State/Territory
Ohio
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Mercer, Auglaize, Shelby, Darke Counties
Shortage Location - May Serve
Logan, Allen, Hardin, Champaign, Van Wert Counties
Location Center
State Route 119 and State Route 716 Maria Stein, Ohio 45860
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
Dairy Cattle
Other Must Serve
May serve
Beef Cattle
Swine
Poultry
Small Ruminant
Other May Serve
Cervid/Equine
Employer
Position Title
Other disciplinary area
Carry Over
Nominator Name
Kristy Shaw
Nominator Title
Assistant State Veterinarian
Nominator Org
Ohio Department of Agriculture
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
614-507-5223
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
There is a need for large animal/mixed animal veterinary services in this area. Using data from 2023 USDA NASS, the nominated area has approximately 165,500 cattle, This four county area is 1873 square miles. Dairy cattle are a primary species for this area, but a wide variety of animal agriculture exists in this region including poultry, swine, beef cattle, and small ruminant. These four counties account for over 17% of the agricultural income for Ohio. These counties contain a mixture of commercial producers and backyard farmers with diverse needs.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
This veterinarian would most likely join or be retained within a large animal or mixed animal practice to provide preventative, diagnostic, treatment and surgical services to food animal producers as well as caring for small animals. This would include herd health, consultation on vaccination, nutrition, facility design, and client education. Emergency services are likely also needed to support the animals in the region. In addition to direct animal care, the veterinarian would serve as a source of information on herd health, be an early identifier of potential zoonotic diseases and foreign animal diseases (FAD), serve as an educator to 4-H and FFA members as well as the public, and contribute to the community. The veterinarian would be an advocate for agriculture to the consuming and interested public. Another aspect is the need to be USDA Category II accredited for involvement in state and federal disease programs (TB, Brucellosis, CWD, Scrapie, etc.) and for purposes of livestock movement across the nearby state border. Involvement with client education and animal disease traceability program (ADT), drug residue prevention, veterinary feed directive also allow additional opportunities for service. Veterinarians in this area are very likely to work with multiple species on a regular basis.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
There are two well established mixed animal practices in the area that are currently hiring. (AABP Job Postings). One posting has been listed since 2021. Loan repayment can help a practitioner become established or retained in this community. The pull of higher salaries and more flexible schedules in nearby urban areas is a threat to retention here, debt repayment can balance that. Veterinarians in this area regularly accept student externs to educate and familiarize the next generation of veterinarians for recruiting and educational purposes. There are more mixed animal practices than exclusive large animal practices in this area and more practitioners could balance the workload for all.
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
This region is a very productive agriculture area near the Ohio border, veterinarians are needed to monitor animal movement, be vigilant for diseases, and serve the local and state agricultural community. Producer education and improving animal health directly contributes to food safety in this region as animals are raised and processed for personal use as well as entering the broader food supply. Veterinarians serving in this area are often some of the most well educated and trusted resources that many members of the public and animal owners will meet. These relationships are vital not only for animal health but for their positive impact on public health. The farms in this area rely on regular veterinary care for prevention and management as well as routine services. Without a reliable supply of veterinarians to care for these animals, the economy and food supply will suffer. The high need is demonstrated by the active need and recruitment for veterinarians in this area, as well as retention to those already invested and familiar. Clinics in the area report having to turn away clients who call for service and being unable to extend the service radius due to need for more veterinarians.
Community Aspects
This area offers a rural lifestyle, low cost of living and beautiful scenery while being within an hour of Fort Wayne and Dayton and two hours to Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and Indianapolis for social, cultural, recreation and sporting events. The area boasts beautiful lakes for fishing and boating, and many outdoor activities available such as trails, hunting, and hiking. There are excellent schools in this region and a strong community atmosphere with frequent events and festivals. Ohio ranks 17th in agricultural income and among the top 11 states in the nation for eggs, turkeys, horses, swine, dairy, sheep and goats. Clinics in this region employ veterinarians with a deep breadth of experience to help with mentorship and future ownership potential.