Beyond Private Practice: Veterinary Careers and Pathways

Table of Contents

Prelude: Why I Wrote This Book xix

Acknowledgments xxiii

AI Usage Statement xxv

Part One Preparing for a New Career 1

1 Interested in a Career Change? You’re Not Alone 3

Feeling Stuck? Don’t Be—Anxiety and the Need for a Plan 4

Overall Career Change Trends 4

Other Health Professions and Career Change 5

State of the Profession 5

The Relationship of Career Satisfaction and Wellness 6

Finding the Right Fit: Real Examples 6

Demographics and Drivers for Change 7

Barriers to Change 7

The Evolution of Veterinary Medicine 8

What’s Ahead 9

References 9

2 Getting in the Proper Mindset for a Career Search 11

Growing as a Professional 11

The Financial Value of Changing Careers 13

“Are You Running from Something, or to Something?” 14

Running from Something: An Emergency Exit Strategy 14

Running to Something: The Intentional Path 15

Job Search Strategies and Their Impact on State of Mind 15

Staying Open to Opportunities: Maintaining Growth after Career Transition 16

References 17

3 Self-assessments: Who Are You? 18

Looking for a Job Is the Wrong Place to Start 19

The Right Place to Start: Who Are You? 19

Personality and the Workspace 19

Personality Tests 22

Beyond Personality: Strengths, Values, and Life Preferences 22

Converting Insights into Action 23

Reflections from Veterinary Students on Their Self-assessment Findings 24

Discovering New Self-awareness 25

Personal Characteristics and Their Importance in the Workplace 25

Challenging Previous Assumptions 26

Summary 26

References 27

4 What Are You Looking For? The Importance of Identifying Desired Career Elements 28

Desired Career Elements: What They Mean and Why They Are Important 28

Examples of Career Elements 29

Four Questions to Help Identify Your Desired Career Elements 31

Refining Your Thinking 34

Converting Career Elements to Search Terms 35

Why This Process Takes Practice 35

One Student’s Evolution: From Generic to Specific 37

Summary 38

References 38

5 Creating Your Brand 40

What Your “Brand” Is and Why It’s Important 40

Creating Your Personal Brand 41

Revisit Your Self-assessment 41

Assessing Your Current Brand 41

Assessing Your Career Portfolio and Identifying Gaps 42

Building Your Career Portfolio 43

Considerations for Pursuing an Additional Degree or Training 43

When an Additional Degree Makes Sense 44

Alternatives to Full Degree Programs 44

Experiential Opportunities 44

Articulating and Presenting Your Personal Brand 45

LinkedIn and Social Media Considerations 45

Professional Email Addresses and Other Presentations 46

Managing Your Personal Brand 46

References 46

Part Two Preparing for the Search and Getting the Position 49

6 Researching and Finding Opportunities 51

Remember—Get in the Right Frame of Mind 51

Search for a Career Area or Sector First, Before Searching for a Job 52

Careers Versus Jobs: Why the Distinction Matters 52

Searching for Positions: Dr. Google Is Not the Answer 53

Developing Keywords for Searches 53

Keywords Related to Personality 54

Keywords Related to Desired Career Elements 54

Tips for Searching with Your Keywords 56

Places to Search 56

LinkedIn as a Place to Search for Career Options and Jobs 56

United States Animal Health Association Bulletin Board 57

Association Websites 57

USAJobs.gov 58

Online Journals 58

Search Engines such as Indeed.com, Monster.com, ZipRecruiter, and Others 58

American Veterinary Medical Association Career Center 58

Networking, Even for Introverts 58

LinkedIn as a Networking Tool 59

Informational Interviews 60

Using a Recruiter 60

Reflections and Tips from Veterinary Students on the Approach to Career Exploration

