Page 4A THE BEACON May 2018
Veterinary Science Impact on Human Health Often Overlooked
Continued from page 1A willing to do more … veterinary medicine has progressed so now for just about every human specialty , you have a veterinary equivalent ... Probably in the ‘ 70s or there about the emphasis went away from agriculture to companion animals and that ’ s when in the ‘ 80s the pet became a family member .”
The American Board of Veterinary Specialists recognizes fields such as Dentistry , Oncology , and Dermatology , but Food Animal Practice is a specialty where the need is acute . While the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program may reimburse qualified student loans up to $ 25,000 annually , those funds can be taxable – the responsibility of the recipient .
Dr . Robinson says , “ It ’ s all over the veterinary news and talked about at the vet schools , it ’ s huge … the USDA has identified areas around the country that are underserved … Southeast Indiana is under served for food animal veterinary medicine .”
Dr . Quammen agrees , “ I don ’ t have the stats in Indiana , but I know there are five underserved regions in Kentucky . It ’ s a little bleak at the moment .”
Veterinary science ’ s impact on human health is often overlooked . While many people are familiar with diseases such as rabies , toxoplasma , or Chronic Wasting Disease in deer , veterinarians remain alert for all zoonotic threats . Dr . Hubbard says , “ West Nile was discovered by a veterinarian in New York City … even though people don ’ t think about animals being other than pets , in our food supply they can also be a potential for disease in people … we treat animals for listeria … anthrax is just part of the life in certain areas of the country ... so food supply veterinary medicine is an extremely important part of the medical field , not just the pet area .”
People enter veterinary school because it ’ s a way to put their affinity for math and science to good use or have
Many people , like Luna ’ s owners , consider their pets to be members of their families .
Photos by Susan Ray
a career that includes their love of animals , while others believe veterinary medicine is their calling . Dr . Quammen says , “ The demographics of the profession have changed … at most schools across the country , the average is eighty percent women , twenty percent men .”
Dr . Robinson says , “ Thirty to forty years ago , it was the opposite … I think part of that , there ’ s less and less men who want to get in .”
“ In our profession , the economic side of it as of two years ago ,” says Dr . Quammen .” … if you were a man who received a bachelor ’ s degree and went to vet school , the debt you would incur versus the money you would make over the long haul is less than if you had a bachelor ’ s degree only - and it ’ s not the same for women at this point .”
Dr . Robinson agrees , saying , “ The debt to income ratio , that ’ s a big problem . It ’ s in all the magazines ; it ’ s talked about all the time .” He continues , “ I just got information from Purdue : About 15 students out of the 80 or 85 that graduated last year did not have debt , but that leaves 65 that have $ 100,000 , $ 200,000 , or sometimes it goes up to $ 300,000 . It ’ s ridiculous .”
Dr . Hubbard says , “ One thing about veterinary medicine that the general public is ignorant of is we ’ re not a bunch of Bubba ’ s ; we didn ’ t go to cow college . Getting into vet school is harder than getting into med school . Veterinary medicine is underrated by the general public .”
Like human medicine , animal medicine continues to
Dr . Jennifer Quammen cofounded High Performance Living out of concern for the well being of her peers .
A vet for almost 40 years , Dr . Harley Robinson says , “ I liked animals . I liked science . And I kind of put the two together .”
evolve . Sophisticated tools such as MRIs and CAT scans are now considered reasonable procedures for injured animals ; radiation and chemotherapy are available options for pets , and increasingly , doctors and clients are choosing alternative practices and medicines . Mark Haverkos , D . V . M . is a holistic practitioner , specializing in veterinary acupuncture , chiropractic care , and homeopathy . While a student at Ohio State University , he felt that there should be something more to offer patients beyond conventional veterinary medicine . Following graduation , Dr . Haverkos worked with the animals of the Hopi , Lakota , Sioux , and Navajo people . He says , “ I spent six years out there , basically learning alternative stuff , perfecting my acupuncture and learning homeopathy , herbal medicine , and things like that , so when I came here in 1989 , I already had a protocol in place . Nobody around here was really doing alternative
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