UT Martin Veterinary Graduates to Help with Vet Shortage

This fall, a record 28 University of Tennessee at Martin veterinary science and technology graduates will enter veterinary schools across the U.S. and overseas.

According to Dr. Todd Winters, dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, 20 of those graduates will attend the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.

“The 28 students (accepted into postgraduate studies in one year) far surpasses the record of 21 that we had last year,” he said.

UT Martin also graduated 38 students in the field of veterinary technology, another school record. These graduates came to UT Martin from all three regions of Tennessee, and many will return to these areas following completion of their careers to serve Tennessee communities.

Dr. Jason Roberts, professor of animal science and the program director of veterinary technology, said this surge in veterinary graduates comes at a good time.

“These graduates will contribute greatly to the workforce shortage in the veterinary industry,” he said. “Not only will many of these future veterinarians and veterinary nurses contribute to the shortage of small animal veterinary professionals, but several of these students also come from agricultural backgrounds and have an interest in working with large animals.

According to an article published in the April 29 issue of USA Today written by Phaedra Trethan, a report by Mars Veterinary Health – which has a network of 3,000 veterinary clinics worldwide – the U.S. will need as many as 55,000 additional veterinarians by 2030 to meet the increasing need for companion animals’ health care.

The article added that by 2030, there may be a shortage of as many as 24,000 companion animal veterinarians, even accounting for students who will become veterinarians over the next decade.

In July 2022, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) issued a statement regarding the shortage in the U.S. veterinary workforce.

“Significant shortages of veterinarians exist across all sectors of professional activity and at all levels of specialization,” it states. “…The available evidence indicates that these shortages are a result of systemic, long-term trends in pet ownership and demand for veterinary services, along with limited capacity for training veterinary professionals, and are expected to continue unless the veterinary medical profession takes action.”

The statement added that in 2019, there were 2,000 to 3,000 more open jobs than veterinarians available to hire.

“UT Martin is fortunate to have an experienced team of five veterinarians and five veterinary technicians who teach in the program,” Roberts said. “The program also utilizes a 700-acre teaching farm and small animal veterinary clinic where students gain hands-on experience from veterinary professionals with large, small and exotic animals as they prepare for veterinary careers.”

The 20 UT Martin graduates accepted into the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine are Allison Brigman of Finger, Makayla Buchanan of Obion, Alissa Carter of Ripley, Madison Chadwell of Loretto, Chloe Dobson of Hixson, Ella Fagin of Milan, Grant Funderburk of Bath Springs, Rebecca Glover of Spring Hill, Jared Henson of Hillsboro, Adrienne Huestis of Cottage Grove, Rachel Jones of St. Joseph, Avery Leyhue of Martin, Lilly Mahaney of Ashland City, Mackenzie Moody of Dyersburg, Chloe Ragland of Spencer, Naomi Sherman of Murfreesboro, Karley Simmons of Shelbyville, Ben Smith of Paris, Ainsley Watt of Loudon and Kaitlyn Williams of Cordova.