Vets need to adapt to stay relevant, report says

Veterinarians will have to work hard to show pet owners and producers their services are still relevant as new technology emerges and globalization revs up, a new report says.

The report is the product of the Veterinary Futures Commission, a joint effort of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. It’s goal is to chart a course of action so the next generation of professionals will be prepared for the rapid changes affecting their work.

Veterinarians’ roles are shifting as new sources of medical care and modes of delivery become available. If the profession doesn’t adapt, vets could lose their role as a trusted authority on animal health, the report says. The profession could become less attractive for people considering careers in health care.

But by implementing new ways of educating young professionals, improving access to care in underserved markets, promoting team-based care, and encouraging diversity, the profession can stay relevant.

Collaboration will be key, not just within the profession but with other health-focused professions too. This is especially important as the global One Health movement grows, emphasizing the link between human, animal and environmental health. This will require communication between industries, organizations and governments, across national boundaries.

And in a field with a disproportionately high level of suicide, the holistic health of the veterinary profession will be important, the report’s authors say.

“The future may be unknown, but that doesn’t mean we as a profession can’t prepare for change,” said Dr. John Howe, president of the AVMA. “As the report makes clear, organized veterinary medicine can take steps to identify currents and trends and use those insights to determine how we can most effectively lead the profession into the future.”

“Because we prepare new generations of veterinarians, academic veterinary medicine has a special responsibility when it comes to planning,” said AAVMC President Dr. Michael Lairmore. “Accelerating change has become the new status quo in our profession, and we need to leverage that in a way that builds and sustains success.”

Readers interested in seeing the executive summary of the report can contact AVMA senior media relations specialist Michael San Filippo, at msanfilippo@avma.org.