Penn Vet Launches Pathway to Rural Veterinary Practice to Strengthen Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Economy and Align with USDA Rural Workforce Strategy

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) has launched the Pathway to Rural Veterinary Practice, a new program designed to expand the pipeline of trained veterinarians able to serve rural communities and strengthen Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy.

The program directly supports national priorities outlined in the USDA’s Rural Veterinary Action Plan, announced in August 2025, which calls for coordinated action among universities, government, and industry to address critical shortages of food-animal and mixed-animal veterinarians who protect the nation’s food supply and public health.

Across Pennsylvania, with 48 rural counties as defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, the need is urgent. Data from the Center reveals that 25 of those rural counties have fewer than 15 licensed veterinarians per 100,000 residents, indicating that Pennsylvania’s rural counties are disproportionately affected by a shortage of veterinary care. These gaps in care have far-reaching implications for animal health, food security, public health, and the economic stability of agricultural communities.

“The future of rural veterinary medicine depends on how we prepare today’s students,” said Associate Dean for Education, Amy Durham, MS, VMD, MSEd, DACVP, who co-developed the Pathway to Rural Veterinary Practice program alongside Associate Dean of Sustainable Agriculture and Veterinary Practices, Gary Althouse, DVM, MS, PhD, DACT. “By combining hands-on clinical training, mentorship, and targeted experiences, this new Pathway program prepares graduating veterinarians to enter rural practice with confidence.”

A Pipeline Approach to a National Challenge

The USDA Action Plan highlights several key barriers driving the shortage, including insufficient recruitment pipelines and limited exposure to rural practice. The Pathway to Rural Veterinary Practice directly addresses these challenges by embedding rural-focused training and mentorship throughout all four years of veterinary education. Rather than treating rural practice as a late-stage elective, students may enter the Pathway at matriculation or during their first year, allowing for early identification and training of those committed to rural service.

Students in the program benefit from:

• A curriculum aligned with food animal production, mixed animal practice, population health, and emergency preparedness.
• Mentorship from faculty, experienced rural practitioners, public practice veterinarians, and Penn Vet alumni.
• Hands-on clinical training through externships in rural Pennsylvania communities.
• Exposure to practice management, rural economics, and community engagement.
• Opportunities for scholarship and research focused on rural health challenges.

These elements reflect USDA priorities to strengthen education, training, recruitment, and retention pathways for veterinarians serving rural and food animal sectors.

By aligning curricular innovation with state needs and federal strategy, Penn Vet’s Pathway to Rural Veterinary Practice represents a scalable model for strengthening the veterinary workforce and securing the future of rural communities.

“The need for veterinarians in rural communities is something I’ve seen firsthand throughout my career,” said Althouse, who is also serving as faculty lead for the program. “This Pathway is about preparing students to step into those roles, supporting animal health, strengthening agricultural production, and ensuring that rural communities have access to the veterinary care they depend on.”

For more information, visit the program’s page here.