Today, the Pennsylvania House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee held an informational meeting at PennVet\u2019s New Bolton Center to learn about the challenges facing veterinary medicine in the commonwealth.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgriculture is an economically and culturally critical industry in Pennsylvania, and our veterinarians play a vital role in keeping livestock healthy, preventing and treating diseases, and ensuring the humane treatment of animals,\u201d House Agriculture Committee Chairman Eddie Day Pashinski said. \u201cToday\u2019s meeting was an opportunity for our members to better understand the challenges facing veterinary medicine in Pennsylvania and begin identifying solutions that support the people keeping Pennsylvania\u2019s animals healthy and ensuring access to veterinary medicine across our commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the hearing, committee members heard testimony from:<\/p>\n
During the hearing, committee members heard about the important roles veterinary medicine plays in ensuring animal health and the safety of their products for human consumption, supporting Pennsylvania\u2019s agriculture industry, caring for family pets and more. Veterinarians face a variety of challenges, including student debt, mental health, and a shortage of veterinarians \u2013 particularly in rural areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cVeterinarians are vital to ensuring the health and welfare of animals that sustain the Commonwealth\u2019s agricultural industry,\u201d said Andrew M. Hoffman, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. \u201cAs the state\u2019s only veterinary school, we are compelled to consider how to best deploy resources to address veterinary workforce shortages. This includes training of the next generation, and support for our current veterinarians particularly in Pennsylvania\u2019s rural communities; and ultimately, how this workforce can assist farmers to optimize food production, profits, and long-term sustainability and growth. I want to thank Chairmen Pashinski and Moul, and the members of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee for visiting Penn Vet\u2019s New Bolton Center. Thank you for facilitating a platform to discuss the specific initiatives that we have underway here at Penn Vet \u2013 and nationally \u2013 as we address veterinary workforce shortages, as well as demonstrate our broader support of veterinary medicine across the commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very grateful to New Bolton Center for hosting our committee today, and for this opportunity to have heard from large animal vets, PDA and University of Pennsylvania on the growing vet shortage in PA,\u201d Sappey said. \u201cThe high tuition, burn out and lack of nurse and tech support have led to many leaving the large animal care practice, placing our farmers and vets in a very challenging position. Numerous recommendations were made and I\u2019m committed to the work we need to do as a state to support veterinary professionals who keep our animals and food safe and healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Information about this hearing and other House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee hearings can be\u00a0found here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: Today, the Pennsylvania House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee held an informational meeting at PennVet\u2019s New Bolton Center to learn about the challenges facing veterinary medicine in the commonwealth. \u201cAgriculture … Continue reading House Agriculture Committee discusses veterinary services in Pa.<\/span>
\nDeclan Shaffer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"