Using Personal Keywords 61

Realizing That Knowing Yourself Comes First 61

Discovering How Search Terms Open Up New Possibilities 62

It’s Hard at First, But Gets Easier with Practice 62

Finding Careers You Never Knew Existed 63

Specific Techniques Students Found Most Valuable 63

Learning to Read Between the Lines 63

Navigating the Volume of Possibilities 64

Learning Which Resources Work Best 64

What NOT to Do 64

And One I Found Most Eye-Opening from a Student in a Generation

Raised with the Internet 65

Summary 65

And Finally 65

References 65

7 Resumes and CVs 67

The Purpose and Goal of a Resume 67

What’s the Difference Between a Resume and a CV, and When Do You Use Which? 67

Common Resume Errors 68

Six Seconds and More Stats 69

How Resumes Are Read 69

Writing a Good Resume 70

Types of Resumes 71

Chronological Resume 72

Functional or Skill-Based Resumes 73

A Combination of a Chronological and Functional Resume 75

Writing a “Professional Summary” Versus an “Objective” Statement 75

References and Your Resume 76

Creating a Generic Resume Template 77

Federal Resumes—A Different Ballgame 77

Resume—Key Take Home Points 78

Writing a CV 79

Summary 79

References 80

8 Applying for a Job 82

Remember—It’s About the Position, It’s Not About You 82

Preparing to Apply 82

Revisit Your Self- and Career Assessments and Be Sure the Job Is a Good Fit 82

Carefully Read the Job Description to Create an Effective Resume or CV 83

What If You Don’t Have All the Requirements in a Job Description? 84

Writing a Strong Cover Letter 84

Before You Write: Do Your Research 85

Format and Length 85

Addressing Your Letter Appropriately 85

Opening Strong: Grab Their Attention 85

Connecting Your Experience to Their Needs 85

Addressing Qualification Gaps 86

Proofreading and Final Steps 86

The Selection Process After Submission of Your Application 86

The Federal Application Process Versus Others 87

Direct-Hire Authority in the Federal Government 88

Qualifying for Federal Positions 88

What If You Don’t Get the Job? 89

A Few Final Words 89

References 90

9 Getting the Position: Interviewing and Negotiating 92

Interviewing for a New Position 92

Preparing for an Interview 93

Dressing for a Job Interview 93

The Interview Process 94

Screening Interviews 94

In-person Interviews 94

A Few Words Regarding References 95

Interview Formats 95

Traditional/Technical Interview 95

Behavioral Event Interview (BEI) 96

A Few Tips for BEI Interviews 97

Common Questions to Prepare For 97

What To Do If You Can’t Think of an Answer to an Interview Question 98

The “Big Salary Question” 99

Questions YOU Should Ask 100

Illegal Questions and How to Respond 100

Ending an Interview 101

Post-Interview Strategy: The Follow-Up 101

What Should You Do If You Haven’t Heard Back After an Interview? 102

Negotiating a Job Offer 102

When Do You Start the Negotiations? 103

Preparing for a Negotiation 103

What Is Negotiable? 104

The Art of the Ask: Negotiation Tactics and Tips 105

Finalizing the Offer 106

Summary 107

References 107

Part Three Overview of Career Options in Veterinary Medicine: Introduction to Part Three:

