Careers

What do Public Health Veterinarians Do?

• Deal with the big picture of complex problems that relate to the health of animals and people.
• Operate as field epidemiologists investigating new and emerging diseases.
• Serve as leaders for zoonoses prevention and control programs such as rabies or foodborne illnesses and arboviruses, such as West Nile or equine encephalitis.
• Prepare and respond to bioterrorism and other public health related emergencies.
• Develop public policy at local, state, national and international levels. 

DVM/MPH Practice areas:

• Disaster Preparedness
• Ensuring adequate food supply
• Epidemiology
• Food Protection
• Proper Antibiotic Use
• Public Health Leadership/Policy
• Risk Communication
• Strategic Vaccine Programs
• Teaching and Research
• Zoonoses Control

Where do Public Health Veterinarians Work?

Public Health Vets work mostly in public settings including industry, government, non-profit and private organizations such as:

• Private Industry – pharmaceutical and vaccine companies, animal feed, food processors, medical device companies
• Government Agencies - Departments of Agriculture; Departments of Natural Resources
• Departments of Public Health, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Center of Disease Control
• International organizations - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Health Organization, World Animal Health Organization
• Uniformed Services – Army Veterinary Corps, Air Force Health Officer, Public Health Corps
• International public health agencies – Veterinarians without Boarders, Heifer Project International, Pan American Health Organization

Sample Job Titles

• Dept of Agric: Dir of Meat, Poultry & Egg Inspection
• Dept of Agric; Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: Area Epidemiology Officer
• Medical Director for Banfield
• State Public Health Veterinarian
• Director of Food Safety for Keystone Foods
• Director of Global Animal Health and Food Safety, Cargill