In rural Minnesota and beyond, a shortage of workers coupled with a growing demand for services continues to diminish access to veterinary care for people and their animals. Getting in for appointments is taking longer. People are driving greater distances to reach clinics and hospitals. Fewer veterinarians are available to visit farms and are spending more hours on the road to do so.The shortage is exacerbated by challenges in filling teaching positions aimed at educating the next generation of veterinary professionals.
The College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is taking action to confront this growing problem and lessen its impact. As part of its commitment to increasing interest in rural practice, the College has expanded its class size by 20 percent through a partnership with South Dakota State University. Additionally, CVM offers VetFAST, a program that focuses on students pursuing careers in food animal medicine.
The College also works to effect change through state-level programs and initiatives. It worked with the state Legislature to fund the Minnesota Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Program, which has helped 30 students since its inception in 2018. Now, the College is supporting efforts to establish a new type of veterinary license that would allow it to recruit and retain highly qualified faculty members to fill vacant positions.
CVM Dean Dr. Laura Molgaard has spoken extensively about the veterinary workforce shortage. Her conversations with media organizations are compiled below.
Media coverage
Dr. Laura Molgaard gives context to the veterinary shortage and its impact while highlighting the College’s partnership with South Dakota State University to develop the Professional Program in Veterinarian Medicine.
The Fargo Forum— March 4, 2024
State Legislation Could Address Rural Vet Shortage
Dr. Laura Molgaard offers loan repayment programs as part of the solution for the veterinary shortage in rural areas.
Red River Farm Network—March 4, 2024.
‘A soul killer’: what’s behind the US’s critical veterinarian shortage?
Dr. Laura Molgaard gives insight into the history of the U.S. veterinarian shortage and its impact on not only pet health but the health of humans and the environment.
The Guardian—February 26, 2024
Most veterinarians are women, but they still face sexism in rural areas where they’re most needed
Dr. Laura Molgaard speaks to the ongoing veterinary shortage amid the field’s changing demographics as more and more women pursue veterinary medicine and the demand for services continues to grow.
NPR—February 26, 2024
LFN Field Talk Podcast #131 UMN Dean of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Laura Molgaard
Dr. Laura Molgaard gives insight into the ongoing veterinarian and veterinary technician shortage within Minnesota—particularly in rural areas—and how CVM is helping address it through outreach, programs such as VetFAST, and faculty recruitment.
Linder Farm Network Field Talk Podcast—January 29, 2024
Addressing a shortage of rural veterinarians
Dr. Laura Molgaard highlights the 2+2 program’s role in addressing the veterinary shortage as well as the proposed Veterinary Practice Act. PDF
Dairy Star—January 27, 2024
Vet shortage an “urgent crisis”
Dr. Laura Molgaard speaks to the impact veterinary shortages are having on rural areas in particular and details steps CVM is taking to help relieve the shortage.
Brownfield—January 23, 2024
Veterinarian Shortage Continues to Climb
Dr. Laura Molgaard highlights CVM’s 2+2 program and other recruitment efforts as a means of lessening the impact of the current veterinary shortage.
Red River Ag Network—January 23, 2024
How are we addressing the nationwide veterinarian shortage facing rural America?
Dr. Laura Molgaard sheds light on contributing factors to the shortage, whether our lawmakers are trying to resolve this issue, and the impact of not addressing the issue.
RFD-TV—January 18, 2024
Dr. Laura Molgaard: Veterinary staffing shortages
An announcement noting that Dr. Laura Molgaard will be available for interviews on the veterinary shortage topic on Feb. 29 from 2–4 p.m.
SciLine—January 17, 2024
Remedies urgently needed for veterinary care shortage
CVM is mentioned in an editorial encouraging Minnesota lawmakers to take action on the current veterinary shortage in the state.
Star Tribune—January 17, 2024
Dr. Laura Molgaard walks listeners through how long America has been experiencing a veterinary shortage, reasons why the shortage persists, and potential tools and strategies for addressing the gap by CVM. Timestamp: 12:15–22:22.
Agriculture of America—January 10, 2024
Rural Veterinarian Shortage Raises Concerns Over Food Safety
CVM student Hayley Bentz, a member of the inaugural 2+2 cohort, reflects on her path to a veterinary career and choice to return to a rural area experiencing service shortages to practice after graduation.
Matter of Fact—January 7, 2024
Minnesota veterinary loan program boosts rural animal care
Dr. Laura Molgaard speaks about the Minnesota Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment program and its impact on bolstering rural veterinary care by encouraging DVM graduates to stay and practice in Minnesota.
Minnesota Ag Connection—November 21, 2023
Veterinarian shortage persists across Minnesota and U.S., leading to calls for action
Dr. Laura Molgaard discusses the widespread veterinarian shortage and how CVM working to help ease the shortage’s impact through programs such as VetFAST and the 2+2 program.
Extended Interview with Dean Laura Molgaard
KARE 11 News—November 1, 2023
Vet crisis is statewide, national — and urgent
In an editorial, Dr. Laura Molgaard writes about the impact of veterinary shortages locally and nationally while educating readers about what CVM is doing to help fill the gap.
Star Tribune—July 11, 2023
CVM faculty member Dr. Timothy Goldsmith and several DVM students weigh in on the veterinary shortage affecting rural areas in Minnesota and beyond. Previous story version
Profiles—February 08, 2023
At these veterinary schools, women leaders are tackling the challenges of the profession
Dr. Laura Molgaard dispels misconceptions about women in veterinary medicine as the profession faces a workforce shortage and needs veterinarians across demographics.
Bizwomen—Aug 26, 2022