Sunday, March 25, 2007
HOMEWORTH — When Dan Dickerhoof graduated from veterinary school in 1993, he was one of about 15 in his class of 125 who specialized in treating livestock.
Dr. Dickerhoof, 40, went on to set up a private practice in the basement of his home in Homeworth, Columbiana County, treating cattle at nearby farms.
Meanwhile, all but three from his livestock-trained subset drifted toward pet care. Some of his former classmates found it difficult to juggle both small-animal and large-animal care. Others found themselves living far from livestock in urban settings, he said.
Today Dr. Dickerhoof is the group’s only remaining full-time, large-animal veterinarian, practicing privately, he said.
What Dr. Dickerhoof describes is being re-enacted at colleges and universities across the country, say officials from Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. At the state’s only veterinary college, about 12 students from this year’s graduating class of 140 have specialized in treating food animals, said assistant professor Richard Meiring.
For complete story, read Monday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.