Penn Veterinary Medicine | University of Pennsylvania

Career Opportunities After Graduation

The VMD-PhD program has been in existence since the late 1960s. Over 85% of our graduates hold positions in scientific research at academic institutions, research institutes, government agencies, or the pharmaceutical industry. Our alumni show a high level of achievement, a steady positive progression in seniority of faculty or pharmaceutical positions, and command a strong funding base. VMD-PhD (DVM-PhD) graduates are highly trained and are qualified to enter into numerous career pathways.

• Academic faculty: Veterinary scientists work at Universities, Colleges, Medical Schools, and Veterinary Schools. Fifty eight percent of Penn VMD-PhD graduates are in academic careers with 38% holding the position of Department Chair, Director, or Dean.
• Biotechnology or the Pharmaceutical Industry: Veterinary scientists are extremely successful in industry careers with 70% of Penn VMD-PhD graduates who enter these careers serving as either Presidents or Directors of their companies.
• Government Health and Science Agencies: Because of their broad training, veterinary scientists are well suited to careers at Government Health and Science Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. In addition to research, these veterinary scientists set public health policy.
• Public Health and Emerging Diseases: The fields of public health and emerging diseases require individuals who understand how diseases spread between species as well as within populations of the same species. Veterinary scientists are perfectly suited for these exciting careers. In addition, wildlife conservation and reproductive health of species are areas of excellence for veterinary scientists. Veterinary scientists work for the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and Federal and State Public Health Agencies.
• Regulatory Medicine: Veterinary scientists work for United States Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration to monitor food and drug safety. Veterinarians supervise shipments of animals, test for diseases, and design programs to control diseases such as tuberculosis, brucellosis, and rabies.
• Contract Research: Government agencies and pharmaceutical companies often require scientific studies in areas where they lack expertise. Because of their broad training, contract research is an excellent career option for veterinary scientists.
• Military Service: Veterinarians in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps play crucial roles in protecting the United States against bioterrorism. Military veterinary scientists perform biomedical research, monitor food safety, and care for government-owned animals.
• Clinical Research and Clinical Practice: Some veterinary scientists continue using their clinical skills by working predominately at Schools of Veterinary Medicine

Current positions of graduates of the VMD-PhD program: