In a study of the issues related to the veterinary medical workforce, including demographics, workforce supply, trends affecting job availability, and capacity of the educational system to fill future demands, a National Research Council committee found that the profession faces important challenges in maintaining the economic sustainability of veterinary practice and education, building its scholarly foundations, and evolving veterinary service to meet changing societal needs. This report seeks to broaden the public's understanding and attempts to anticipate some of the needs and measures that are essential for the profession to fulfill given its changing roles in the 21st century.--Publisher's website.

Introduction -- Companion-animal medicine -- Equine veterinary medicine -- Food-animal veterinary medicine -- Veterinarians in industry -- Veterinarians in public practice -- Veterinarians in wildlife and ecosystem health -- Global food security -- Academic veterinary medicine -- An economic perspective on the veterinary profession -- Conclusions and recommendations.