EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF

EDUCATIONAL

QUALIFICATIONS OF

PUBLIC HEALTH

VETERINARIANS

1. General Scope of the Field

Veterinary medicine has made many important contributions to the health of man. Our civilization has profited greatly from the recognized work of such scientists as Koch, Pasteur, Curtice, Kil-bourne, Smith, Loeffler, Frosch, Bang, Hall, andMohler. Their researchinthe field ofveterinaryscience which was be-gun with imagination, conducted with industry and persistence, and followed tological conclusions, haspaved the way for many new means of protecting and impi;oving the health of human beings. Analysis of their work in the early

identification of bacteria and viruses, in

the initial development of protective vaccines, in the recognition of arthro-pods as vectors of disease, in the de-velopment and application of practical diagnostic tests using antigens, in the

development of methods to treat and control parasites common to man and animals, and in the development of im-proved methods and higher standards for meat and milk hygiene, reveals the scope and magnitude of the work and the resulting effects on our health and well-being today.

Today, as in the period of these

ac-complishments, multiple problems are associated with preventivemedicine.The fact that most disease agents may affect

orreside in several host species,and that this may be accomplished by the

organ-ism selectively adapting itself to new hosts, indicates that these problems

can-Approved by the Governing Council of the American Public Health Association October 30, 1958, on recommendation of the Com-mittee on Professional Education. This report is a revision ofaReport on Educational Quali-fications of Public Health Veterinarians ap-proved by the Governing Council on October 31, 1951, and is intended to supersede the earlier reporL

not be solved on a single host basis, nor can they be arbitrarily segregated into

areas of human or veterinary medicine. To state that a disease affects only one

species of animal or that a disease of animals does not affect man is toignore the modern concept of disease ecology and prevention. The host-parasite

re-lationship and the selective adaptations of disease agents to new hosts is dynamic rather than static. There is always the probability that future discoveries will alter present concepts of disease and health. The list of diseases capable of affecting both man and animals con-tinues to grow.

The epidemiological findings, the diagnostic tests and protective biologics for zoonoses, and the proved and estab-lished control measures for certain live-stock diseases have resulted not only in the provision of an abundant supply of foods and animal products, including pharmaceuticals for man, but also in

controlling and reducing the incidence of many of the zoonoses,

e.g.,

anthrax,

brucellosis, tapeworms, tuberculosis.

Through the reduction of disease in the animal population, efforts of veterinary medicine are helping to reduce the op-portunities for animal diseases to be transmitted to the human population. Examples of this workinclude the

reduc-tion of bovine tuberculosis intheUnited States from 5 per cent in 1918* to 0.15 percent in 1957 andthe current nation-wide program in the eradication of brucellosis which has reduced the

occur-rence of this disease in cattle from 11 per cent in 1935 to an estimated 0.66

per centin 1957.

*Many counties in northern United States

had infection rates that ranged from 25 to50 percent. In the South and the West therate

was 1 to 2percent.

to furnish information that wvill provide

newv approaches and new procedures,for

future programs of preventive medicine

and the protection of human health.

I. Future Outlook

The field of veterinary public health

and comparative medicine offers many

opportunities

in

public

service and re-search. Health officers have recognized

the contributions to be made by public

health veterinarians and are integrating their services with public health pro-grams.

While challenges in the field of

com-municable disease control are being met with ever greater vigor and success, many problems still exist, especially

among the zoonoses. Questions are still unanswered regarding rabies,

toxoplas-mosis, Q fever. psittacosis, leptospirosis, to mentioni a fewv specific diseases. In

addition there is opportunity for re-search in the field and in the laboratory with the newlv recognized influenza-like enteroviruses anid myxoviruses which are found in both man and animals.

