Brianna Parsons grew up around animals in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, and always thought she'd be a small-animal vet, caring for cats and dogs. But after a study abroad trip to Tanzania during her undergrad years, she decided to change course.
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"I was seeing the ways people depended on livestock for their livelihoods, for food every day, and it kind of made me start thinking differently about veterinary medicine," Parsons said.
Today, Parsons is a fourth-year student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, studying in rotations, learning everything from large animal surgery to dairy production medicine.
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"People are interacting with animals every day, whether they're thinking about it or not in the foods we're eating and in the products we're using in a lot of different realms," the 25-year-old Parsons said.
Demand for veterinary professionals like Parsons is on the rise— a byproduct of the booming pet-care industry, which is set to hit some $70 billion this year, and a growing world population, placing a greater emphasis on food safety and supply.
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Karina Frayter | CNBC
Demand for vets is on the rise due to the
booming pet-care industry and an increasing global population, with
greater emphasis on food safety and health.
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"A veterinarian's job is really to care for humanity by taking care of animals — we often talk about there only being one health. There's human, animal and environment and we serve all of that," said Dr. Joan Hendricks, dean of the UPenn's vet school.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for veterinarians are set to climb by some 18 percent through 2026, while roles for vet technicians will rise by 20 percent in the same time frame. Salaries can reach into the high six-figures, depending on role and area of practice. And demand is so high that vet students often have two job offers when they graduate.
There aren't enough slots in U.S. vet schools to accommodate all applicants. Hendricks said there are about 4,000 spots for vet students across the country annually. UPenn now has 125 slots for students, up from 110, and the application process is highly competitive because the school can get up to 15 times more applicants than available slots.
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