The following information is a step-by-step guide for State Animal Health Officials (SAHOs) and their staff to prepare and submit veterinary shortage situation area nominations. These nominations fill the growing need for food supply veterinarians to serve in areas identified by them within their state for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). The goal of the VMLRP is to encourage food supply veterinarians to serve in areas across the U.S. that have the most serious veterinary shortage situations in exchange for veterinary education loan repayment.