CDC / WHO Vets

[TheBirdNerd]

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Hey everyone. This is one of my first posts here, been lurking but decided it was time to make my own account. Now I'm a Pre Vet student, and I've been looking at all my options for the many amazing routes a veterinarian can take. One of my interests lies with researching and developing vaccines for zoonotic diseases that spread to humans. Now, I think this all happened because I watched movies like Contagion 😛

Anyways, I think it's a really cool field to get into, almost a scary one since they deal with all of those bio safety hazards. Anyways, is anyone else looking at this kind of career ? I'm just analyzing a lot of options even though I have quite a while before even going to vet school...but doesn't hurt to dream !

 

[orca2011]

I'm interested in something sort of related. While I haven't had the chance to do research yet, I would really like to get involved with prion research. I became interested last year after doing a paper/presentation on them and then my interest became more personal when I found out my friend's mother died two summers ago from sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. So that kind of sealed the interest for me. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity somewhere down the road to get involved.

 

[that redhead]

I'm interested primarily in lab animal medicine but have a strong interest in research and public health. One thing you may discover (and that some people on the forum will tell you) is that in many cases it's best to pursue a PhD instead of a DVM if your primary goal is research or maybe even a combined degree. Another thing to consider is that (at least from my perspective) vet school is heavily geared toward those who want to enter private practice or specialties. While there are appropriate classes that you can take it isn't until later in school and they are typically electives. Furthermore, most of your experience in research will likely be outside of class and in a part-time job at a lab unlike your animal-related courses. Again, if you intend just to do research a different degree may be more appropriate (and engaging!) for you.

 

[Coquette22]

I'm a public health/zoonotic/infectious diseases/regulatory/etc potential candidate. I haven't really decided exactly which area. I love microbiology, I love infectious diseases, I just don't know if it'll be more toward food animal diseases (herd health) or zoonotic diseases. I'm currently aiming toward an internship with the CFIA because they handle both of those sort of things, and I'm trying to get more exposure to figure out exactly what I want. I'm not sure if the USDA offers a similar program for American vet students. I can't help you with research though, sorry!

 

[kakurubird]

If you're interested in getting involved with research as an undergrad, Purdue has a summer research program run with their vet school that includes infectious diseases as one possible area of research. (http://www.vet.purdue.edu/SummerScholarsProgram/)
FDA's CVM also has a summer research program that is more into regulatory/government-type stuff so isn't quite the same, but might be interesting anyway. (http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Working...inaryMedicineStudentInternships/ucm113810.htm)

USDA (esp. FSIS) also has a lot of programs for vet students for when you get there.

Personally, I think zoonotic diseases are really interesting just because such a thing is possible in the sense that you and that bird aren't really all that different when it comes down to it. Plus, microbes and viruses are just super awesome in general.

 

[fromthebox]

I. LOVE. Microbes. I am here today with a degree in microbiology all because of one book report in 8th grade science. I read "The Hot Zone" and spent the next six years wanting to be Col. Nancy Jaax. When I came down from that high was when I realized what a PhD really meant was being someone's lab-monkey/peon for years until your thesis project was done. This is not universally true by any means, but the Prof whose research I had been working on for two years was just not a good example so I moved away from research toward indecision and then to Vet Med. I cannot stress enough the importance of getting into a research position and trying it yourself before committing. Just like we stress clinical experience for Vet applicants. I also agree with that redhead that a PhD is a better launching point for a career with zoonoses.

I am not sure what part of Vet med I will gravitate to once I enter school, but I will tell you that, while interviewing at Kansas State last year, I saw a name on the faculty wall that made my heart jump... Col. Jaax and her husband are adjunct faculty.

 

[TheBirdNerd]

Thanks for the feedback everyone ! I am more interested in the clinical side of things, but I haven't really experienced too much of both, so I can't say for sure. I have looked at the DVM/Public Health dual degree, and that seems like a good possibility for me. It'd also be cool to be on a Veterinary Response Team, like when there's a natural disaster, they get dispatched to set up triage and all of that for the animals.

I read somewhere that in case of a huge epidemic or something, vets would be trained to give vaccinations to humans. I can't remember where I read that, or if it's even true...just interesting to me.

 

[that redhead]

Thanks for the feedback everyone ! I am more interested in the clinical side of things, but I haven't really experienced too much of both, so I can't say for sure. I have looked at the DVM/Public Health dual degree, and that seems like a good possibility for me. It'd also be cool to be on a Veterinary Response Team, like when there's a natural disaster, they get dispatched to set up triage and all of that for the animals.

