AVMA Echoes Calls for Getting More Veterinarians into High-Need Areas

After working with congressional offices and other stakeholders, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s advocacy work led to the reintroduction of the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act in the House and Senate. The bipartisan legislation would help recruit and retain veterinarians in underserved and rural areas. The AVMA strongly endorses the bill, which would expand the reach and maximize the allocated funding of the highly successful Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, which helps by assisting with the significant obstacle of educational debt. Earlier this year, the USDA declared 243 rural veterinary shortage areas in 46 states, which is the highest number of shortage areas ever. The Association says recruiting and retaining veterinarians through the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act is key to protecting our nation’s food supply, preserving animal welfare, and upholding public health. Livestock and public health veterinarians are essential to strengthening the nation’s animal health infrastructure and the animal agriculture economy.