Current Activities Affecting Federal Veterinarians

1. Current Activities Affecting Federal Veterinarians M. J. Gilsdorf DVM

2. Topics for discussion Work force Shortages – OPM Actions Curriculum Competencies – The Future of Public Health Veterinary Congressional Legislation Updates

3. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government Federal veterinarians have been contributing to the animal health and food safety of the United States for more than 100 years The federal government’s need for more highly trained veterinarians has increased significantly over the past several years

4. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government The role of most federal veterinarians places them on the front lines of current food safety, public health, animal health, and homeland security efforts At the same time, government agencies lack sufficient incentives to be competitive with others in recruiting and/or retaining veterinarians within government service.

5. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government The average annual salary for veterinarians in the Federal Government was $84,335 in 2007 The average salary for veterinarian who owned their private practice in 2005 was $132,579, according to an AVMA report In comparison, the average annual salary for physicians in the Federal Government in the lowest pay category for physicians is approximately $133,000 according to the July, 2007 OPM pay range guide for physicians and dentists

6. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government This is an average difference of over $48,000 less for veterinarians working in the federal government than veterinarians in private practice or other medical personnel working in the government

7. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government In some cases, both physicians and veterinarians are working in the same epidemiological positions with the same responsibilities, duties and grade However, because the current Title 38 pay act does not include veterinarians in the special pay category, veterinarians receive up to $50,000 less per year for performing the same duties and responsibilities as physicians and other medical professionals

8. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government Where are the veterinarian shortages in the federal government at this time?

9. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government FSIS – has had approximately 100 vacant positions or more out of a total of 1100 positions for the past decade ARS – 48 positions- down from 56 in 2009 APHIS – (669) – down from 674 in 2009 FDA (168) – up from 140 in 2008 NIH (89) CDC (95) Military – DOD had 976 veterinarians in 2009 and 874 in 2010 Other Federal Agencies – total veterinarians = 99

10. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government Number of veterinarians in APHIS/VS by grade, as of 3/7/2010:  Grade SES: 6 GS-15: 27; GS-14: 17; GS-13: 119; GS-12: 229 (227 are permanent employees); GS-11: 7 (4 are permanent employees)  Total: 565 VMO's (Down from 619 in 2008)

11. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government Number of veterinarians in FSIS by pay band, as of 3/7/2010:  SES: 4; PB 5: 44; PB 4: 783; PB 3: 63  Total: 894 VMO's (Down from 976 in 2008)

12. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government Number of veterinarians that were hired in 2009 and 2010, and the number that left government service (OPM figures): 2009 - Hired: 16 (14 of these employees were permanent) 2010 - Hired: 1 permanent employee 2009 - Number that separated: 22 (19 were permanent employees) 2010 - Number that separated: 5 (4 were permanent employees)

13. Veterinarian Shortages within the Federal Government What is being done to address the Veterinarian shortage in the federal government?

14. Meetings with the Congressional Subcommittee on Veterinarian Workforce Issues The Senate government workforce oversight committee asked GAO to review the Federal Veterinarian workforce The GAO met with NAFV, AVMA, the federal agencies, and others and reported a veterinarian workforce shortage NAFV,AVMA, & AAVMC meet with Senate committee staffers to further discuss concerns and strategies NAFV and AVMA provided draft language for a bill to provide specialty pay and other benefits to Federal Veterinarians

15. Meetings with the Congressional Subcommittee on Veterinarian Workforce Issues The committee had also directed OPM and government agencies to address the veterinarian shortage The committee staffers want to wait on any actions regarding a new bill to see how the federal agencies develop their own solutions NAFV & AVMA meet, as needed, with the committee to discuss how the agencies are progressing

16. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Pertinent Facts: The federal government lacks a comprehensive understanding of the sufficiency of its veterinarian workforce.  There are approximately 3000 veterinarians, working in the federal government. Approximately 1700 are classified in the veterinary medical 701 series. 

17. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Pertinent Facts: Since over one third of federal veterinarians work in related medical and biological fields, this in itself creates problems in tracking where veterinarians are within the government and assessing the duties that federal veterinarians perform 

18. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Pertinent Facts: There is lack of understanding of how federal veterinarians contribute to the essential functions of the federal government This indicates that routine government-wide veterinarian workforce assessments are needed

19. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Pertinent Facts: Currently, Federal agencies each have different recruitment and retention authorities for veterinarians Several agencies currently have different pay authorities, which allow for higher pay or different incentives. These agencies are better able to attract and retain veterinarians Over 25% of Federal veterinarians will qualify for retirement in the next five years

20. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Pertinent Facts: Replacement Federal Veterinarians must be attracted from a limited supply of veterinary students, private practitioners, foreign veterinarians, and/or encouraging veterinarians not to retire Of the 2,600 veterinary students graduating annually, less than 3% consider public service/practice, which is a total of only 75 new Federal Veterinarians annually It is predicted that more than 510 Federal veterinarians will retire within the next five years. Therefore, agencies must recruit over 100 veterinarians each year just to maintain the existing number within the Federal government due to retirement

21. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Pertinent Facts: FSIS is offering recruitment bonuses of 25% of base pay for up to four years This has lead to filling at least 50 chronically vacant veterinary positions However, in 2009 the overall FSIS veterinary workforce decreased from 976 to 894

22. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Pertinent Facts: Several recently-hired veterinarians have left FSIS for multiple reasons including working conditions FSIS veterinarians who were recently hired but did not receive recruitment bonuses, along with tenured veterinarians, are upset with the agency for not offering similar retention incentives

23. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Current Issues/Updates: OPM Director John Berry has declared that Series 701- (Veterinary Medical Officers) within the federal government as mission-critical positions

24. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Current Issues/Updates: · USDA reported in February, 2010 that they are going forward to establish specialty pay for all series 701 federal veterinarians within the agency. The method they intend to use to achieve this authority was not identified · USDA has drafted a “Veterinary Medical Officer Workforce Strategies” report. The report was completed by April 1, 2010. It lists multiple flexibilities and authorities that they need to maintain a viable veterinarian workforce · HHS is also developing an agency a “Veterinary Medical Officer Workforce Strategies” report at this time

25. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Current Issues/Updates: · USDA and HHS have agreed that there are shortages within some or all of their component agencies and that the potential exists for greater shortages in the future · OPM has formed a Talent Management Advisory Council (TMAC) to develop and review actions taken to maintain an adequate Federal Veterinary Workforce and make recommendations to the agencies and Congress on future actions needed · The goal of the TMAC is to advise and assist agency officials and develop a strategic veterinarian workforce plan

26. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Current Issues/Updates: ·  OPM has asked the Federal agencies to identify government-wide solutions that address the shortage of Federal Veterinarians. To date, the agencies have not agreed on any solutions that could be utilized government-wide by all agencies involved ·  OPM and the Departments have not initiated a government-wide veterinary workforce assessment ·  The agencies have not developed a veterinary workforce needs assessment in surge situations, such as catastrophic events, natural disasters, and major animal disease outbreaks and a surge capacity analysis has not been conducted

27. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Proposed Solutions: · USDA needs to complete and share their plan for establishing specialty pay in order to increase recruitment and retention of the veterinarian workforce · HHS and other agencies need to develop their own Veterinary Medical Officer Workforce Strategy report and share it with Congress and the veterinary community

28. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Proposed Solutions: · Federal agencies will be requesting the following authorities from OPM and Congress: ·  Establish special salary rates for veterinarians ·  Increase flexibilities and repayment caps for student loan repayments ·  Offer retention and referral bonus awards ·  Authority to quickly hire veterinarians as intermittent employees during catastrophic events · 

29. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Proposed Solutions: ·  Establishing waivers for re-employed annuitants ·  Providing the funding to offer the above flexibilities ·  Expanding coverage for hazardous duty pay to include working with zoonotic diseases ·  Increasing continuing education and advanced degree opportunities

30. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Proposed Solutions: · The NAFV, AVMA, and AAVMC are Essential Partners to the TMAC and will provide input and information to OPM and the federal agencies on decisions regarding the federal veterinarian workforce shortage · The goals of the TMAC includes developing a government-wide workforce assessment and integrating the best management practices and tools to maintain a viable, effective, high-caliber veterinarian workforce

31. Federal Veterinarian Workforce Proposed Solutions: The Senate will be holding another hearing to ensure the shortage of the veterinarian workforce is being adequately addressed by the agencies NAFV and AVMA have prepared draft language for a Senate bill and is working with Senate staffers to change existing authorities to include specialty pay for veterinarians, if needed

32. The North American VeterinaryMedical Education Consortium NAVMEC was launched by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) in 2009 to ensure that veterinary medical education meets the needs of our changing society

33. The North American VeterinaryMedical Education Consortium Looking at how Veterinary Medicine has changed over the past 35 years and how it will need to change over the next 35 years Established three meetings to gather data and develop proposals from stakeholders

34. The North American VeterinaryMedical Education Consortium Approximately 90 participants attended the first meeting, representing a spectrum of veterinary sectors (public and private), principally from the U.S. – a small number of attendees were from Canada, the Caribbean etc. The objective of the meeting was to: Discuss global societal changes 2010-2030 Explore what this society will need from the veterinary profession Define the veterinary skills/competencies needed to meet these societal needs

35. The North American VeterinaryMedical Education Consortium Core skills needed from an employer’s perspective: Better surgery skills Better emergency medicine training Examination room skills Business ownership skills – succession planning Team skills – working with staff and paraprofessionals Interpersonal/communication skills – future independent Understanding productivity in a practice

36. The North American VeterinaryMedical Education Consortium Core skills needed from an employer’s perspective: More confidence re: what they can do within a general practice Employers/practitioners need to be strong mentors to new hires Commitment to self-improvement – adding new skill sets Entrepreneurial skills Awareness of unique contributions/career paths outside of practice Being other-centered rather than self-centered More understanding of primary care conditions – as opposed to referral

37. The North American VeterinaryMedical Education Consortium Core skills needed from Society’s Perspective: Basic epidemiology (understand and apply) and wellness Digital technology, including social networking skills Awareness of the political process, including ‘One Health’ Communication (written & oral), teamwork & interpersonal skills (faculty trained in same skills) Diversity skills (local and global) Business skills (responsive business models)

38. The North American VeterinaryMedical Education Consortium Core skills needed from Society’s Perspective: Ability to retrieve and critically evaluate data Analyze and debate Understand the value of community engagement Leadership development & advocacy training – and adaptable to changing environment Problem solving – financial literacy, critical analysis & quantitative skills Preservation of the environment – ecosystems, interface between human and animal health

39. The North American VeterinaryMedical Education Consortium Core skills needed from Society’s Perspective: Team utilization Focus on principles vs. techniques Knowledge of food safety, quality and security Comparative medicine professionals, clinical expert Recognized as the authority for animal welfare Collaboration skills Management skills & ability to delegate

40. The North American VeterinaryMedical Education Consortium Core skills needed from Society’s Perspective: Lifelong learner – creativity, curiosity and critical thinking and problem solving Ability to serve as well as lead Multicultural understanding of human and animal behavior Leadership in public and population health Veterinary ethics – remote communications, new technologies, genetic engineering, etc. Advocacy for the veterinary profession Ancient medicines – non-Western and integrated medicine

41. Veterinary Legislation- Appropriations *AVMA will take the lead position pursuing funding+AAVMC will take the lead position pursuing fundingFunding for all other programs are pursued through agribusiness coalitions, such as the Animal Ag Coalition

42. Veterinary Legislation-Appropriations National Veterinary Medical Service Act-USDA* ($5 million) Accreditation Program-USDA* ($5 million) Animal Health Monitoring and Surveillance Program-USDA ($155 million) Animal Welfare Information Center-USDA ($1.8 million) Agriculture Research Service-USDA ($1.35 billion) Aquaculture Program-USDA-APHIS-VS ($6 million) Brucellosis Yellowstone-USDA ($10 million) Cattle Fever Tick-USDA ($20 million) Centers of Emphasis-USDA ($15 million)