There are other important areas

be-sides the zoonoses to which the veteri-narian is

prepared

to make valuable

contributions. Among these are studies

on the effects of air pollution on both

animals and man in the same rural and

urban environments. It is possible that air

contaminianits

produce the same

pathologic

changes

in animals as in

mnan and that animals may, in effect, serve as sentinels for the presence of

nloxious

substances. Similarly this

would be applicable to radiological

fall-out problems. Certain biologic effects of fall-out detection have already been

demonstrated in animals and animal

products.

such as milk. Continued -igilance for increased levels of radio-activity in animals is of immediate

con-cern to

public

health. Because of his

further training in radiation health. The civilian use of radiobiology in the con-trol of animal diseases and in the preservation of food is a new develop-ment which will be of especial concern to the public health veterinarian. Radio-biologic projects already include trichina sterilization, and the processing of cer-tain foods. Civil defense agencies also find a need for veterinary services in manyareas.

Veterinarians and members of other

professions who specialize in food hygiene have raised many questions

aboutthe indiscriminateuse of additives in food without priorevaluation of their

effects on human health. This is a

public health problemthatchallengesthe specialist in food hygiene. Meat and

poultry hygiene must also be reviewed with particular reference to the pre-vention of communicable disease as well as to the problem of additives orgrowth

stimulants and thedevelopmentof stand-ards for the safety and wholesomeness of meat andpoultry.

Rural health programs will have an increasing need for public health

veteri-narians in the immediate future.

Precedents havealready been established by agricultural-medical groups studying health problems of ourrural population. To expedite the application of new knowledge of disease control in rural areas the services of veterinary practi-tioners are being utilized in local health activitiesother than inspection programs.

Though, to date, the contributions bv the veterinarian to chronic disease and

geriatric programs have been limited.

veterinary practitioners, veterinary

re-search clinicians, and workers in basic veterinary sciences all have data that may be of valueto these programs. This material should be compiled and made available to vorkers in the field. Re-search programs should be integrated and coordinated so as to serve both the

PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARIANS

human and veterinary aspects of chronic

diseases and geriatrics. This area will no doubt develop rapidly and will re-quire special attention from veterinary

public

health workers.

Asveterinarians in the field of public health become more experienced they

are eligible for higher level administra-tive positions in health departments.

This has been recognized and the future should present more such opportunities.

Ill. Functions of Public Health

Veterinarians

The public health veterinarian is

re-sponsible

for that field of activity which protects and advances the health of man by utilizingtheknowledge and resources concerned with the interrelationships of

animals and human health. His sphere

of activity includes the planning,

con-ducting, supervising, and coordinating

of community efforts for the improve-ment of health and well-being of man.

The public health veterinarian's efforts are directed toward improvement of

public

health

by application

of his

pro-fessionalknowNledge in coordination with

other public health competencies.

The public health veterinarian is

re-sponsible for a broad variety of

func-tions which depend on the problems of

the area and the scope of the agency with wvhich he is associated. The

func-tions listed below are illustrative of

some ofhis activities andresponsibilities

at the local, state, or federal level. Any

one position may not include all these functions nor will all functions

neces-sarily be listed. The functions include:

1. Promotion of veterinary public health activities in urban and rural en-v-irons to prevent and control those animal diseases that are transmissible to

man by direct contact, indirectly through food products, or by insect

vectors.

2. Consultative and field assistance in

health administration to obtain the maximum professional coiitribution of

veterinarians in the areas of public

health relating to veterinary medicine.

For example:

As a staff function the veterinarian advises the health officer and other divisions of the health department in the areas where his broad professional training in biology, medi-cine, and public health can be applied to the planning and development of programs.

3. The epidemiological estimation of

public health dangers and problems arising from the diseases of animals.

4. Development and maintenance of

animal disease reporting and statistical services for the evaluation of the danger

presented by the zoonoses and of the

procedures employed for their control

and prevention.

5. Participation in the planning,

promotion, coordination. and supervi-sion of programs related to the inspec-tion and hygiene of milk. meat, and

other food and the

application

of bio-logical principles to the production,

processing, and distribution of food

products.

6. Planning and

participation

in

laboratory and research activities in the field of comparativemedicine, including diagnosis, epidemiology. epizootiology,

microbiology,

production of biological products, and all aspects of comparative

pathology.

7. Active participatioIn in the

defini-tion of radiation hazards and in the planning and promotion of programs

for theprevention or alleviation of

radi-ation hazards as thev mav affect the

interrelationships of humani and animal health.

