South Dakota is working to solve the shortage of large animal veterinarians in the state. A partnership is being established where students can take the first two years of vet classes at South Dakota State University and the last two at the University of Minnesota’s College of Vet Medicine. Dr. John Killefer, dean of SDSU’s College of Ag and Bio says they hope the Two-Plus-Two Program will attract more students to the program to practice in rural areas.
He says more vet students are from urban areas that only have experience with small or companion animals, so they are targeting students with rural backgrounds first.
Killefer says they are patterning the program after those trying to attract more medical doctors to rural areas.
The Two-Plus-Two Program was approved in the State Legislature on the House side and is now moving through the Senate.