An Overview of Career Opportunities, and Global Drivers for Change 109

10 Career Opportunities in Federal or State Government 111

The Scope of Federal Veterinary Opportunities 112

Federal Compensation, Pay Scales, and Long-Term Growth 113

Benefits 114

Agency-Supported Education and Career Advancement 115

Federal Agencies That Employ Veterinarians 115

The USDA: The Largest Federal Employer of Veterinarians 116

Food Safety and Inspection Service 116

Role of Veterinarians 116

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 117

Organizational Structure 117

Other APHIS Units 119

Career Structure within APHIS 119

Agricultural Research Service 120

Other USDA Units 120

Department of Defense 120

Department of Health and Human Services 121

Food and Drug Administration 121

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 121

National Institutes of Health 122

USPHS Commissioned Corps 122

Other Federal Agencies Employing Veterinarians 123

Programs and Scholarships for Veterinary Students 123

USDA FSIS (Adel A. Malak Scholarship) 123

USDA APHIS VS (Saul T. Wilson, Jr. Internship Program) 124

USDA APHIS AC (Chester A. Gipson Scholarship) 124

USPHS—Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program 124

Additional Pathways 125

Opportunities and Fellowships for Veterinarians 125

FSIS Experiential Opportunities 125

AAVLD Experiential Opportunities 125

Fellowships 125

AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship 125

AVMA Congressional Fellowship 126

CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Fellowship 126

Applying for Federal Service 126

Navigating Federal Job Applications 126

The Role of Advanced Degrees 127

State Service—Overview of Opportunities 127

Core Competencies for State Veterinary Service 128

Disease Knowledge Across Species and Systems 128

Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance 128

Systems Thinking and Evidence-Based Decision-Making 128

Regulatory and Legal Frameworks 128

Emergency Preparedness and Response 129

Communication and Outreach 129

Interagency Collaboration 129

Leadership and Program Management 129

Building These Competencies 129

State Veterinarians and State Animal Health Systems 130

Role and Scope 130

Key Responsibilities 130

Career Pathways 130

State Public Health Veterinarians (SPHV) 131

Role and Scope 131

Key Responsibilities 131

Career Pathways 132

State Wildlife Veterinarians 132

Role and Scope 132

Key Responsibilities 132

Career Pathways 133

Other State Positions for Veterinarians 133

Diagnostic Laboratory and Pathology Roles 134

Food Safety and Inspection Programs 134

Emergency Management and Disaster Response 134

Extension and Outreach 134

Finding and Applying for State Positions 134

Conclusion: A Call to Public Service 135

References 135

11 Career Opportunities in the Animal Health Industry and Corporate Sectors 140

What Is the Animal Health Industry? 140

What Is Corporate Veterinary Medicine? 140

Understanding the Landscape of the Animal Health Industry 141

Industry Consolidation: Mergers and Acquisitions 141

Why Veterinarians Choose Industry Careers 141

Professional Fulfillment and Broader Impact 141

Quality of Life Considerations 142

Professional Growth 142

Intellectual Challenges 142

Business Acumen 142

Integration of Teaching, Research, and Clinical Medicine 142

Career Paths in the Veterinary Animal Health Industry 143

Technical or Professional Services 143

Sales and Marketing 143

Research and Development 144

Regulatory Affairs 144

Pharmacovigilance 145

Liaison/Cross-Functional Roles 145

Business Development 145

Opportunities in Integrated Commodity Companies 145

Key Considerations Across All Career Paths 146

Realities of Industry Work 146

Work–Life Balance and Travel Requirements 146

Flexible Work Structures 146

Daily Work Variety and Job Satisfaction 147

Organizational Dynamics and Career Trajectories 147

Direct Animal Contact Considerations 147

Transitioning from Clinical Practice to Industry: Essential Skills and Career Pathways 147

Mindset and Career Motivation 147

Core Competencies for Veterinary Industry Roles 148

Communication Skills 148

Business Acumen 148

Analytical Thinking and Problem-Solving 148

Leadership and Teamwork 149

Flexibility and Adaptability 149

Essential Experience and Credentials 149

Clinical Practice Experience 149

Advanced Education and Professional Credentials 149

Research and Compliance 149

Public Health and Regulatory 149

Translating Clinical Skills to Industry Language 149

Building Professional Networks 150

Engaging with Sales Representatives 150

Attending Industry Events 150

Pursuing Experiential Learning 150

Leveraging Specialized Recruiters 150

Utilizing Professional Networks and Associations 151

Preparing Application Materials 151

Resume Development and Professional Branding 151

Summary 151

References 151

12 Other Veterinary Career Opportunities 153

Academia 153

Requirements for Working in Academia 155

Shelter Medicine and Forensic Medicine 155

Shelter Medicine 155

Forensic Veterinary Medicine 156

Where Forensic Veterinarians Work 156

Career Pathways and Training Requirements 157

Laboratory Animal Medicine 157

Where Laboratory Animal Veterinarians Work 158

Career Pathways and Training Requirements 158

Veterinary Diagnostic Medicine 159

Where Laboratory Diagnosticians Work 159

Career Pathways and Training Requirements 159

Zoo, Wildlife, Conservation, and Aquatic Medicine 160

Zoo Animal Medicine 160

Where Zoo Veterinarians Work 160

Career Pathways and Training Requirements 161

Wildlife Medicine 161

Individual Care Versus Population Management 161

Where Wildlife Veterinarians Work 162

Career Pathways and Training Requirements 162

Conservation Medicine 162

Where Conservation Veterinarians Work 162

Career Pathways and Training Requirements 163

Aquatic Animal Medicine 163

Who Do Aquatic Animal Veterinarians Work For? 163

Career Pathways and Training Requirements 163

NGOs, Intergovernmental Organizations, Nonprofits, and Professional Associations 164

