The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is accepting nominations for geographic areas of Texas experiencing a shortage of veterinarians that work in food animal medicine, rural private practice or public practice.

TAHC will accept nominations until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023.

As part of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), individuals may submit nominations to the TAHC for areas they believe have a veterinary shortage.

Qualified situations selected as shortage areas may benefit from the VMLRP by attracting or maintaining an existing, practicing veterinarian to the area.

In exchange for up to three years of service, a practicing veterinarian can qualify for up to $25,000 per year of student loan debt repaid through the program.

The VMLRP focuses on three types of veterinary practices and will accept nominations in each category:

  • Type I Shortage – a veterinarian is needed to commit at least 80 percent of their time to private practice food supply veterinary medicine in rural, urban, or other type areas.
  • Type II Shortage – a veterinarian is needed to commit at least 30 percent of their time to private practice food animal veterinary services in a remote or economically depressed rural area.
  • Type III Shortage – a veterinarian is needed to commit at least 49 percent of their time to work in public service veterinary training or employment related to food supply and public health veterinary work. These positions are typically located in local, state, or federal governments and institutions of higher education.

Click here for the nomination form.

TAHC will also accept comments regarding the need to re-nominate previously designated areas. To view the FY2023 designated areas click here.

The completed nomination form and comments regarding re-nominations must be submitted by email to comments@tahc.texas.gov.

TAHC will review all nominations and may combine geographic areas, if appropriate.

USDA will only accept nominations that are reviewed, approved and submitted by TAHC.

For more information about the VMLRP and the process of shortage designation, visit the VMLRP website, or contact Dr. Angela Lackie at 737-932-5955 or angela.lackie@tahc.texas.gov.