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Now more than ever, challenges affecting the veterinary medicine industry are visible to the general public. How do you feel this news, and our response, impacts consumers' views of our industry? the core element here is the value of veterinary medicine in advancing animal, human, and environmental health. How can we best educate the public about all that veterinarians are trained to do, particularly the cost effectiveness of seeking professional veterinary care? An example is Banfield's State of Pet Health Report (see stateofpethealth.com), which shows that overall pet health has declined recently and this decline is in concert with pet owners seeking animal health advice from the internet and other nonveterinary sources rather than veterinarians. in an era where veterinary care rivals human health care, pet owners typically expect the very best care for their animals but also express concern about the rising cost of this care. the Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine study (nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13413) stated that the need for veterinary services exceeded the demand. this is an important point that i believe indicates the value of veterinary medicine and the gap in consumer recognition. ANDREW T. MACCABE, DVM, MPH, JD generated through increased class sizes are an outcome, not a driver of change. Executive Director, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges Dr. Andrew Maccabe's career spans all reaches of veterinary medicine, including mixed animal private practice, service as a commissioned public health officer in the U.s. Air Force, and 2 appointments as executive director of the AAvMc. He received his DvM from Ohio state University, MPH from Harvard University, and JD from University of Arizona. Market supply and increasing class sizes have garnered significant attention over the past few years. In your opinion, are larger classes and emergence of new schools really dictated by market demand? the increased class sizes we have seen in some colleges over the past decade are the result of many factors, but it boils down to the fact that there is increased demand for educational opportunities on the part of highly qualified students. each institution determines its individual class size based on a careful analysis of its mission and the population it serves. those decisions are based on the needs of the region and state and influenced by factors, such as applicant demand and input from veterinary medical and agricultural organizations, legislators, and university officials. enrollment at U.s. colleges of veterinary medicine remained essentially flat for 25 years, from 1988 to 2003. During that time, a potential shortage of veterinarians, especially in the public health sector, was widely acknowledged. in response, many schools developed strategies for expanding their capacity to meet society's growing needs. Generally speaking, that process can take anywhere from 7 to 10 years to reach fruition, which is why we are seeing the increases now. it's no secret that there has been a steady erosion of government support for our state institutions, which have responded by substantially increasing research revenues, ramping up private fundraising operations, and seeking other sources of revenue. tuition is certainly a major part of the funding mix, and additional tuition revenues help address the rising cost of instruction, but the additional revenues Additional commentary from Dr. Eleanor Green is available at todaysveterinarypractice.com/resources. asp#resources. Concerns related to appropriate market supply can't be separated from those regarding current and future student debt loads. When you evaluate the cost of veterinary education, is the financial burden out of control? the Doctor of veterinary Medicine degree is a professional medical degree. earning it requires a medical education, which is expensive, whether the field is veterinary medicine, human medicine, or dentistry. rising tuition costs faced by veterinary students are not unique; they are systemic throughout higher education. Generally speaking, state governments began systematically reducing their support of public higher education 20 to 30 years ago, and that trend has been punctuated by severe budget cuts during recessionary times. At the same time, the cost of providing high-quality medical education has increased. therefore, tuition has increased to offset these budget challenges. However, issues in academic veterinary medicine are a microcosm of what is happening throughout higher education. i do not view the costs of veterinary education as out of control. in 2013, the median annual cost for tuition at a public U.s. college of veterinary medicine was $20,911. Average resident tuition for human medical school was $26,300 (2013); average resident tuition for dental school was $32,934 (2009). these costs are the inevitable result of a declining public investment in higher education. the net effect of rising tuition costs has been magnified by the relatively low professional salaries of veterinarians compared to human medical professionals. AAvMc is responding by investing in financial literacy programs for our students and working closely with the AvMA and other organizations to develop programs that elevate the economic profile of the profession. veterinary medicine is a vital, noble profession that plays a fundamental role in society's wellbeing, from companion animal care to food safety and security to public health, and that role is growing every day. i truly believe the increasing value of veterinary medicine in society will overcome the economic challenges our profession faces. i would absolutely recommend this profession to highly motivated, entrepreneurial young people who want to contribute to society in a meaningful way by pursuing a unique career in the health professions. n May/June 2013 today's veterinary Practice 75 Perspectives: the Future of veterinary Medicine PersPectives |