NGOs and Nonprofits 164

Intergovernmental Organizations 165

Professional Organizations 165

The Entrepreneurial Veterinarian: Forging Your Own Path 165

Creating Your Own Position 165

Starting Your Own Business 166

Veterinary Consulting 167

Summary 168

References 168

13 The Unusual Veterinarian 173

The Assignment and Its Purpose 173

Key Insights from Student Searches 174

Examples of Unusual Careers for Veterinarians 174

Federal Government 175

Animal Program Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse 175

Director, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) 175

Chief Veterinary Officer, NASA 175

National Veterinary Response Team Member 176

DoD Military Working Dog Veterinarian 176

Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation 176

Veterinary Medical Officer, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility 176

Research Assistant/Contractor, U.S. Army/AFRRI/MRICD 177

Public Health Analyst, Centers for Disease Control 177

Toxicology Series Officer, U.S. Air Force 177

Incident Support Team Veterinary Specialist 178

APHIS Aquaculture Veterinarian 178

Government Fellow (AVMA/AAAS/AAVMC) 178

State Government 179

Veterinary Forensic Pathologist, Warrenton Regional Pathology Lab 179

COVID Micro Unit Deputy Chief, Colorado Department of Public Health 179

Veterinarian 2, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission 179

Conservation Biologist, New Mexico Fish and Game 179

Aquaculture and Marine Mammal Medicine 180

Aquatic Animal Health Fellowship 180

Program Manager, Cetacean Rehabilitation Center 180

Conservation Veterinarian (Manatee or Hawaiian Monk Seal) 180

Marine Mammal Veterinarian (Stranding Response) 181

U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program Veterinarian 181

Marine Research and Epidemiology Consultant 181

Veterinarian at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium 181

Veterinarian with the National Marine Mammal Foundation 182

NGOs and Associations 182

Forensic Veterinarian/Scientist, ASPCA 182

Farm Standards and Science Coordinator, American Humane 183

Program Associate, TRAFFIC 183

Veterinarian, International Committee of the Red Cross 183

Veterinarian Project Manager, Samaritan’s Purse 183

Associate Director, Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society 184

