State/Territory
Minnesota
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Minnesota
Shortage Location - May Serve
Location Center
St. Paul, MN
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
Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Position Title
Pathologist
Other disciplinary area
Veterinary Pathology
Carry Over
Nominator Name
Courtney Wheeler
Nominator Title
Assistant Director
Nominator Org
Minnesota Board of Animal Health
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
612-756-2810
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
The primary objective of this shortage situation is to continue to provide invaluable food animal pathology services to producers throughout the state. The Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) along with the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory serve as Minnesota's official diagnostic laboratory. The VDL is a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) and partners with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Veterinary Services (VS), Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH), Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and industry organizations to enhance early detection of and effective and rapid response to domestic and foreign animal disease outbreaks. As Minnesota's only full-service laboratory for animal health diagnosis, the VDL performs diagnostic procedures for more than 900,000 livestock species annually. The VDL has been unable to retain veterinary professionals to maintain the superior level of expertise, collaboration, and customer service that state and federal agencies, animal industry representatives and Minnesota producers have come to rely on.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
The veterinarian meeting this shortage situation will perform necropsies, describe histological lesions, interpret laboratory results, and prepare diagnostic reports. A pathologist in this position is expected to build relationships with federal and state animal health officials, veterinarians, producers, and producer groups in the region through regular and consistent interaction and outreach. This position will commit greater than 50% effort to recognize, investigate and diagnose disease outbreaks and conduct research projects affecting food/fiber animals. Activities will also include instructing and mentoring veterinary students and residents interested in careers in production medicine. Veterinarians in this position receive training in diagnosis of foreign animal diseases at the USDA's Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
This shortage situation has been previously nominated but not filled. There are still a limited number of veterinary pathologists available for recruitment with less than 2,000 veterinarians out of more than 14,000 veterinary specialists serving in the profession nationwide (AVMA Market Research Data 2021). The VMLRP program is critical in retention of faculty who wish to develop a career in public diagnostic service to the food animal industry.
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
Maintaining veterinary expertise at the VDL is critical for the health of Minnesota's food animal population and the nation's food supply. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health registration data estimates that there are more than 80,000 livestock premises in the state; more than 15,000 with poultry, more than 30,000 with cattle and more than 8,000 with swine that will continue to benefit from this position. Veterinary pathologists are often the first to identify emerging diseases in food animals and play a critical role in human and animal health. This position is invaluable in providing services in support of federal and state disease surveillance programs and foreign animal disease monitoring and reporting. Failure to train qualified food animal diagnostic pathologists will have a substantial negative impact on animal health and food safety.
Community Aspects
St. Paul has a great educational system, a beautiful, historic downtown area, clean streets and gorgeous parks, a host of neighborhoods and the best in cultural experiences. The city is within a short driving distance to many state parks and attractions. The veterinarian in this position will work at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine which will present multiple opportunities to mentor veterinary students, pursue specialized training and conduct research.