State/Territory
Kentucky
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Geographic area within the State of Kentucky
Shortage Location - May Serve
Location Center
109 Corporate Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601
VSGP Status
Unavailable
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.)
49
Type of Shortage
(Veterinary Practice Area / Discipline / Specialty)
Type III Shortage: Public Practice
Other Must Serve
Other May Serve
Employer
Kentucky Dept. of Agriculture
Position Title
Veterinarian
Disciplinary area
Epidemiology
Other disciplinary area
Animal Health & Emergency Preparedness
Carry Over
Nominator Name
R. Steve Velasco III DVM, MBA
Nominator Title
Ky. State Veterinarian
Nominator Org
Ky. Dept. of Agriculture
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
(502) 782-5913
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
According to the National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS) Annual Bulletin, Kentucky ranks 8th in beef cattle, 7th in poultry broiler, and 20th in hog and pig market value demonstrating a significant contribution to the national food production system. This nomination includes a position held by a veterinarian with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) as a regulatory Veterinarian. The objective of this nomination is to improve the ability of the Office of State Veterinarian and the Department to hire and retain a highly skilled and high performing veterinarian in a critical regulatory position. The Department currently has two vacancies for veterinarians. Kentucky is seeing dramatic changes in animal agriculture. The traditional beef and dairy farm, which dominated for decades, is being replaced by swine, poultry, sheep and goats. These smaller niche farmers need additional assistance to understand disease control programs, on farm food safety, and even basic animal management. It is important that new and progressive thinking veterinarians fill these roles to address the advancing technology and management of the Kentucky producer.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
The veterinarian will serve to administer and enforce a variety of animal health, food safety, public health programs and participate in epidemiological investigations. The veterinarian will assist in activities associated with animal disease traceability. This individual will assist with activities associated with federal animal disease control programs, including but not limited to brucellosis, tuberculosis, pseudorabies, CWD and scrapie. The veterinarian will ensure stockyards, buying stations, dealers, rendering plants, livestock and poultry premises comply with state regulations. In another expanding role, activities surrounding the expansion of Secure Food Program, Swine Health Improvement Plan and the National Poultry Improvement Program are projected to be a focus as the Office of State Veterinarian plans to place more effort into prevention efforts. The veterinarian would be expected to contribute to outreach and education of all industry stakeholders as well as participating in all levels of emergency preparedness and response activities within the state.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
This area has been included as an identified shortage area in the past, but to date remains a High Priority veterinary shortage area in Kentucky. Although active recruitment to fill positions in the area are ongoing, the acute shortage of recent graduates willing to practice Large Animal / Food Animal Regulatory Medicine to fill this position, coupled with the competition in the marketplace in general and particularly recruitment into Small Animal Practices has inhibited the ability of the local Mixed and Large Animal veterinary practices to fill their important and necessary Food Animal / Large Animal positions available at this time. This puts further competition stress to fill the Large Animal / Food Animal Regulatory Position available.
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
Fiscal and personnel limitations at the state level continue to tax critical state animal health functions especially recently during the challenges of the incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza and two natural disasters (tornado of 2021 and floods of 2022). We see the lack of experienced, highly proficient, highly productive and technically expert members of our professional veterinary staff as placing our animal disease control capabilities and emergency response efforts at considerable risk. It has been increasingly difficult to find highly qualified and high performing regulatory veterinarians and even more difficult to incentivize them to enter the state and stay long term. This award can provide a hiring and retention incentive to an individual who has demonstrated interest in our animal health protection efforts that otherwise might not be fully reflected through salary, benefits and existing performance incentives. Its availability would also serve as an added incentive to talented young veterinarians seeking employment with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
Community Aspects
In order for a veterinarian to enjoy longevity of practice in a rural animal setting, a work-life balance is essential. Sometimes that balance involves outdoor recreational activities, like hiking or boating. Hike in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Boat along the Ohio or Cumberland rivers. Camp on the shores of Cave Run Lake. Other times the critical down time may include various trendy restaurants, live music or world class sporting events found in a nearby city. Take in a concert in Bowling Green. Enjoy a new restaurant in Louisville. Maybe experience a basketball game in Lexington. Choices for fun and relaxation are plentiful. Kentucky also offers a wide variety of community activities that minimize the rigors of daily practice life. Be local and be involved with your friendly neighbors with the joys of holiday parades and the plethora of small-town festivals during the spring and fall. Your new friends will support your professional journey as you cheer on the high school team. Life outside the practice world awaits you in Kentucky.