Director of Canine Research and Development, Guide Dogs for the Blind 184

Consulting Veterinarian in Clinical Toxicology, ASPCA Animal Poison

Control Center 184

Animal Safety Representative (“The On-Set Vet”) 184

Sled Dog Veterinarian, International Sled Dog VMA 185

Assistant Editor, AVMA Journal 185

Special Aerospace Security Services Veterinarian 185

Director of Community Veterinary Outreach 185

Veterinarian with Veterinarians Without Borders 186

Corporate and Industry 186

Chief Medical Officer, Animal Medical Center 186

Qualified Reader at Vantana Medical Systems 186

Vice President of R&D for Translational Medicine 187

Director of Avian Biology, Ligand Pharmaceuticals 187

Medical Director, Paw Print Genetics 187

Science and Technology Advisor, National Pork Producers Council 188

Swine Veterinarian, Smithfield Foods 188

Director of Veterinary Quality 188

Director of Food Safety/Quality Assessment, American Food Group, LLC 188

Senior Meat Scientist, Balchem Corporation 189

University Relations Manager, Royal Canin 189

Science Operations Manager, The Seas at Walt Disney World 189

CEO, Prairie Diagnostic Laboratory Services 189

Telehealth Veterinarian, Koala Health 190

Clinical Content Manager, Vets4Pets 190

Animal Relocation Specialist, Across the Pond Pet Transit 190

Biosurveillance Consultant/Analyst 191

Protocol Oversight Specialist, General Dynamics Information Technology 191

One Health Veterinary Advisor, ZemiTek LLC 191

International 191

Regional Animal Health and Production Specialist, FAO 191

Veterinarian in New Zealand 192

Public Health Deputy Director (Iraq), SOSi 192

Animal Welfare Scientist, Four Paws International 192

Veterinary Surgeon, Animals Asia (Vietnam) 193

Senior Training Veterinarian, Animals Asia (China) 193

Smithsonian Wildlife Veterinary Manager (Kenya) 193

International Veterinary Educator, City University of Hong Kong 193

Traveling Surgeon, RSPCA (Papua New Guinea) 194

One Health and Wildlife 194

Zoo Pathologist, Smithsonian’s National Zoo 194

Wildlife Epidemiologist 194

Veterinary Research Fellowship in Wildlife and One Health 194

Veterinary Medical Officer, Idaho Department of Fish and Game 194

Elephant Veterinarian, Elephant–Human Relations Aid (Namibia) 195

Captive Wildlife Veterinarian, PETA 195

Wildlife and Clinical Medicine Veterinarian, Humane Animal Rescue

of Pittsburgh 195

Academia 196

Assistant/Associate Professor of Wildlife-Livestock Health,

University of Wyoming 196

Assistant Professor of Shellfish Pathology 196

Wildlife Disease and One Health Ecologist, Mississippi State University 196

Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension for Rural Community Disaster

Preparedness, UC Davis 196

Alaska Community Outreach and Public Health Veterinarian, Colorado State

University, and University of Alaska Fairbanks 197

Invertebrate and Ecosystem Health Researcher 197

Freelance, Consulting, and Contract Work 197

Veterinary Writer/Science Writer/Journalist 197

Veterinary Freelance Writer/Author 198

Life Scientist (Government Contractor) 198

Forensic Veterinarian (Consultant/Expert Witness) 198

Small Animal Internal Medicine Consultant, IDEXX 199

Veterinary Life Coach/Motivational Speaker/Grief Counselor 199

Clinical Veterinarian (Government Contractor) 199

Veterinary Consultant, Saint Francis Service Dogs 200

Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Consultant, OrthoPets 200

Reflections from Students on Searching for Unusual Positions 200

Summary 203

Part Four Creating Your Roadmap 205

14 Pulling It All Together: Transition Planning–Creating Your Roadmap 207

Developing a Step-by-Step Action Plan 207

Step 1: Develop a Career Discovery Timeline 207

Step 2: Complete Your Self-assessment 208

Step 3: Identify Your Ideal Career Elements 208

Step 4: Research Career Sectors of Interest 208

Step 5: Identify Career Advisors and Conduct Informational Interviews 208

Step 6: Develop a Networking Plan 209

Step 7: Join Associations/Networks 209

Step 8: Build Your Professional Brand 209

Step 9: Research Specific Job Types of Interest 209

Step 10: Identify Career Functions and Determine Skills or Experiences Needed

to Be Competitive 209

Step 11: Develop a Transition Budget 210

Step 12: Identify Potential Employers of Interest 210

Step 13: Now Start Applying for Jobs 210

Step 14: Evaluate Job Offers Against Your Personal Criteria 210

Conclusion 210

Appendix A Who Are You?: Self-Assessment Worksheet 212

Appendix B What Are You Looking For?: Career Elements Identification Worksheet 218

Appendix C Creating Your Roadmap to a New Career: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding the Right Career Fit 223

Index 000

Valerie E. Ragan, DVM

Is Emerita Professor of Practice, and former director of the Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, where she trained veterinary students in non-practice career areas from 2009 to 2025, and maintained a Career Transition Google group with nearly 1000 members. A recipient of the AVMA's 2017 public service award and the 2025 United States Animal Health Association’s Medal of Distinction, Ragan has led career transition workshops since 2012, and has advised hundreds of veterinarians. Her own career spans private practice, government, private industry, and academia across domestic and international settings.