Reis’ Veterinary Student Loan Repayment Program Passes the Illinois House

April 25, 2008

Olney, IL.…Representative Reis is pleased that a measure he introduced creating the Veterinary Student Loan Repayment Program has passed through the Illinois House. Once fully implemented and funded, four new veterinary students each year at the University of Illinois (U of I) College of Veterinary Medicine would be eligible to receive a one-year, $20,000 educational loan to cover tuition, books, and other school expenses. In return, the program requires the recipient to practice at least four years in an under served area of Illinois.

“The critical shortage of large-animal veterinarians reflects a shift in farming, veterinary medicine and the economy,” Reis stated. “New veterinarian graduates understand that small-animal practices for dogs and cats simply pay more and frequent early morning trips to a farm to care for a 1,000 pound cow in frigid temperatures is becoming less and less appealing.”

A study by the American Veterinary Medical Association found the median starting salary of large-animal veterinarians is $60,500 while carrying over $106,000 in school debt. With the same median of school loans, small-practice veterinarians make approximately $11,000 over their counterparts. The Association predicts that by 2016, four out of every 1,000 large-animal veterinary jobs will go unfilled.

“Nationally, there is a critical shortage of veterinarians interested in practicing in the areas of food safety and food security, biomedical research, academia, regulatory medicine, and emergency health preparedness,” said Peter Weber, Executive Director of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA). “With the average veterinary school graduate's loan debt climbing, the program is essential if more large animal veterinarians are going to be added to the workforce,” added Weber.

“Representative Reis has shown great leadership in his efforts to enhance food safety and public health with this legislation,” continued Dr. Ronald Gill, ISVMA President, who owns Gill Veterinary Clinic in West Salem, IL. “As a fifth-generation farmer David understands how important this program will be to the agricultural industry.”

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, eight states have already implemented loan forgiveness programs for veterinarians who agree to work in underserved rural areas, and eight others are considering similar programs.

With unified support from the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, the University of Illinois and the Illinois Farm Bureau, the measure now awaits action in the Illinois Senate. For additional information please visit Representative Reis’ website at www.davidreis.org or call his district office at (618) 392-0108.