Veterinary Medicine, like
so many other employment sectors, is thriving in Alberta’s
dynamic economy. Recent years have seen a significant growth in
Alberta’s human and animal population. While this has resulted
in the expected growth in the demand for veterinary services, employment
opportunities for veterinarians and animal health technologists
have grown at an even faster rate. On the companion animal side,
animal owners are demanding an ever increasing range of sophisticated
health care services for their pets. Farm production systems are
growing in size and find a need for more veterinary services. In
order to maintain our place in the world market for animals and
products of animal origin, the need for a credible, regulated veterinary
infrastructure is essential and the international demand for standards
is accelerating. This is particularly evident following the crisis
in agriculture caused by the discovery of BSE in Canada.
The constant threat to human health from diseases that occur in
animals, such as “Bird Flu” has further expanded career
opportunities for veterinarians and technologists at an unprecedented
rate. These global factors are added to by regional opportunities
in animal health care education and research, fueled by the development
of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary,
the Alberta Veterinary Research Institute at the University of
Alberta, as well as other research and development initiatives
in our province.
These events have resulted in a severe human resource shortage
in the animal health field, prompting the Alberta Veterinary Medical
Association and the Alberta Association of Animal Health Technologists
to join forces on a recruitment drive. There are several focuses
of the campaign. The long term drive will target young Albertans,
to inform them of the benefits of a career in veterinary medicine.
Not only are there expanding job opportunities in conventional
and unique areas, there are expanded educational opportunities
as well. Alberta students will soon have access to thirty placements
per year in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Calgary in addition
to the long established twenty annual positions for Albertans at
the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
This fact, coupled with expanded enrolments in Alberta’s
four Animal Health Technology programs, distance learning opportunities
and other creative educational options make this an excellent time
for young Albertans to pursue their dreams of a career in veterinary
medicine.
The short term objective is to encourage Veterinarians or Animal
Health Technologists who have left the profession for a variety
of reasons to consider reestablishment of their credentials and
re-entry into the veterinary health employment field. Additionally,
steps are being taken to assist Internationally Educated Veterinarians
to complete their qualifying requirements and find suitable employment
in the profession.
Give Veterinary Medicine a Second Look, it may the opportunity
you are looking for. |
|
If you are:
A student considering a career as a Veterinarian, an Animal Health
Technologist or a Veterinary Medical Receptionist.
> Click Here
An internationally educated Veterinarian seeking licensure.
> Click Here
A retired Veterinarian or Animal Health Technologist considering
career re-entry.
> Click Here |