8. Enlisting the cooperative

participa-tion of private veterinary medical prac-titioners in urban and rural community

public health problems. Liaison with the veterinary medical practitioner. Prornotion of various programs such as

milk and meat hygiene, and general healthin the community.

9. Active participation in cooperation wvith health education personnel in the

planning,

promotion, and development of health education programs relating to veterinary public health activities and thepublic healthneedsinthecommunity and

participation

inthedevelopmentand

enforcemenit of health laws and regula-tions.

10. Conisultation and liaison with vol-untary and official organizationsatlocal, state, and federal level, as well as

en-listing the cooperation of the

depart-ments of agriculture and conservation in the prevention and control of animal diseases affecting the public health. For example:

(a) Provision of consultative services to the Public Health Service, state and local health officers. and other departments of government. medical and veterinary medical practitioners. animal and food industries, universities, and the general public;

(b) Cooperation wvith farm and rural or-cranizations for the control of health hazards peculiar to agriculture in the improvement of ruralhealth:

(c) Consultation and liaison with

agricul-ture and conservation departments in the prevention and control of animal diseases affecting the public health.

In anyprogram to influence and

bene-fit the public health, both from an

in-vestigational viewvpoint and by develop-ment of feasible solutions, the ten areas

of activity listed require the biological approach, the concept of group or

community health. and the use of the

principles

of comparative medicine,

pathology.

bacteriology,

and

physiology.

The veterinarian has been

taught

to

ap-lproach

problems

in terms of the herd

or the flock. and thus has been trained

in thepublichealth and preventive

medi-cal concept of considering the group or

the communityas aunit.

Veterinarians

Professional training in

veterinary

medicine leading to the D.V.M. degree

is a basic requisite. Preveterinary

col-lege training (two-four years) provid-ing a background in the sciences and humanities is required for entrance to schools of veterinary medicine in the

United States that are approved by the American Veterinary Medical Associa-tion. Completion of a four-year

curricu-lum leading to the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine in a school of veteri-nary medicine approved by the Council on Education of the American Veteri-nary Medical Association is acceptable evidence of such training. Graduates

of veterinary medical schools of recog-nized standing outside the United States

may be considered acceptable. These

would be considered on an individual basis. Acceptability of the training should be referred for an opinion to the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. A

li-cense to practice veterinary medicine is required in all states and anyone entering the field of veterinary public health should have become licensed fol-lowing the conferral of the D.V.M. degree.

Completion of one academic year of

postgraduate study in a school of public health accredited by the AmericanPublic

Health Association or its equivalent is

essential.

Practical field experience, preferably

before commencing the public health

course, is desirable. Thisisrequired by several of the accredited schools of pub-lic health before a degree is awarded. Field work should provide supervised

experience in disease control and eradi-cation. or in meat, milk, and poultry

hygiene in a department or service that

is recognized for interstate purposes or by state health departments. Of

par-PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARIANS

ticular value is a period of supervised training in a health department to permit the candidate to determine whether he is suited for work in this field ofveterinary medicine.

Prior to admission to a school of

public health, the candidate for a post-graduate public health degree will have had fundamental training in veterinary medicine leading to the D.V.M. degree. Therefore, his efforts should be directed toward obtaining a professional public health education. The broadening in-fluence available in a school of public

health, of contact withmembers of other

professions,

and the

opportunity

for

ex-changing ideas, are of inestimable value.

This exchange of ideas and understand-ing of the variedprofessions contributing

to public health work is essential if the individual public health veterinarian is

to bring to bear upon an over-all public health program the technics and profes-sional training of veterinary medicine. The training for public health veteri-narians in a school of public health should include:

(a) Basic and specialized fields in which instruction is of particular importance to -eterinary public health. These fields include epidemiology, bacteriology, parasitology, im-munology, virology, tropical medicine, medical entomology, environmental sanitation, food hvgiene. biostatistics, and radiology;

(b) Instruction in the general principles

and practice of public health, e.g., public

health administration and practice, public health lawvs and economics, and health edu-cation, in order that the v-eterinarian will

understand and be able to contribute to the development of a comprehensive health

pro-gram and to the solution of problems of the other professional groups in public health. It

wvill also enable him to define his own

activi-tiesmoreclearly.

