A new veterinary medicine loan repayment program in New Mexico aims to address the shortage of rural veterinarians for livestock, a gap that officials say raises the risk of animal disease outbreaks and food safety threats. The program, created under Senate Bill 8 and signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, provides up to $80,000 in student loan repayment for veterinarians who commit to four years of full-time work in underserved counties. “We’re expected to award 10 veterinarians for the program in the first year,” says Auriella Ortiz, communications director for the Higher Education Department, in a report by SourceNM, noting the department may seek additional funding to expand the program. Applications for 2025 are open through Nov. 1. “We are committed to the ongoing implementation of loan repayment programs for New Mexico professionals,” says Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez in a statement. “The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program will address the shortfall of food animal veterinarians in the state and encourage these professionals to remain and practice in underserved areas throughout New Mexico.”
