Iowa State’s Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine department prepares students for real-world food animal practice through field-based rotations, integrated herd health training, and unmatched access to Midwest production systems. Students graduate practice-ready for careers in beef, dairy, swine, small ruminant, poultry, and mixed production medicine.
Join over 400 students who’ve gained real-world skills in swine, bovine, poultry, and rural veterinary practice since 2006 with the VDPAM Summer Internship Program. Work alongside expert veterinarians, lead field studies, and apply diagnostic techniques in modern production systems.
Explore advanced training in food animal medicine or pathology at the CVM’s Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine Department. Whether you’re interested in hands-on bovine clinical work or diagnostic pathology, our programs offer immersive experiences in teaching, research, and veterinary care with opportunities for board certification, graduate degrees, and career advancement.
VDPAM’s Production Animal – Veterinary Early Acceptance Program (PA‑VEAP) is an undergraduate pathway designed to recruit and prepare students for careers in production animal veterinary medicine, addressing a nationwide shortage of food animal veterinarians. The program provides a structured route to guaranteed admission to the ISU CVM upon completion, offering mentorship, hands-on production animal experience, and targeted academic preparation for students majoring in animal or dairy science.
