Read or watch the news these days, and you’ll likely hear of a veterinarian shortage.
Throughout America, the number of pet owners is growing. More households are learning the power and benefits of the human-animal bond and need veterinarians to keep their pets healthy. However, there are not enough clinicians to keep up with this increased demand. Those with livestock and other large animals, particularly horses, have also felt the impacts of this supply-demand imbalance.
In a 2022 statement on the U.S. veterinary workforce, the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) reported significant shortages of veterinarians among all veterinary sectors and specializations. These shortages lead to a limited ability to see and care for animals. But they also impact people’s well-being, from creating feelings of overwork and overwhelm among veterinary healthcare teams to a toll on pet owners’ mental health and veterinary healthcare costs to public health implications of defending against animal diseases.
The AAVMC has highlighted ways to increase the number of veterinarians in the workforce, including increasing pay and support to keep people in the field. They also call attention to increasing enrollment and interest in veterinary medicine, particularly by creating a more inclusive environment and emphasizing diversity in the workforce.
In response to a need for more veterinarians, the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine increased its Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class size to 96 with the 2017 incoming class. This increase was gradual, from 80 students in the 2011 and 2012 incoming classes to between 87 and 90 students in the 2013-16 classes of first-year DVM students.
“There is at least some light at the end of the tunnel in the sense that there are many more veterinarians being trained now than there were even five years ago, but it’s a four-year program,” Mark Markel, the school’s dean, told Wisconsin Public Radio in December. “Sadly, it’s not an instant solution, but it is a pathway where more veterinarians are going to be trained and come into the workforce.”
Efforts to increase interest in the profession also seem to be having an impact, reflected in a growing number of applications. For the 2021-22 admissions cycle nationally, there was a 5.5 percent increase in qualified applications from the previous cycle, with a total of 10,834 veterinary college applications received nationwide.
The UW School of Veterinary Medicine saw record applicants – 1,942 total – for its Class of 2026, who began their studies in the fall of 2022, eager to train for and enter the field of veterinary medicine. This represents a 93 percent increase in applications compared to the year prior. Most recently, applicants for the school’s Class of 2027 set another record – a total of 2,179.
With so much attention on the veterinary workforce of today and tomorrow, we thought you might want to know, who is the Class of 2026? We queried our students and share some of their perspectives.
What drew you to veterinary medicine?
“From a young age, I enjoyed spending time and working with animals. Growing up around several small dairy farms, I was able to see firsthand how veterinarians impacted the lives of animals around me. As I grew older, my love for animals continued to grow, as well as my desire to help them when they were in distress. Veterinary medicine is a way for me to keep animals happy and healthy, while also improving the lives of people who are affected by these animals.” – Lillian Ledvina, Luxemburg, WI
“When I was little, I learned English watching National Geographic documentaries and knew that I had an interest in working with animals in the future. However, my dad was not on the same page as me and wanted me to go into human medicine. We ended up compromising back when I was in elementary school and have been focused on veterinary medicine since then!” -Deborah Liu, Carmel, IN
“I wanted to combine my love of animals and my interest in science with a career in which I could make a difference in the lives of my clients and patients.” -Hannah Lillesand, Sheboygan Falls, WI
“I appreciate the variety in vet med. The variety in career choices, specialties, and species.” -Karina Porfirio, Vernon Hills, IL
“I grew up with a menagerie of animals and ever since I can remember, being a vet was all I ever wanted. As time went on, I volunteered at a wildlife rehab center and the pull toward a career in veterinary medicine became stronger with the realization that vet med could be more than fixing puppies and kittens. I wanted to be an integral part of animals’ care – both domestic and wild – and be able to truly make a difference.” -Rachel Burns, Minocqua, WI
“I grew up on a family farm in South Georgia and loved spending time with animals with my grandfather. I worked at the University of Georgia Meat Science lab in undergrad, and I was on the fence about going to vet school. The USDA veterinarians working in our facility encouraged me to go to vet school because of the various opportunities in veterinary medicine.” – Eddie Henderson, Swainsboro, GA
Why did you choose to attend the UW School of Veterinary Medicine?