43. Veterinary Legislation-Appropriations Foreign Animal Disease Laboratory Research-USDA-APHIS-ARS ($20 million) Foreign Animal Disease Laboratory-DHS ($50 million) Johne's Disease Control and Research Programs-USDA ($10.6 million) National Animal Health Laboratory Network-USDA ($30 million) National Animal Identification System-USDA ($33 million) National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System-USDA ($4 million)

44. Veterinary Legislation-Appropriations National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease (FAZD)-DHS ($8 million) National Research Initiative- Coordinated Agricultural Project-USDA ($20 million) Tuberculosis Eradication-USDA ($40 million)

45. Veterinary Legislation H.R. 3519 Veterinarian Services Investment Act: This legislation would authorize new grant program for fiscal years to advance unique and innovative state-level veterinary workforce programs. The program would assist States in supporting, augmenting, developing and implementing programs to address the unique veterinary workforce needs of each state.Status: H.R. 3519 was introduced on 7/31/09 and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

46. Veterinary Legislation HR 4497, the Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Medicine Enhancement Act: This legislation would expand the workforce of veterinarians specialized in the care and conservation of wild animals and their ecosystems, and develop educational programs focused on wildlife and zoological veterinary medicine; create new funded positions for wildlife and zoological clinical and research veterinarians; limit the amount of educational debt for veterinary medicine students while providing incentives to study and practice wildlife and zoological medicine; Help schools of veterinary medicine develop pilot curriculums specializing in health management of wildlife in their natural habitat and in captivity; expand the number of educational and training programs in wildlife and zoological medicine for veterinary students.Status: H.R. 4497 introduced 1/21/2010, referred to the Committees on Agriculture, Natural Resources, Ways & Means.

47. Veterinary Legislation S. 337/H.R. 1226 Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2009: The Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2009 seeks to prohibit the importation of ruminants and swine, and fresh and frozen meat and products or ruminants and swine, from Argentina until the Secretary of Agriculture certifies to Congress that every region of Argentina is free of foot and mouth disease without vaccination. Status: S. 337 was introduced on 1/28/09 and referred to the Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry. H.R. 1226 was introduced on 2/26/09 and referred to the Committee on Agriculture

48. Veterinary Legislation Humane Methods of Slaughter Act Amendment: In 1978, Congress passed the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act to ensure that all federal and state inspected slaughter facilities adopt humane handling and slaughtering practices. This Act mandates humane slaughter for cattle, swine, sheep, goats and equine slaughtered at federal and state inspected facilities, but does not cover poultry, rabbits and other commercially slaughtered species. The AVMA and NAFV are pursuing an amendment to the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act to bring all species slaughtered for commercial use under federal and state inspection. Status: The AVMA, NAFV, and other groups are working to amend the Act to include all species slaughtered for commercial use under federal and state inspection.

49. Veterinary Legislation H.R. 2999 Veterinary Public Health Workforce And Education Act: H.R. 2999 amends the United States Public Health Service Act to enhance and increase the number of veterinarians trained in veterinary public health, which is broadly defined and includes biodefense and emergency preparedness, emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, environmental health, ecosystem health, pre and post-harvest food protection, regulatory medicine, diagnostic laboratory medicine, veterinary pathology, biomedical research, rural and government practice; and the sum of all contributions to the physical, mental, and social well-being of humans through an understanding and application of veterinary science. The legislation would accomplish this through Capacity Grants; creation of the Division of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services; faculty loan repayment; and a Veterinary Public Health Fellowship Program within the federal government. Status: H.R. 2999 was introduced on 7/23/09 and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

50. Veterinary Legislation National Veterinary Medical Service Act (P.L. 108-161): Seeking appropriations and implementation of the National Veterinary Medical Service Act. Status: $5 million for FY 2010 for NVMSA Veterinary Loan Repayment Program administered by USDA-NIFA (PL 108-161). Currently NVMSA awards are taxed at 39%. When taxed, $5 million would permit 122 awards at $25,000. If tax exempt, $5 million would permit 200 awards at $25,000.