In the schools of public health in the United States, the master's or doctor's

degree

is conferred on veterinarians upon successful completion of the

pro-gram of study. Graduate education in schools other than schools of public

health, leading to a master of science, doctor of science, or doctor of philosophy degree, may be accepted in certain cases. It should be shown, however, that the major subjects of study have direct

ap-plication

in

public

health. In

regard

to the training of veterinarianswho will be concerned primarily with research lab-oratory work, similar degrees in science andphilosophy are the mostappropriate. Such training may be obtained in some

oftheschools of public health. medicine, veterinary medicine, or in the graduate schools of the larger universities.

An adequate period of full-time prac-tical experience in increasingly

responsi-ble positionsconstitutes an essential part of the education and training of the veterinarian if he is toassume the

direc-tion of a veterinary public health pro-gram. In this connection. public health veterinarians, otherwise qualified, wvho have achieved notable success and who

have had many years of full-time

ex-periencein an organized agencv. maybe

considered as qualified even though lacking formal postgraduate academic training. However, it is to be

empha-sized that an exception to the require-ments of a postgraduate course and supervised field training should be made onlyifthecandidate has

actually

demon-strated his ability as a public health

veterinarian by at least four years of

constructive service.

V. Personal Qualities

It is desirable that professionally

trained personnel in veterinary

public

health, responsible for administrative practices and policiesas well asrelations

with the public, have personal

qualities

that will enable them to carry out their tasks. These should include

adapta-bility, common sense, creative ability,

soundhealth, good

judgment.

leadership,

alertness, and enthusiasm for the field.

MIuch of the success ofthe director of a

favorable relationships, stimulate

co-COMIMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

PHILIP E. BLACKERBY, JR., D.D.S., Chairman BERWYN F.MATTISON,M.D., Secretary ROBERT H.FELIX, M.D. ALBERTV. HARDY,M.D. GEORGEJAMES, M.D. OTTO T. MALLERY,JR.,M.D. KARLM.MASON. M.P.H. JANICE E. MICKEY, R.N. DAVID S.RUHE,M.D. CHESTER B.STEWART, M.D. WALDO L.TREUTING,M.D. RAY E.TRUSSELL, M.D. ROBERT G.WEBSTER, M.P.H. Consultant: WILSON G. SMILLIE, M.D.

The Committee on Professional Education expresses grateful appreciation to the

subcommittee which assisted wvith the preparation ofthis report. This subcommittee

consistsof:

JAMES H. STEELE, D.V.M.,NI.P.H.,Chairman KARL M. NIASON, M.P.H., Referee

ROBERTK.ANDERSON,D.V.N.,M.P.H. W. MAx DECKER,D.V.M. MARTIN M.KAPLAN, V.M.D., M.P.H. W.T. S.THORP, D.V.M. FRANK A.TODD, D.V.M., M.P.H. ERNEST J.WITTE, D.V.M., M.P.H.

This is the first of the educational qualifications reports that, according tothe new procedures of the Committee on Professional Education, has been circulated for comment before publication in the American Journal of Public Health. Of more than 100 persons with special interest in the training and practice of public health veterinarians-faculty members of schools of public health and schools of veterinary medicine, members of the American Board of Veterinary Public Health, officials of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and veterinarians in state health departments-to whom the proposed report was sent, replies were received from 41. The present report was revised in the light of their comments. The Committee on Professional Education ex-presses its thanks to these many persons who have helped in the preparation of this report. It joins with the subcommittee in special appreciation to Robert D. Courter, D.V.M., of the Public Health Service Communicable Disease Center, and secretary, Conference of Public Health X'eterinarians. wvhowasco-optedbythe group as secretary to thesubcommittee.

National Health

Survey Concepts

The framework in which the National Health Survey is being conducted is

described in "Concepts and Definitions

in the Health Household-Interview

Survev. This is a necessarv tool for

those who are using the data from the

health survey and drawing conclusions

from them. Public Health Service Pub-lication No. 584-A3. Gov. Ptg. Office. Washington 25, D. C., 30 cents.