“When I was 3 years old and my injured puppy was referred to the teaching hospital. After this experience, my dad told me that if I wanted to be a veterinarian, I needed to go to UW-Madison SVM because they are the best. It has been my dream since then and it is surreal that I am finally a student here.” -Jessica Dean, Slinger, WI
“The reputation of the school was great, and the opportunities in the area of large animal reproduction were in line with my career goals.” – Eddie Henderson
“I am from Wisconsin! I also wanted to attend a research-focused university and UW-Madison definitely is.” -Allyssah Lanzo, Grafton, WI
“I chose to attend UW-Madison SVM because of its reputation and location. Growing up in Wisconsin, attending UW-Madison for veterinary school seemed the logical choice, and that choice became a dream once I realized what an amazing veterinary medicine program it had to offer.” -Rachel Burns
“I chose UW-Madison SVM because of how welcoming the SVM community is. Additionally, it is a rigorous program that would challenge me to be the best doctor I can be.” -Brianna Clifton, Romeoville, IL
What’s been the most exciting part of your SVM experience so far?
“The most exciting part of my SVM experience so far is seeing how topics in class relate to my work at a private clinic. In anatomy, we recently learned about cranial nerves and covered the infraorbital nerve on the maxilla (jaw). I had a lightbulb moment when I pieced together why the veterinarian I work for called many dental blocks infraorbital blocks!” – Deborah Liu
“The staff and students are so friendly and welcoming, and each day we are learning something new or having a new experience. Every day here is one more step towards becoming a veterinarian.” – Jessica Dean
“The most exciting part of my SVM experience so far was my first week of class. Realizing that all my hard work had paid off and I was one step closer to becoming a veterinarian was a very surreal experience.” – Lillian Ledvina
“So far, the most exciting part of my SVM experience is making new friends and discovering the vast array of options available to someone in the veterinary field. I always knew there were different paths you could take, but I never realized just how many!” – Rachel Burns
“The most exciting part of my SVM experience so far has been the out-of-classroom experiences I’ve attended. Getting to learn about and see medicine in action is what keeps me going to class every day. The International Crane Foundation health checks and the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation fall vet day were major highlights!” – Allyssah Lanzo
What’s been unexpected or difficult about your first year?
“I fully expected the first year to be difficult. I did not expect to have to completely revamp the way I study, and not really get to see my family. I’ve been going to school pretty much my entire adult life, been to 9 different colleges, and I thought I had studying down to a science. This year, I learned different ways of studying from my classmates and some faculty. I also went from being the primary caregiver in my family to just going to school and studying. It’s been a major adjustment for us all.” – Jessica Dean
“It’s been difficult to balance academics with work, hobbies, and my personal life. I think that too much of anything can lead to burnout, including studying. So, I’ve tried my best to prioritize my mental health by continuing to work out consistently, work a few hours throughout the week, and get involved in extracurriculars.” – Karina Porfirio
“One of the most challenging things for me this first year was learning to live in a city environment. Having grown up in a rural area my entire life, the transition to city life has been an eye-opening experience.” – Lillian Ledvina
“The most difficult part of first year was realizing that every class you take is equally as important and you have to study a little bit every night. Cramming does not work in vet med school.” –Brianna Clifton
“The biggest difficulties I’ve experienced this first year have been reworking my study habits to fit the veterinary school curriculum and truly just how busy we are as students – school is definitely a full-time job now!” – Allyssah Lanzo
What is your favorite class or experience (such as clubs or extracurriculars) so far?
“Small Animal Anatomy has been my favorite class, especially the comparative anatomy sessions. Additionally, shadowing in the clinic in the Special Species department was a highlight, as well as attending a talk from Dr. Izzy Hirji and learning that being a vet can be any kind of experience that you want it to be – you just have to be willing to take that jump into the unknown.” – Rachel Burns
“My favorite class so far has been the Fundamentals of Veterinary Anatomy. I’ll never forget us jumping right in with dissections on the first day of school.” – Deborah Liu
“Participating in the equine castration lab was my favorite experience so far. Our horse was just purchased at an auction a week before the lab, so we got to name him! (We chose to name him Samson.)” – Hannah Lillesand
“My favorite class has been physiology because it has opened my eyes to how complex the body system is to keep the animal alive.” – Brianna Clifton
“The American Association of Equine Practitioners, Bovine, and Theriogenology (animal reproduction) clubs are my favorite.” – Eddie Henderson
“The suture lab through the Surgery Club and attending spay day have been my favorite experiences.” – Karina Porfirio
“I really love the Lunch-N-Learn talks during the midday class break. They have helped show me the variety of fields available for veterinarians to work in (and a free meal never hurts)!” – Allyssah Lanzo
Britta Wellenstein