Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, Vol 35, Issue 2, 148-149
DOI: 10.3138/jvme.35.2.148
Copyright © 2008 by Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Public-Health Training for Veterinarians |
Veterinary Medicine Is Public Health
Michael J. Blackwell•
Rebecca L. Leap
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ABSTRACT
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The symposium Partnerships for Preparedness: Future Directions of Schools of Public Health and Colleges of Veterinary Medicine documents the importance of further integration between the fields of veterinary medicine and public health to protect our nation from public-health emergencies. Current areas targeted for improved collaboration include academic programs, public policy, workforce training, and research.
Key Words: veterinary medicine • public health • veterinary education
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THE SYMPOSIUM
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The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and the Association of Schools of Public Health recently sponsored the first joint symposium on public health and veterinary medicine, held in April 2007. This event was driven by the mutual understanding that gaps between the two professions impede our ability to improve our nation's preparedness for public-health emergencies. Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, as well as threats of bio- and agro-terrorism, can be addressed effectively only through better collaboration among health disciplines. The contents of the papers presented at this symposium and appearing in this issue of the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education represent an important step toward more effective collaboration.
Four general areas for improved collaboration have been identified: academic programs, public policy, workforce training, and research. The symposium shed light on the efforts of current veterinary programs to enhance public-health training by providing joint degree programs and improving public-health instruction within the veterinary curriculum. Additional sessions addressed the advantages of having colleges of veterinary medicine and schools of public health pursuing opportunities to improve public policy in the areas of zoonotic disease surveillance, food safety, and the One Health initiative.1 In addition, sessions on workforce training highlighted the current shortage of individuals in veterinary medicine and public health as well as current and future employment opportunities in these areas. Lastly, research sessions addressed the contributions of both veterinary medicine and public health in areas such as zoonotic diseases and the One Health initiative.
Over the past century we have learned that many pathogens are shared among animals and humans. Of the diseases of most concern today, especially given the possibility of intentional infection of people and animals, approximately 75% are zoonotic.2 Clearly, any effort to conduct effective surveillance and monitoring and to diagnose these diseases accurately and rapidly must include veterinarians. The front line of defense of human health is found in most places where veterinarians practice each day, whether as private or as public practitioners. Veterinarians serve as a surveillance system by diagnosing, monitoring, and controlling diseases in animal populations. Approximately 63% of veterinarians are engaged in private clinical practice.3 Veterinarians in food-animal medicine are more often on the front line of defense because their knowledge and skills are applied directly to safeguarding the supply of animal products. These veterinarians help ensure the protection of our vital animal-agriculture economy, which in 2001 constituted 12.3% of the nation's gross domestic product.4 However, we must also recognize the role of companion-animal veterinarians in the control of numerous zoonotic diseases that potentially threaten human well-being through contact with companion animals.
Veterinarians engaged in public practice currently represent only 20% of all veterinarians in the United States, and even fewer are engaged in research.5,6 Veterinarians employed in regulatory medicine are essential to the protection of the nation's food system. Individuals in these positions assist with the development, implementation, and enforcement of regulations to provide safe and reasonably priced food while also protecting the environment. Although advancements in the nation's health have been due in part to regulatory medicine, improved communication among agencies and diagnostic laboratories is necessary to further decrease the nation's vulnerability. Coupled with these advancements is the urgent need to train more veterinarians in all fields. Yet our veterinary classrooms are at capacity. Unless more financial support is provided for veterinary colleges and schools, especially through federal funding, the current shortage of veterinarians will grow more serious. Of particular concern is the likely decrease in the number of veterinarians engaged in regulatory and food-animal medicine: at least 40% of graduating veterinarians currently enter companion-animal practice, while only about 14% enter large- or mixed-animal practice and less than 3% pursue regulatory medicine.3 Without new efforts in recruitment and changes in veterinary medical curricula, this misdistribution is likely to worsen.
The relationship between humans and animals is continually evolving, which places private-practice veterinarians in a vital position to influence public health. The One Health initiative promoted by Roger Mahr, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, is devoted to improving the health of all species through the effective integration of human and veterinary medicine as well as public health.1,7 Yet the low numbers of veterinarians currently entering the field of public health impedes the One Health initiative. To alleviate the current shortage, 500 of the approximate 2,500 veterinary students who graduate each year would need to enter public-health practice.6 At present, however, only 17 of the 28 DVM programs in the United States also offer students an opportunity to earn a Master of Public Health degree. It is important that the remainder consider such training opportunities for their state and region. Schools and colleges of public health must work with veterinary colleges and schools to help eliminate this deficit.
The links among animals, veterinarians, and public health have never been more critical, largely because of the rise of complex multinational food-production systems and increased awareness of the human–animal bond. Recent events such as the contamination of dog food with melamine, which crossed over into the human food system; the contamination of spinach with E. coli 0157:H7 of animal origin; and the ongoing threat of pandemic influenza as a result of avian influenza demonstrate the vulnerability of both human and animal health. The role of veterinarians in the protection of community health is vital, whether through research and development, in securing the nation's food supply, or through controlling disease in domestic animals. Veterinary medical curricula must continue to evolve to address these demands, and there must be improved collaboration between the veterinary and public-health professions.
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Footnotes
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AUTHOR INFORMATION
Michael J. Blackwell, DVM, MPH, is Assistant Surgeon General (Ret.); former Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee; and currently President and CEO of Blackwell Consulting, LLC, 7429 Lawford Road, Knoxville, TN 37919-8178. E-mail: mblackwellgroup{at}mac.com.
Rebecca L. Leap is a second-year veterinary student, currently pursuing a parallel degree in veterinary public health, at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, 2407 River Drive, A102 VTH, Knoxville, TN 37996-4550 USA.
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REFERENCES
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- Task force to study one-health initiative: individuals from health science professions, academia, government, industry expected to participate. J Am Vet Med Assoc 230: 1434–1439, 2007.
- Marano N, Pappiaoanou M. Historical, new, and reemerging links between human and animal health. Emerg Infect Dis 10: 2065–2066, 2004.[Medline]
- American Veterinary Medical Association [AVMA] Market research statistics: first year employment—2007, AVMA <http://www.avma.org/reference/marketstats/1yremploy.asp>. 2008.
- US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service [ERS]. Food market structures: The U.S. food and fiber system. <http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodmarketstructures/foodandfiber.htm>ERS, n.d.
- National Research Council. National Need and Priorities for Veterinarians in Biomedical Research. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2004.
- Hoblet K, Maccabe A, Heider L. Veterinarians in population health and public practice: meeting critical national needs. J Vet Med Educ 30: 287–294, 2003.[Free Full Text]
- One World, One Health [OWOH]. OWOH home page <http://www.oneworldonehealth.org/>OWOH, n.d.
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ABSTRACT
THE SYMPOSIUM
