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Texas A&M: School Meeting The Demand For More Veterinarians

Caitlin "Cait" Shields '11 November 16, 2018 2:43 PM updated: May 26, 2021 4:46 PM

Article submitted by Texas A&M Government Relations:

Just over 100 years ago, Texas A&M committed to having a veterinary program that produced world class veterinarians to meet the needs of our region, state, and nation. While much has changed at the Texas A&M Veterinary School in those 102 years, the mission remains the same.

Today, Texas A&M is continuing to meet the demand for world class veterinarians by investing almost $400 million for veterinary facilities and infrastructure in College Station since 2009, plus an investment by The Texas A&M University System of almost $100 million in the Panhandle. These investments have helped increase class size by 30 students, and provided new teaching facilities to increase Texas A&M’s statewide reach, with a goal of producing more veterinarians in a responsible way the job market will support.

Texas A&M is also meeting the state’s current need for more large scale, rural veterinarians (especially in West Texas), by partnering with West Texas A&M University for a targeted, innovative pipeline program that has already doubled the number of Panhandle-area students entering vet school. Through the WTAMU pipeline, 19 Panhandle area students have already entered vet school. In fact, WTAMU is now the largest producer of veterinary students in Texas, apart from Texas A&M.

Another part of Texas A&M’s strategy to produce more large scale, rural veterinarians is to recruit and mentor rural area students, like San Saba, Texas, native Dr. Chase Key '13, who are interested in returning to practice in rural communities after graduating. Dr. Key was a 2017 Food Animal Track DVM graduate, specifically trained for beef cattle and food production medicine, and is now practicing at the Muleshoe Animal Clinic in Muleshoe, Texas.

Even before graduation, Dr. Key was looking forward to practicing in rural Texas: “It’s a way to help your community.” Key said he feels most comfortable in a small town where everyone knows their neighbors, and looks forward to knowing the Muleshoe community and making farm calls to care for sick or injured animals.

After 102 years, Texas A&M continues to meet the demand for world-class veterinarians. To learn more about Texas A&M’s efforts to meet the current demand for more large scale, rural veterinarians in West Texas, visit here

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