A variety of forces, such as the new focus on public health preparedness including areas of zoonotic diseases, food security and food borne/vector borne diseases; environmental health; and outbreaks of rabies and West Nile virus call for preparing professionals who possess knowledge and skills in both veterinary medicine and public health.

The purpose of the dual DVM-MPH is to provide formal training in public health in addition to formal training in veterinary medicine. This dual degree is a natural combination of preparation in two related and complimentary health care disciplines.

Graduate veterinarians who also possess the MPH degree will have employment opportunities in:

• Local and State health departments in epidemiology, zoonotic/vector borne diseases, food borne disease, bioterrorism, environmental health, emergency planning/response positions
• State Public Health Veterinarian positions (there are about 39 state public health veterinarians in the US)
• Scientific positions at CDC, ATSDR, EPA, USDA, and the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA.
• The Public Health Service Commissioned Corp.
• Military positions in public health
• State agricultural departments
• Universities doing teaching and research in the broad field of public health
• International public health

Examples of careers include:

• State and Assistant State Public Health Veterinarian
• Public Health Advisor
• USPHS Commissioned Corps
• ACVPM-NAVLE Item Writing Committee at National Board of Medical Examiners
• Veterinary Medical Officer (Epidemiology) USDA/APHIS

Prerequisites

To be a candidate for this combined degree the applicant must be accepted into the DVM program as a condition of acceptance into the combined degree. This may occur concurrently but the condition of acceptance into the DVM must be made before final acceptance into the combined program. The admission committees of the two colleges will independently review the candidate for acceptance into the combined degree. For information about the DVM program at Iowa State University, please see http://vetmed.iastate.edu/.

This following is a sample plan of study. Please work with your advisor to choose a plan that works best for you.