State/Territory
Nevada
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Southern and Eastern Nevada encompassing Lincoln and Eastern Nye Counties
Shortage Location - May Serve
Eastern Clark County
Location Center
Pioche, NV
VSGP Status
Open
VMLRP Status
(Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program)
Open
Priority of shortage
Critical
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
Small Ruminant
Other Must Serve
May serve
Dairy Cattle
Swine
Poultry
Other May Serve
Equine
Employer
Position Title
Other disciplinary area
Carry Over
Nominator Name
Peter Mundschenk DVM
Nominator Title
Nevada State Veterinarian
Nominator Org
Nevada Department of Agriculture
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
725-325-0651
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
This position would fill a critical shortage in central Nevada encompassing nearly 23,000 square miles without any resident veterinarians. Producers in these areas must routinely rely on veterinarians practicing out of Utah, Ely, Nevada or even Las Vegas, Nevada (which has been increasingly difficult to find availability). Highways 95, 6, 378, and 93 are major livestock movement corridors across Nevada and throughout the western states. There are over 60,000 head of beef cattle, and over 10,000 head of sheep in this area. The addition of a new swine facility in southern Lincoln county has also greatly increased the need for a large animal practitioner able to service the swine industry, in this area. The risk of a wide-spread disease outbreak is a concern, as a result of the lack of veterinarians in the area, and many producers failing to comply with veterinary inspection requirements. This veterinarian would help serve no less than four sheep producers, dozens of beef operations, and one scrap feeding facility. This position will serve a critical role in aiding state animal health officials to expand the use of RFID in sheep and cattle operations as well.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
This veterinarian will routinely visit Native American tribes, providing services related to zoonotic diseases(s), such as rabies vaccinations. Basic herd health for small ruminants, swine, and beef cattle will also be routine for this position. A small animal component in other nearby community will supplement the practice as many clients need to travel for veterinary services. This veterinarian will provide services to several commuter herds that travel into and adjacent to, the Greater Yellowstone Area. The necessary testing and surveillance of these herds for TB and Brucellosis is an activity that will protect this area, the state, and the entire region from a potential disease event. Given the recent disease developments in the swine industry, increased attention to swine health and early disease diagnosis is imperative in this region of the state. This veterinarian will provide diagnostic services through in-house testing, post-mortem investigations, and sample submissions.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
This area has primarily been covered by veterinarians based out of either Utah or other areas in Nevada, with the lack of rural veterinarians, Nevada legislature just passed legislation to help offset cost of education if graduates come back to practice in Nevada for a period of time. Hopefully this will attract veterinarians that could utilize the VMLRP to pay off education debt.
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
With multiple US Highways crossing this area, there is an increased risk of not only disease introduction, but rapid dissemination. As outlined above, this area is home to herds that routinely commute to other states including the GYA. The risk of reintroduction of brucellosis and TB into this area is greater than other areas in the state. With Nevada being an export state, any negative impact in exports will have Nevada, there has also been in increase in backyard flocks associated with these residents. Major migratory flyways of wildlife cross eastern Nevada. The risk of an undetected outbreak of Avian Influenza or virulent Newcastle Disease is high without regular preventative veterinary care, management, and diagnostics. Major highways and travel volume allow easy access to larger population centers, increasing the risks of rapid disease spread if an avian disease outbreak were to occur. Nevada's federally owned lands provide grazing for nearly half a million cattle and large numbers of sheep. These animals are important to both the cattle and sheep industries in the United States. Having healthy herds is extremely important and required in order to allow for the multiple use mandate on federal lands where interactions with wildlife are possible. Large herds of migrating mule deer, antelope, and elk are present across this area. Protecting public health is a major component in domestic and wildlife interactions.
Community Aspects
This is an area for the outdoor enthusiast with federal lands for off-road and four wheeling as well as multiple areas for hiking, horseback riding and hunting. It is close to several state parks which include Cathedral Gorge State Park. Las Vegas is less than a 3 hour drive for entertainment and night life. It is about 2 hours out of St. George, Utah which has numerous outdoor activities and host and Ironman Triathlon as well as multiple shopping opportunities.