary care with the ability to respond to emergencies in a timely manner. This area is home to over 89,000 head of mostly beef cattle and over 8,000 sheep and lambs. (NASS 2023) As this area serves a portion of Idaho's Designated Surveillance Area for brucellosis. In 2023, three (3) new brucellosis herds were identified, which will require extensive testing and management, so it is critical to attract and retain qualified veterinarians to fill the needs in this area to maintain the agricultural and economic stability of this region.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
Beef (cow/calf and feedlot) Herd Health and veterinary medical/surgical services.
Trichomoniasis testing (Idaho has identified multiple cases of Trich in this region of the state in the last 2 years. Demand for testing has skyrocketed)
Sheep/Goat Herd Health, veterinary medical/surgical services.
As this area serves a portion of Idaho's Designated Surveillance Area for brucellosis, veterinarians are intimately involved in brucellosis control activities ie; brucellosis vaccination, testing and education.
Idaho is a large dairy production state and veterinarians conduct TB/brucellosis testing regularly on dairies.
While an important aspect of the veterinarian's life is built around one's day-to-day practice, it is equally important to be involved in one's
community. During the "business" part of the day, a rural mixed animal practitioner can be found providing a variety of veterinary services
expected with a rural lifestyle. One may be pregnancy checking a cow one minute, providing birthing assistance to a ewe the next, and
issuing a CVI the next, all the while diligently keeping watch for epidemiological veterinary health concerns.
A rural veterinary lifestyle does not end with the "work day". Many veterinarians serve on local community boards, are involved with civic
groups, and are leaders in their communities. Service opportunities, both veterinary and non-veterinary, surround the rural veterinary lifestyle.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
Advertisements in professional magazines such as JAVMA and Bovine Practitioner
• Advertisements in State VMA newsletter and website
• Postings on job boards at veterinary meetings & veterinary colleges
• AVMA matching program
• Networking within veterinary community, allied (pharmaceutical) and animal industry personnel
• Contacting veterinary colleges
• Offering externships to veterinary students
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
The following are areas of potential concern / risks given the agricultural base of the community:
• Control of regulated diseases such as Brucellosis, Tuberculosis and Trichomoniasis.
The necessity of vigilant surveillance and active prevention of such diseases is inherently obvious. Given the risk of reappearance of these
diseases in Idaho; the need to protect from zoonotic disease and avert the economically devastating consequences of such diseases must be
of priority. This is of particular importance as this area includes a portion of Idaho's Designated Surveillance Area for brucellosis.
• Public safety
Rural communities often "grow their own food source" Many residents are hobby farmers who raise small numbers of cattle, sheep and goats
for home consumption. Providing adequate veterinary care for these animals is fundamental to the health of the rural Idaho family.
• Minimizing Disease Transmission
Beef management practices in Idaho necessitate grazing of cattle on public range lands. Although this practice is fundamental to the producer's
viability, it allows for commingling of cattle and potential for disease transmission as well as the risk of exposure to affected wildlife. The risk of disease transmission is accentuated by this areas proximity to Idaho's Designated Surveillance Area for brucellosis. Providing access to qualified veterinary care and diligent surveillance programs are critical to minimizing this risk.
With the aging of the current food animal veterinary workforce, it is critical that we take steps to maintain the availability of qualified food animal
veterinarians in this area into the future.
Community Aspects
Southeast (SE) Idaho is centrally located between Salt Lake City Utah and the popular vacation destinations of Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Wyoming. With over 200 days of sunshine per year, SE Idaho has much to offer across all four seasons. If you love the outdoors, one of the wonderful things about SE Idaho is being able to get outside any time of year. Play in the water, climb, hike, and ride in the warmer months and then ski, snowshoe, or ride the powder in the colder months. Hiking to a hidden mountain lake, exploring miles of hiking and biking trails, visiting the Idaho Potato Museum and ending the day with a hot spring soak are all within reach in SE Idaho. History seekers will find sites and museums connected to the Oregon Trail throughout this area as well as the Fort Hall Replica. For a different point of view, indoor entertainment—art, museums, concerts, great food, and shopping—are available as well. What can't be expressed with words and pictures is the relaxed and friendly people you'll meet, the wide-open spaces and stunning scenery, and the experiences you'll treasure for years to come. For more information on SE Idaho go to: https://visitidaho.org/regions/southeast/