The UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) is ranked fifth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. QS World University Rankings puts the school at 24th in the world. And while the SVM’s strong reputation extends across the nation and around the globe, its graduates tend to stay close to home: 70% of Wisconsin DVM students remain in the state after graduation.
That’s an incredible fact, and one that makes an investment in the SVM all the more impactful for the state. The health of our state’s animals – from cats to cows – depends on what happens in a modest brick building on the west end of the UW campus. More than half of the state’s veterinarians were trained at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine — and since UW didn’t graduate its first class of veterinarians until 1987, that percentage is likely to increase.
Like its graduates, the SVM’s work is also focused here at home. UW Veterinary Care, the SVM’s teaching hospital, cares for clients from around the Badger state. The school and the hospital serve as a referral source for veterinarians all across Wisconsin. And, the school’s research and outreach touches on key issues facing Wisconsinites — from dairy production to the VHSv fish virus. The SVM’s Shelter Medicine Program works with facilities across the state, and faculty and students partner with organizations such as the International Crane Foundation, the Milwaukee County Zoo, and the Four Lakes Wildlife Center.
As the SVM’s service to Wisconsin has grown, so has its need for space. To continue serving Wisconsin, the school and hospital will need to break new ground and expand their footprint. It’s a necessary investment, one that will pay dividends for the people and animals of Wisconsin long into the future.