The Federal Government is currently facing critical challenges in recruiting and retaining Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs). Federal VMOs promote the health and welfare of animals and the public through diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and understanding of animal diseases; conservation of animal resources; and advancement of veterinary medical knowledge. Federal human capital professionals must help their agencies meet mission demands by ensuring a robust VMO workforce.
To support Federal agencies, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is hosting an interagency forum to strategize about meeting human capital challenges related to this line of work. The forum will include information-sharing and a collaborative discussion to identify solutions. VMOs will discuss their program responsibilities and human capital needs, OPM will describe available flexibilities, and agency human resources professionals will discuss successful human capital initiatives and ongoing challenges. The group will then work together to develop strategies and identify next-steps for addressing issues, including the shortage of VMOs.
The forum is open to Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCOs), Deputy CHCOs, other human resources leadership, and key program officials whose agencies employ VMOs. This event will be held Monday, March 16, 2009, from 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in Room 1350 of the Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building.
Please RSVP by Monday, March 9, 2009, to Sydney Smith-Heimbrock at Sydney.Smith-Heimbrock@opm.gov, 202-606-2762. Please provide the names and titles of all participants your agency plans to send to this event. We look forward to working with you to address this important issue.