Record number of UTM veterinary medicine graduates this year

Photo – UT Martin veterinary graduates Micayla Hickman (left center) of Smyrna and Chloe Dobson (right center) of Hixson perform a procedure as part of hands-on training in a lab with assistance from Mackenzie Moody (far left) of Dyersburg and Courtney Wilbanks of Bolivar. Dobson and Moody are two of 20 UTM veterinary graduates attending the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine, while Hickman will attend the Royal Veterinary College in London and Wilbanks will become a veterinary technician in West Tennessee.

MARTIN, Tennessee – This fall, a record-breaking 28 graduates of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s veterinary science and technology program will attend veterinary schools across the United States and abroad.

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

“The 28 students (who were admitted to graduate studies within one year) far surpass the record of 21 students last year,” he said.

UT Martin also had 38 students graduate 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 after completing their careers to serve Tennessee communities.

Dr. Jason Roberts, professor of animal science and program director for veterinary technology, said this increase in veterinary graduates comes at the right time.

“These graduates will contribute significantly to the labor shortage in the veterinary industry,” he said.Not only do many of these future veterinarians and veterinary assistants contribute to the shortage of skilled personnel in small animal medicine, but many of these students also come from agriculture and have an interest in working with large animals.

According to an article by Phaedra Trethan in the April 29 issue of USA Today, a report by Mars Veterinary Health — a company with a network of 3,000 veterinary clinics worldwide — the United States will need up to 55,000 additional veterinarians by 2030 to meet the growing demand for pet health care.

The article goes on to say that there could be a shortage of as many as 24,000 pet veterinarians by 2030, even when including students who will become veterinarians in the next decade.

In July 2022, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) issued a statement on the shortage of veterinary personnel in the United States.

“There is a significant shortage of veterinarians across all professions and at all levels of specialisation,” it says. “…The available evidence suggests that this shortage is the result of systemic, long-term trends in pet ownership and demand for veterinary services, as well as limited capacity to train veterinary professionals, and is likely to persist unless action is taken by the veterinary profession.”

The statement added that in 2019 there were 2,000 to 3,000 more job openings than available veterinarians.

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

The 20 UT Martin graduates accepted to 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.

Photo – VETERINARY MEDICINE GRADUATES – UT Martin veterinary graduates Micayla Hickman (left center) of Smyrna and Chloe Dobson (right center) of Hixson perform a procedure as part of hands-on training in a lab with assistance from Mackenzie Moody (far left) of Dyersburg and Courtney Wilbanks of Bolivar. Dobson and Moody are two of 20 UTM veterinary graduates attending the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine, while Hickman will attend the Royal Veterinary College in London and Wilbanks will become a veterinary technician in West Tennessee.