Appalachian State University and Banfield Pet Hospital® — the leading provider of preventive veterinary care in the U.S. and part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of practices — have announced a partnership aimed at strengthening the pipeline of licensed veterinary technicians and creating a more sustainable future for the veterinary profession. This is in direct response to a recent study from Banfield, which finds an estimated 75 million pets in the U.S. may not have access to the veterinary care they need by 2030, with an important factor being a critical shortage of veterinary professionals.
As part of the partnership, Banfield made a multimillion-dollar commitment toward the development of a new four-year online degree program at App State for licensed veterinary technicians (LVTs). This will address the market demand — particularly in rural communities — for skilled veterinary professionals.
“App State excels in developing visionary academic programs that address professional workforce shortages in rural communities and help advance industry standards,” said App State Chancellor Sheri Everts. “This partnership with the leading pioneer in preventive health care for animals is synergistic and forward thinking. With graduation and licensure achievement rates that far exceed national averages, our university is uniquely positioned to develop and deliver a signature program that will help advance the profession, elevate the role of the licensed veterinary technicians and address the market demand for skilled, rural veterinary professionals.”