A census of veterinarians in the United States

Frederic B. Ouedraogo 1Veterinary Economics Division, AVMA, 1931 N Meacham Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

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Bridgette Bain 1Veterinary Economics Division, AVMA, 1931 N Meacham Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

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Charlotte Hansen 1Veterinary Economics Division, AVMA, 1931 N Meacham Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

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Matthew Salois 1Veterinary Economics Division, AVMA, 1931 N Meacham Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173.
1Veterinary Economics Division, AVMA, 1931 N Meacham Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.255.2.183
Volume/Issue:
Volume 255: Issue 2
Online Publication Date:
15 Jul 2019
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Abstract

Analysis of the AVMA's electronic membership database provided information on 113,394 veterinarians living in the United States in 2018. At 39%, Millennials represented the highest percentage of the US veterinary workforce, and women (61.7%) outnumbered men (38.2%). Mean age at the time of graduation has increased since 1975, raising concerns that career length for veterinarians may be decreasing, potentially exacerbating veterinarian shortages. Overall, 83.9% of veterinarians were in private clinical practice, and substantial increases between 2008 and 2018 were seen in the numbers of veterinarians in emergency and critical care medicine and in referral or specialty practice.

Abstract

Analysis of the AVMA's electronic membership database provided information on 113,394 veterinarians living in the United States in 2018. At 39%, Millennials represented the highest percentage of the US veterinary workforce, and women (61.7%) outnumbered men (38.2%). Mean age at the time of graduation has increased since 1975, raising concerns that career length for veterinarians may be decreasing, potentially exacerbating veterinarian shortages. Overall, 83.9% of veterinarians were in private clinical practice, and substantial increases between 2008 and 2018 were seen in the numbers of veterinarians in emergency and critical care medicine and in referral or specialty practice.

Contributor Notes

Address correspondence to Dr. Ouedraogo (fouedraogo@avma.org).

This article has not undergone external peer review.

Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Publication Date:
15 Jul 2019

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