USDA program address veterinary shortages

11/1/2011

A USDA program that exchanges loan repayment for service in underserved areas has granted five Texas veterinarians with funds to help pay for their schooling, North Texas e-News reports.

The USDA and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture started the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program two years ago as a way to assist qualified veterinarians repay debt incurred during their time in veterinary school. The program offers up to $75,000 in assistance, and requires that recipients provide care in designated areas with veterinary shortages for at least three years.

"Maintaining an adequate veterinary presence in rural areas and making veterinary care available for food animal species is crucial to ensuring the quality of animal health and disease detection in our state," said Texas veterinarian Dr. Dee Ellis, as quoted by the news source.

The USDA loan repayment program designated four areas in the nation that were considered to be lacking veterinary care in 2010. These were the western region of Colorado; Story County, Iowa; Plainville, New York and Strykersville, New York, according to the USDA'S website.

The media outlet notes that these areas may be modified in 2011.