UPDATE: 2017 students & recent grads are also eligible! Production-animal and mixed-animal DVMs will be considered.

"...established by the Georgia General Assembly for the purpose of providing financial relief, by way of student loan reimbursements, for veterinarians willing to provide food animal veterinary services in shortage areas around the state."

• Must intend to provide food animal service to Board approved rural counties with populations of 35,000 or less (please note that this requirement is that you provide food animal service to a qualified county; your practice does not need to be located in one of these counties. I have attached a map which highlights the approved counties.)
• Must be a GA resident
• Payments of up to $20,000 on the outstanding student loan debt per year (the first year is currently funded)

The State Veterinary Education Board of Georgia is accepting applications for the first awards from the Georgia Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Program. Last year, the Georgia General Assembly appropriated $100,000 to the Georgia Student Finance Authority to grant financial relief to veterinarians willing to provide food animal services in under-served areas across the state. Members of the State Veterinary Education Board met for the first time in late October to discuss details of the program’s administration.

Rural areas across the United States suffer from severe shortages of the veterinary services necessary for livestock producers to maintain the health of their animals. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 74 counties in Georgia had no veterinary practice devoted to food supply veterinary medicine in 2008. Without these large-animal services readily available, livestock producers run the risk of losing their animals to health complications that could otherwise be avoided. This not only puts their livelihoods at risk, but also causes concern for statewide outbreaks of animal disease and possible public health implications.

The reluctance of veterinarians to set up large animal practices in these rural areas is not usually a matter of preference, but rather one of being able to maintain a viable business. Small animal clients tend to bring in more money per animal. They also travel to the veterinarian. Large animal services, on the other hand, require the veterinarian to travel to the animal. Because of the disparity in services across the state, they are often required to traverse great distances.

All of these circumstances, coupled with the burdening student debt these veterinarians acquire while in school, force new graduates to take jobs near higher income urban centers. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the average debt for veterinary students in 2014 was $135,283. Even when a veterinary student specializes in the practice of large animal medicine with the intention of serving in a rural area, they soon realize that small animal practice has higher earning potential that will allow them to pay off their debt sooner.

The State Veterinary Education Board will buy student loan debt from eligible veterinary students and practicing veterinarians serving rural counties with populations of 35,000 or less. The criteria for selection will be based upon the eligible candidates’ qualifications and the area they intend to serve. Award recipients will be required to provide one year of service in the designated area of need. Upon completion of the service period, the board will purchase up to $20,000 of the veterinarian’s student loan debt.

DEADLINE - January 15^th. Eligible participants must submit an application with the appropriate documents in order to be considered.

Take a look at the GVELRP Program Overview

For more information click here, or contact Adam Dye at [email protected].