I read somewhere that in case of a huge epidemic or something, vets would be trained to give vaccinations to humans. I can't remember where I read that, or if it's even true...just interesting to me.

It sounds like you have varied interests which is fine. If you want to do more than just research I'd look into the combined program - a good number of schools offer them but it would be extra grueling work!

 

[Chinola]

Thanks for the feedback everyone ! I am more interested in the clinical side of things, but I haven't really experienced too much of both, so I can't say for sure. I have looked at the DVM/Public Health dual degree, and that seems like a good possibility for me. It'd also be cool to be on a Veterinary Response Team, like when there's a natural disaster, they get dispatched to set up triage and all of that for the animals.

I read somewhere that in case of a huge epidemic or something, vets would be trained to give vaccinations to humans. I can't remember where I read that, or if it's even true...just interesting to me.

I'm in the DVM/MPH program at UF. I take MPH classes the summer before vet school begins, after the 1st year and then I do my internship after the 3rd year. So I'll graduate with my DVM and MPH degrees at the same time. I am also in the Public Health and Service club where we'll be trained to help with disasters (natural or man-made). There is also a Disaster Response class that was optional to sign up for that I participated in. Once I have completed this course if UF gets called to help in any disasters I may get to go along (based on schedules and seniority).

There are lots of opportunities for what you're interested in in vet school. I'm not entirely sure I'll end up going the public health route. I had a MPH before vet school began and transferred in those credits so I might as well complete the program. Even if I don't go into that field it's great knowledge to have. When you start looking into vet schools make sure to look into ones that offer a combined degree program. There are quite a few out there (if not the majority of them).

 

[JosephKnechtDVM]

Those of you interested in infectious/zoonotic diseases will love the Global Viral Forecasting Initiative which is headed by Nathan Wolfe PhD, an expert in zoonoses who did not graduate from veterinary school. Their website is www.GVFI.org

Also understand that the DVM degree brings little to research because it is focused on medicine and healing patients rather than producing knowledge and running a public health program that focuses on large populations. I actually was able to meet the Dr Jaax's in 1995 when they were still at USAMRIID when the Veterinary Corps was trying to get new captains in the veterinary corps interested in research. The problem was at the time that even Dr Jaax with her DVM , PhD and board certification in pathology did not earn more money for all of the extra training. Even though a colonel, she still got the same extra $100 a month as every other veterinary corps officer got for being a DVM. The value of the DVM for research is greatly overrated today.

 

[deleted387118]

I'm in the DVM/MPH program at K-State. Most students take classes the summer before and the two summers we have in between and then a few classes on top of the DVM curriculum to finish the MPH with the DVM. You also get to take 12 credits from the DVM and apply it to the MPH. I'm really enjoying the classes and the professors in the department as well as the administrators have really been welcoming, helpful and encouraging.

 

[mbv]

If you're especially interested in global health (since you mentioned WHO) and regulatory issues, there are internships available to veterinary/graduate students at the OIE and at WHO. I don't know anyone who has done anything at OIE but I know people who have interned at WHO who loved it, although you're on your own dime (in Switzerland $$$$!). There are definitely opportunities at CDC in Atlanta too (mostly epi). Plus the USDA & FDA regulatory-type internships/summer jobs for vet students that others have mentioned. Places to look for funding for international research opportunities would be Fulbright, Fogarty International and the CDC Hubert Program.

Although it is in its infancy right now, it will be interesting to see what kind of work comes out of WSU's school for global animal health ( http://globalhealth.wsu.edu/ ).

I agree that a PhD is probably the most cost-effective way to do this kind of research. However, I really appreciate my veterinary training, even though I will concede that it may not be worth the price I'll have to pay for it as I move into loan repayment. I'm working in a global health setting right now and I think the knowledge and perspective of veterinarians is really important to some of the issues (economic, food safety, public health concerns especially related to immunocompromised populations) that are seen in Botswana, where I'm currently living. The medical doctors with whom I work tend to be more narrow in their focus, while, because veterinarians are trained as generalists, it can be helpful in seeing the bigger picture. By no means do I think that everyone who wants to do research should get a DVM, but I am definitely less down on veterinary training for non-clinical careers than a lot of people on this board....