Personal characteristics, knowledge of the veterinary profession, and influences on career choice among students in the veterinary school applicant pool

摘要

In the late 1990s, the KPMG and Brakke studies were major research projects conducted to learn more about the profession of veterinary medicine. Both gave the profession high marks with respect to the depth of medical knowledge, the level of care for animals, and the quality of veterinary school education in veterinary science and medicine. In addition, in these times when scandal and greed have tarnished the image of many professions, veterinary medicine stood out for the high degree of respect afforded it by others. However, in stark contrast to the technical and ethical accolades, reports of both studies raised concerns about the economic health of the profession and the fit of its members to evolving practice demands and career opportunities. The income of veterinarians lost ground when compared with professions such as dentistry. Low starting salaries coupled with high educational debt, lack of attention to shifts in the nature of work from individual to multidisciplined teams, and changing roles for veterinarians were a few of the conditions that were mentioned as possible contributors to the economic conditions.