I t is the time of year at the college when senior veterinary students are buzzing about and enthusiastically considering their future after graduation. Commencement activities for the last class of this millenium, the Class of '99, are scheduled for May 22. In fact there are more advertisements for veterinarians in Florida than any other state in the nation. This only confirms my experience when visiting practitioners throughout the state who almost always relate a need for an associate.
Demand is high for our graduates.
Earlier manpower surveys, which predicted an oversupply of veterinarians, have not become a reality. Topping this off is the fact that measuring demand based only on numbers of classified advertisements of employment opportunities for veterinarians is likely to underestimate the actual number of positions available. They will undoubtedly have a tremendous number of opportunities to explore positions in Florida as well as throughout the nation. Members of the Class of '99 are excited about their future. In like fashion, I remain bullish on their future and that of the profession as well.