World facing shortage of large-animal veterinarians
The United States is facing a shortage of large-animal veterinarians that could jeopardize the nation's food supply, and result in diseases spreading from animals to humans, according to a veterinary scientist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. All veterinary fields have looming shortages both nationally and internationally, said David Wolfgang, field studies director and senior research associate in veterinary and biomedical sciences. Perhaps most worrisome, he suggests, is the growing scarcity of "public-sector" veterinarians, who are involved in the care and treatment of livestock, the eradication of threatening diseases, and the monitoring of food safety and quality with state and federal agencies. (more)