The program, planned for 2026, aims to train educators in food animal medicine and encourage more students to enter rural practice.
The Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine is creating its first food animal residency program. The program, backed by a $250,000 grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), aims to address the shortage of veterinarians in rural and agriculture communities, the school said in a news release last week.
“The lack of veterinary coverage in rural regions has far-reaching consequences, from diminished livestock health and welfare to threats against food security and community economic viability,” Jennifer H. Koziol, DVM, MS, DACT, an associate professor of food animal medicine and surgery at Texas Tech who will lead the program, said in the release.1 “The USDA project aligns with national strategic goals of supporting rural prosperity and ensuring a safe, nutritious food supply.”…