Articles

JAVMA article: "Employment, starting salaries, and educational indebtedness of year-2002 graduates of US veterinary medical colleges." JAVMA (2003) 222(3):312-314.

JAVMA Special Report "Gender and work: what veterinarians can learn from research about women, men, and work." by Carin A. Smith, DVM. JAVMA (2002) 220(9):
No Abstract is available for this article.

There was a study recently published in JAVMA regarding veterinary business and economics. The "JAVMA Executive Summary" is as follows (please note: these are not conclusions drawn by the Veterinary Business Club, we are merely reporting what they claim to have found):

Several Conclusions can be drawn from the study findings.

1. Many veterinarians are not earning up to their potential because of a lack of financial expertise, and/or because of the failure to use management practices proven to improve business performance.

2. Many veterinarians set lower prices for services or offer less aggressive treatment options to clients based on a perception of client resources. This represents a highly questionable prejudgment that can negatively affect veterinarians' incomes.

3. Many veterinarians represented in the study were quick to suggest euthanasia instead of treatment for a difficult-to-treat case, in spite of the suggestion of a strong human-animal bond between client and patient. Obviously, euthanasia eliminates any potential for future income from that particular patient.

4. Veterinarians exert influence over their incomes in the number of hours and weeks per year they choose to work, and in the size and economic level of the communities in which they choose to practice.

5. While not all veterinarians are satisfied with their current incomes, there is a significant minority who is. Women veterinarians are satisfied with average incomes that are much lower than the average incomes with which men veterinarians are satisfied. Average incomes are not likely to increase substantially unless veterinarians, especially women veterinarians, set their expectations higher.

6. Much of the difference between the average incomes of men and women cannot be explained by the factors addressed in this study. It is important for the profession to invest in further research to determine whether and how incomes can be equalized for women and men, as well as elevated.