Colleges of veterinary medicine across the country are finding it more and more difficult to attract veterinarians to an academic career.
Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine is attempting to increase the pipeline for faculty members with the new TRAC program.
Training Residents for Academic Careers (TRAC) is designed to give residents in Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center specialty services an overview of what an academic career in veterinary medicine would entail. This initiative was modeled after a similar program at North Carolina State University.
“The veterinary profession faces a growing challenge in the recruitment and retention of specialists in academia, a critical sector responsible for training the next generation of veterinarians, advancing research and serving public needs,” said Dr. Jessica Ward, interim associate dean of academic and student success and co-director of the TRAC program.
Thirteen LVMC residents are participating in the first cohort of the TRAC program. The first cohort includes residents from all three years but in the future the program will only include first-year residents.
The program includes monthly dinner meetings and round-table discussions with current CVM faculty members, a college-sponsored resident research project and conference attendance, and completion of a resident teaching certificate through CVM’s Office of Curricular Assessment and Teaching Support.
These activities encouraged trainees like first-year small animal surgery resident Kimery Hankins to participate.
“I have a strong interest in pursuing a career in academia because of the environment that allows me to challenge myself by working with and training others also developing their careers,” Hankins said. “Not only is the program dedicated to creating connections and fostering exploration of impactful topics to the veterinary profession, but it also promotes learning and collegiality amongst all without regard to current career status.”
The monthly dinner meetings and roundtables touch all aspects of an academic veterinary career. Topics include career development, transitioning from a residency to a faculty role, developing teaching skills, institutional service, and designing a research study. The program aims not only to educate residents about academic careers but also to equip them with tangible credentials that will strengthen their competitiveness for future faculty positions.
Third-year medical oncology resident Katie Goebel wanted to see what a faculty role would entail away from the traditional clinical work.
“On clinics, we interact with faculty daily to facilitate patient care, but they’ll often have to attend meetings or go to their offices, or go teach,” Goebel said. “I wanted to better understand their schedules and responsibilities when ‘off clinics’ such as research and institutional service.
“Through TRAC I have finally learned what faculty do when not treating patients.”
Ward says educating House Officers about what a faculty veterinary medicine career is critical.
“Veterinary specialists are often drawn to private practice due to higher compensation but another factor is lack of exposure to or understanding of academic career pathways,” she said. “Many House Officers feel unprepared for the non-clinical aspects of academia, which is why TRAC was established.”
And so far, it has been working.
“The program has been very impactful to me by providing insight into what life and a career after residency can offer,” Hankins said. “My desire to explore an academic career following my residency has been solidified.”
December 2025