Outcomes assessment of an alternative career choice program

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcomes of an alternative track program designed to address shortages of veterinarians in nonpractice areas of the veterinary profession. DESIGN: Telephone survey. STUDY POPULATION: Recent veterinary graduates. PROCEDURES: A telephone survey of recent graduates from the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Alternative Career Choice program was conducted. Respondents were asked to give open-ended responses to a list of 9 interview questions. RESULTS: Of the 21 alternative career choice students who graduated between the years 2000 and 2005, 17 were interviewed. CONCLUSION: Analysis of the data suggested that it may be possible to decrease the total number of weeks allotted to the alternate career choice program without impairing the ability of graduates to find employment in their chosen career fields.