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Proposed Bill Would Reduce Rural Vet Shortage By Alleviating Student Debt

A bill in the U.S. Senate would eliminate taxes on federal programs and alleviate some student debt, encouraging more vets to practice in rural areas, sponsors say. Rural areas are notoriously underserved by veterinarians. The USDA reports that 48 states are experiencing veterinary shortages in 221 areas.

Proposed by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the bill expands the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), which repays up to $25,000 a year in student loans in exchange for at least three years of work in an area experiencing a veterinary shortage.

Vet school typically costs between $200,000 and $275,000; the 2.6 percent increase in student debt in 2020 meant a vet school graduate carried an average of $188,000 in student loans. While the VMLRP offers veterinarians debt relief assistance, current funding is taxed by the federal government at 37 percent.

This rate limits the program benefits, the sponsors say. The proposed bill would end federal tax withholding, providing more financial assistance to new veterinarians and encouraging their involvement in communities that need their service.

Kentucky Commission Veterinarian John Taormina Passes At Age 57

Dr. John Philip Taormina, D.V.M. passed away in Lexington, Ky. on Tuesday, March 16, at the age of 57.

Dr. Taormina served as a Racing Veterinarian for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission at both Thoroughbred and Harness tracks across the state.

Prior to his tenure as a KHRC vet, Dr. Taormina was a private veterinarian specializing in equine care out of Bowling Green, Ky.

Kerr Brothers Funeral Home on Harrodsburg Rd. is handling arrangements.

We are devastated to hear about Dr. John Taormina passing away. He was such an amazing friend to all of us horsemen, he…

Posted by KentuckyHarness HorsemensAssociation on Wednesday, March 17, 2021

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The Thoroughbred Makeover Entrance Exam: Raising The Bar On OTTB Education

In 2019, competitors who wanted to compete in the Thoroughbred Makeover had to do more than just complete the already-rigorous application process: they had to provide a letter from their veterinarian confirming they had the knowledge and skills to competently care for an OTTB. This letter also proved that the competitor had an active veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

The Retired Racehorse Project, the nonprofit organization that hosts the Thoroughbred Makeover each year, then provided email blasts, webinars and social media content on horse health, often on OTTB-specific topics. The RRP also provided reminders to competitors about things like vaccinations and microchip registration.

The horse-health push culminated in every horse competing in the Thoroughbred Makeover competition receiving an on-site veterinary exam. The horse had to pass the exam to be permitted to compete. Though overwhelming at the outset (veterinarians had a day and a half to complete the exams on over 350 retired racehorses), the process went very smoothly.

First, competitors had to present their vaccination record, proof of Coggins and microchip information to the vet team without their horses. Then, they brought their horses for a 30-minute exam. The ability to sign up for time slots ensured that vets weren't overwhelmed and horses weren't forced to wait for hours; competitors were able to schedule their exam time around their stall setup and schooling schedules.

The veterinarian in charge of overseeing all of the staff and volunteers was Dr. Shannon Reed, an associate professor of equine surgery in The Ohio State University's Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. She and her team checked every horse for:

a microchip registered with The Jockey Club and RRP
a body condition score of at least 4 on the 1-to-9 Henneke scale
normal vital signs
any abnormal blemishes or swellings
soundness

Read more at the Retired Racehorse Project.

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Prisma Partners With B.W. Furlong & Associates, Company To Receive Inaugural Imaging System

Prisma has come to mutually agreeable terms with B.W. Furlong & Associates to be the recipient of Prisma's first robotic imaging system. This agreement represents a significant milestone that validates the equine veterinary community's demand for Prisma's novel technology that produces full-body imaging of a conscious and standing horse.

“Our strategy in establishing relationships with some of the country's largest and most prestigious practices was twofold,” said Michael Silver, Prisma's founder and CEO.

“Firstly, these practices were an invaluable resource during the early development process that ensured that the system would work well for the equine patient. Secondly, as we approach commercial readiness, we want to have a few early systems out in the field to ensure they will function perfectly prior to scalable operations. Meeting or exceeding our customer's expectations is of paramount importance.”

Prisma and B.W. Furlong have been in discussions for nearly a year, during which time the advancement of the system's development and functionality were able to be demonstrated and documented.

“It's undeniable that Prisma's system's capability to perform distal limb and head C.T. imaging of a conscious horse, plus image the axial skeleton and abdomen represents a material advancement for equine diagnostics and their health and welfare,” said B.W. Furlong's founder Brandan Furlong, MVB MRCVS. “We've been able to monitor and vet the progress of the system's development and are excited by the prospect of getting their inaugural system. We're equally enthusiastic about having this technology to perform more comprehensive diagnostics and deliver exceptional patient care.”

Silver estimates that the system will be ready for installation by late 2021. Prisma is in discussions with several other top veterinary practices as additional potential candidates to receive one of its early systems.

Learn more about Prisma here.

Learn more about B.W. Furlong here.

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