Difference between DVM and VMD
Both DVM and VMD indicate that a person is a qualified veterinarian. To become a qualified veterinarian and earn either distinction, the course of study involves 4 years of college, 4 years of veterinary school and then postgraduate work if you select a particularly exotic animal for which you will provide care. For example, if you decide to care for dolphins, you will need to obtain a further degree in either marine biology or zoo medicine. Much of the journey to becoming a veterinarian is standard but there is some customization based on the animals that you choose to treat.
If you want to become a DVM or VMD, in general, your first four years in college are best spent earning a science-based degree, preferably in the life sciences. Biology, chemistry and physics all would be good choices. If you already have your mind made up and want to treat marine based animals, then undergraduate in marine biology could save you some time in your post-graduate work after vet school.
As of 2010, there are only 28 licensed vet schools in the US. Due to the small number of schools, admission to vet school is very competitive. Statistically speaking, most applicants are Caucasian, Chinese or Hispanic and female. The highest number of applicants come from the eastern part of the nation and range in age from 21 to 30. Most admissions boards require the GRE for the admission process and selection.
DVM and VMD Curriculum
The veterinarian curriculum covers anatomy, and a number of fields that will be useful in diagnosis and treatment of patients in the future including: pathology, microbiology, histology, physiology and pharmacology. The curriculum for a vet is similar to that required for a doctor of medicine. It may be more difficult however, because there are so many species to become familiar and proficient in treatment.
The final year of vet school involves obtaining a great deal of clinical experience. Then, following graduation, a student must pass the state board examination to obtain a license to practice. If the student desires to work in multiple states, the state board exam needs to be taken in each state. Following the state board examination, jobs are then available in research, private practice or industrial research.
Difference Between DVM and VMD
Most veterinary schools grant a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) degree upon graduation. University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia School of Veterinary Medicine grants a VDM (Veterinary Doctor of Medicine) degree. Both are degrees for practicing as a veterinarian.
The major difference appears to be UPenn's concentration on the linkage between human medicine and vet medicine. UPenn offers both a VDM-MBA and VDM-PhD degree as options for postgraduate study. These two degree programs are geared towards providing vets with either a backgrounds in business, in the case of the VDM-MBA program, or in Medicine with the VDM-PhD program.
The VDM-MBA program prepares a vet to transition into a business environment. For example, he can become an advisor to the animal food manufacturing and production industry. A VDM-MBA can intelligently interface between the nutritional needs of the animal nutritionally and the needs of the business in order to advise composition to best increase productivity for the farmer. With proper nutrition, a farmer can maximize the production of meat, produce. Treatment through proper feeding can also increase the sustainability of his herd and crops.
The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine states that they are committed to the coupling of veterinary medicine and human medicine. The VDM-PhD program works towards this commitment, facilitating an understanding of human biology and animal biology and tying these together using comparative biology. The hope is that developing this cross-field understanding will allow VDM's to provide better medicine for both species. Individuals trained in comparative biology and interspecies microbiology are especially prepared for roles in the fight against epidemics of disease, public health, biosafety and bioterrorism.
To a large degree, this type of training will prepare students to contribute greatly in the fields of pharmaceutical development, human and animal research, medical research and public health. The VDM-PhD program prepares students to deal not only with specific system effects of treatment but is also are geared towards basing treatment on a whole animal body approach.