Creating a Sustainable Profession: Mars Veterinary Health's Commitment to Addressing the Veterinary Professional Shortage

In late 2020, several months into a global pandemic from which we have yet to emerge, Banfield Pet Hospital released a study containing an unnerving statistic: by 2030, 75 million pets in the U.S. may not have access to the veterinary care they need.

Until that point in the pandemic, stories of spikes in pet adoptions during lockdowns—and the strengthened bond between people and their pets—had been a bright spot in news feeds dominated by COVID-related hardships and despair. But this new insight shed light on a parallel reality. An increase in pet ownership means an increase in demand for veterinary care—and shortages in the veterinary workforce put access to this needed care at risk.

To be clear, staffing shortfalls in the veterinary profession did not start with the pandemic. Several challenges have been contributing to workforce shortages, and the recent rise in pet ownership is just one factor accelerating the need for more veterinary professionals. But one thing is certain: We have now reached a tipping point where veterinary staffing shortages represent one of the greatest threats to the profession.

How did we get here? And what is Mars Veterinary Health doing to address the shortage and create a sustainable future for the veterinary profession?

Pet Owner Expectations Have Driven Changes in Veterinary Medicine

Even before "pandemic pets" became a household term, attitudes about pet ownership had been shifting. As pets became more ingrained in family life, expectations around their care evolved too. Devoted pet owners are willing to spend more on their pets and want easy access to the care and services that will help keep them healthy and improve their quality of life. And because millions of people are now working from home with their pets by their side, they're more attuned to their pets’ needs–and more proactive about seeking care when concerns arise. That's good news for pets, but a challenge for short-staffed veterinary clinics struggling to keep up with increased patient loads.

Current Pipelines Can't Meet Healthcare Demands

When it comes to new veterinary professionals entering the industry to meet growing demand, the numbers are not in our favor. Based on educational capacity and the expected number of people graduating or completing residency programs, new studies reveal anticipated shortfalls across veterinarians, veterinary specialists, and credentialed veterinary technicians over the next 10 years. The need for more educational opportunities is clear. But just as important are inspiring more young people to join the profession and retaining the talented professionals already working in the field.

Answering the Call to Action

Mars Veterinary Health is committed to tackling the veterinary shortage, but we know we can't do it alone. We’re taking action in the following areas (among others), which includes forging profession-wide partnerships to contribute to solutions:

Innovating Care Delivery

The needs of pets and expectations of pet owners are evolving, and the veterinary profession must evolve with them. Human healthcare is ahead of veterinary medicine when it comes to using digital tools to deliver care. We are actively looking for opportunities to apply principles from human health to reach more pets via methods such as telehealth. And the work has already begun, with services including 24/7 online chat and virtual office visits available to clients at several of our practices, including Banfield and VCA.

Veterinary Student Debt Relief

High student loan debt among veterinary graduates—averaging $150,000 and up to $400,000—places a burden on new veterinary professionals that follows them years, if not decades, into their careers. To help reduce the impact, Mars Veterinary Health North America is investing $25 million in student debt relief by 2025 through initiatives like Banfield’s Veterinary Student Debt Relief Program. We've also entered into partnerships with academia to address financial needs for veterinary students and create more affordable online programs for STEM-related undergraduate degrees.

Health and Wellbeing

Mental health challenges are an ongoing and growing concern in the veterinary profession. We know that in order to make A Better World for Pets, we need to make a better world for the people who care for them. To that end, we have expanded mental health support programs in our practices and provided free online resources for our Associates and the profession at MVH4You.com. Additionally, our first-of-its-kind suicide prevention training was designed specifically for veterinary professionals and is free to the entire profession via AskAssessSupportKnow.com.

Equity, Inclusion and Diversity (EI&D)

With 90% of veterinary professionals identifying as white, the profession has work to do to better reflect the communities it serves. Increasing diversity in the field will not only enable more culturally competent care, but also help address the veterinary staffing shortage. We have made commitments to champion equity, inclusion and diversity in our organization and across the profession, including but not limited to a $25 million investment in EI&D initiatives, ranging from partnerships with HBCUs, Diversify Veterinary Medicine Coalition involvement, and partnerships with diversity-promoting industry groups, to name a few.

Building a Bigger Pipeline and Stronger Career Pathways

Connecting people interested in careers in pet health to professional opportunities is key to addressing the veterinary professional shortage. We are teaming up with academic institutions to set prospective students up for success through mentoring programs, financial assistance, and educational opportunities. We're also collaborating with academic partners to create a mid-level veterinary professional degree that will increase options for those interested in entering the profession. Of equal importance, we remain committed to retaining current veterinary professionals by offering fulfilling careers and meaningful support, including competitive wages and improved benefits.

While the passionate people who make up our profession experience various challenges, they are among the most resilient people I know. So while the veterinary workforce shortage is a serious issue, it's not insurmountable if we stay focused and work together. For more detailed insights on the shortage, including several new studies, visit marsveterinary.com/.