{"id":555,"date":"2015-11-05T15:51:36","date_gmt":"2015-11-05T15:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cehhs-publichealth.utdev1.wpengine.com\/?page_id=555"},"modified":"2026-07-02T15:39:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T19:39:04","slug":"vph","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/publichealth\/degree-programs\/mph\/vph\/","title":{"rendered":"MPH Concentration: Veterinary Public Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Campus-based and Online <\/p>\n

The MPH with a veterinary public health (VPH) concentration involves collaboration \"\"<\/a>in public health professional preparation between the College of Veterinary Medicine and the MPH program in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.\u00a0The veterinary public health concentration is available only to veterinary students enrolled in our DVM\/MPH dual degree program, graduate veterinarians, and licensed veterinary medical technicians (LVMT).<\/strong><\/p>\n

One health<\/strong> is the concept that animal, human and environmental health are linked, and recognition of this link has created a need for veterinarians with a level of knowledge and skills beyond those gained during their professional education.\u00a0Findings of the National Research Council, reported in Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine<\/em> (2012)<\/a>, emphasizes the national need for more veterinarians to work in public health, epidemiology, and food safety among other specialty areas. Needs and opportunities for veterinarians are expanding in organizations ranging from public agencies dealing with animal and human health, to agencies and corporations charged with food safety and security from the farm to the consumer level.\u00a0The \"Official<\/a>demand is increasing for veterinarians with additional education in food safety, food and animal production, zoonotic diseases, biosecurity, research methods and public policy.\u00a0The veterinary degree alone is not enough to prepare veterinarians to meet these challenges and opportunities.\u00a0A Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is an excellent and necessary addition to the DVM degree for those individuals wanting to make a career in public health and service.<\/p>\n

Veterinarians are the only health professionals trained in multi species comparative medicine and the profession links agriculture, medicine and even health issues at the household level through companion animals.\u00a0Historically, the professions greatest contributions to society have been in food production and its safety and the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases.\u00a0These roles continue and have assumed even more importance in the context of potentially deliberate acts of bio- or agroterrorism.\u00a0American livestock, other domesticated animals, and free-ranging wildlife have been identified as targets by terrorists.\u00a0The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have warned veterinary colleges that veterinarians will likely be the front line in detecting terrorist-engineered epidemics. Veterinary students, graduate veterinarians and veterinary medical technicians must now learn to spot medieval terrors like bubonic plague, whether the symptoms erupt in livestock or companion animals.<\/p>\n

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Consider a career in veterinary public health<\/strong> to increase job opportunities. The the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service is the single largest employer of veterinarians in the US and possibly the world and this one agency estimates it will need 500 new veterinarians in the next few years.\u00a0About half of the veterinarians in the Commissioned Corps of the US Public Health Service are currently eligible for retirement.\u00a0The US Army Veterinary Corps needs 45 new veterinarians each year to meet their public health mission goals.\u00a0Other opportunities for service exist at the state, municipal and university level.\u00a0The MPH degree is necessary for many of these career opportunities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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For more information about the VPH concentration, contact:<\/h4>\n

Assoc. Prof.
\nChika C. Okafor<\/strong>
\nokaforch@utk.edu
\n<\/a>865-974-5611<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

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Points of Pride:<\/h4>\n

VPH Graduates Meet Changing Workforce Needs<\/h5>\n

Since its founding in 2004, the DVM-MPH dual degree program has allowed nearly 30 veterinarians to complete the MPH degree to help fill the national need for more veterinarians in the public health sector. VPH faculty work closely with students to tailor their internship experiences to reflect their career goals.\u00a0 VPH students have completed applied practice experiences in Israel, Kenya, Ghana, and with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Agriculture, National Institutes of Health, Tennessee Department of Health, and several local public health agencies.\u00a0 Four VPH students have taken their veterinary and public health knowledge and experience all over the world as officers in the US Army Veterinary Corps, and two VPH students who were approved for the master’s essay option have produced peer-reviewed publications based on their research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Competencies:<\/h2>\n

Veterinary Public Health concentration of study<\/h4>\n

Upon graduation, an MPH\/VPH graduate should be able to:<\/em><\/p>\n