Colorado Has Funds for Veterinarians
The lack of veterinary care for livestock producers in Colorado is an ongoing challenge.
State Veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr says the Veterinarian Loan Repayment Program helps to retire debt for vets who agree to work in underserved rural areas of the state.
Roehr: “They can receive up to $25,000.00 of debt repayment per year for up to three years and then sometimes an extension for a fourth year. Last year we had 5 successful recipients of the awards in Colorado for shortage areas. We have eight shortage areas and we received applications last year into all of our shortage areas.”
The 8 shortage areas encompass 29 counties. Roehr says resolving the burden of veterinary school loan debt expands veterinarians’ abilities to better serve their local communities.
Roehr:“The shortages in Colorado are real. The lack of veterinarians in rural areas, the lack of veterinarian services to livestock producers is becoming an emerging and continuing problem so anything we can do that can help, we’re certainly interested in.”
Applications are due April 2nd. Veterinarians do not need to live in the underserved counties to receive the funds. They must demonstrate that they are providing at least 30 percent of their services to livestock producers in the counties.
The funding comes through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and can be found by searching: Veterinary Loan Repayment Program.
