About the Academy of Rural Veterinarians

When we graduated from veterinary college, many of us simply faded into the countryside and went to work. Most of us had a pretty clear vision of what we wanted from our careers: Meaningful, challenging work rich in rewards. Our jobs include dealing with many species of both pets and livestock, and interacting with some of the best people that there are. We find our lives exciting and fun, and we make a decent living doing it.

There is presently a crisis in small town and rural America because professionals, including but not limited to veterinarians, are reluctant to have careers in rural areas citing the lack of cultural activities, low income, long hours, and general isolation in many forms.

We veterinarians of the Academy of Rural Veterinarians are going to return to the campuses of veterinary colleges across the country and tell our story. We feel that our lack of input over the years in the veterinary colleges has led to misperceptions about what life in a rural mixed practice is really like.

A rural veterinarian is a highly respected member of their community. You can be active in your children’s lives in ways that are difficult to impossible in suburbia. You are personally involved with the economic viability of livestock enterprises, and quite frankly, pets are part of the family in rural as well as urban areas, and rural people demand the same high quality of care. Your contribution to the general health of the community in which you practice is significant. Besides, as mentioned earlier, rural practice is fun!

Contact Info:

The Academy of Rural Veterinarians
% Brett Andrews DVM
Burwell Veterinary Clinic
PO Box 430
Burwell NE 68823-0430