Survey of veterinary extension in the United States

William M. Sischo From the Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Teaching and Research Center, University of California, Tulare, CA 93274-5500 (Sischo); Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5415 (Floyd); Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (McKean); and the Department of Veterinary Science, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-3711 (Hueston).

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James G. Floyd From the Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Teaching and Research Center, University of California, Tulare, CA 93274-5500 (Sischo); Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5415 (Floyd); Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (McKean); and the Department of Veterinary Science, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-3711 (Hueston).

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James D. McKean From the Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Teaching and Research Center, University of California, Tulare, CA 93274-5500 (Sischo); Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5415 (Floyd); Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (McKean); and the Department of Veterinary Science, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-3711 (Hueston).

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William D. Hueston From the Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Teaching and Research Center, University of California, Tulare, CA 93274-5500 (Sischo); Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5415 (Floyd); Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (McKean); and the Department of Veterinary Science, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-3711 (Hueston).

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Objective

To assess veterinary extension in the United States as perceived by veterinary extension personnel.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Sample Population

Extension veterinarians in the United States.

Procedure

2 surveys were designed and mailed to extension veterinarians listed by the USDA and the American Association of Extension Veterinarians.

Results

34 states had ≥ 1 extension veterinarian. The majority (> 60%) of extension veterinarians did not commit time to resident education and were not involved in research activities. Paradoxically, 23% of responding extension veterinarians did not report extension work. Programs for food animal producers, horse owners, and companion animal owners were provided by 100, 63, and 37% of states, respectively. Continuing education (CE) programs were provided for food animal veterinarians, equine veterinarians, and companion animal veterinarians by 96, 63, and 52% of states, respectively. Challenges facing veterinary extension included limited recognition of veterinary extension activities by universities, lack of university personnel to support CE programs, and decreased support for companion animal extension programs.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Extension veterinarians need to identify and clearly articulate the mission of veterinary extension, develop more collaborative programs across regions, and continue to serve as catalysts to bring diverse constituents together. Extension veterinarians must distinguish their mission not solely as information transfer, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways outside of extension, but as a coherent and consistent program of education and policy developed on a national level and distributed locally. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999;215:1439–1443)

Objective

To assess veterinary extension in the United States as perceived by veterinary extension personnel.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Sample Population

Extension veterinarians in the United States.

Procedure

2 surveys were designed and mailed to extension veterinarians listed by the USDA and the American Association of Extension Veterinarians.

Results

34 states had ≥ 1 extension veterinarian. The majority (> 60%) of extension veterinarians did not commit time to resident education and were not involved in research activities. Paradoxically, 23% of responding extension veterinarians did not report extension work. Programs for food animal producers, horse owners, and companion animal owners were provided by 100, 63, and 37% of states, respectively. Continuing education (CE) programs were provided for food animal veterinarians, equine veterinarians, and companion animal veterinarians by 96, 63, and 52% of states, respectively. Challenges facing veterinary extension included limited recognition of veterinary extension activities by universities, lack of university personnel to support CE programs, and decreased support for companion animal extension programs.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Extension veterinarians need to identify and clearly articulate the mission of veterinary extension, develop more collaborative programs across regions, and continue to serve as catalysts to bring diverse constituents together. Extension veterinarians must distinguish their mission not solely as information transfer, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways outside of extension, but as a coherent and consistent program of education and policy developed on a national level and distributed locally. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999;215:1439–1443)

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