American Veterinary Trends
For example, new AVMA data shows that US vets are increasingly seeking board certification as specialists, a trend that is in direct response to a demand for a higher level of care by pet owners. Statistics from specialty colleges show that there were 9,826 active board-certified diplomates in 2009, a 15.46 percent increase in veterinary specialists from 2006. Even more striking, the number of specialists in the internal medicine specialty went up by more than 11 percent in just one year, from 2008 to 2009.
"The increasing demand for veterinary specialists is something that we've known was happening for some time, but this data helps us understand and track this trend," explains Dr. Larry R. Corry, president of the AVMA. "As the human-animal bond continues to grow, veterinarians are being asked by pet owners to provide increasingly advanced treatments, and this is driving them into specialties like internal medicine, neurology and oncology.
"The AVMA is constantly conducting research and compiling data about our profession and our members as a means of giving us a better understanding of how we can serve their needs," Dr. Corry continues.
The latest data shows that there are now 79,432 members of the AVMA in the United States, more than ever before, and that, for the first time in history, there are more female than male vets. The tipping point came in 2009, when, according to AVMA data, female veterinarians (44,802) surpassed the total number of male veterinarians (43,196). In 2008, men had still outnumbered women in the profession.
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