A BOLD GROWTH INITIATIVE LAUNCHED TO RELIEVE A VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE AND ADVANCE VETERINARY AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH TOWARD A HEALTHIER WORLD FOR ALL.

Since taking the helm of LSU Vet Med on the eve of Hurricane Ida roaring onto Louisiana’s coast, Garden has focused his considerable energy on maximizing the potential of the school for the betterment of animals, humans, and the environment. This has required vision, tenacity, discipline, and the willingness to listen to stakeholders. More than 1,200 visitors, including Louisiana’s governor, legislators, and other dignitaries, have stepped inside LSU Vet Med to better understand all the school delivers, as well as its areas of need, helping to garner $2 million in capital outlay and nearly $1.5 million in additional state appropriations for 2023.

“I hope this signals the beginning of our momentum as we educate future veterinarians, protect humans from zoonotic disease through our diagnostic laboratory and biomedical research, ensure food security, serve the equine industry, and treat wildlife and family pets,” he said.

LSU Vet Med has launched a plan to significantly expand its entering class size and to increase its veterinary services in response to the growing need for veterinary care.

“There is a workforce shortage, especially in rural and large animal practices,” said Heidi Banse, dean for educational strategy.

Space To Grow And Learn

Accepting more students creates a need for more teaching space and more professors to teach. The 1970s-era auditorium will be updated to include flexible learning space.

The Surgical Training Center will double surgical bays to train seventy students at a time in teams of three. The school is recruiting for several positions to help teach clinical and surgical skills. In addition to the D.V.M., the school offers Ph.D. and M.S. degrees.

STUDENTS GAIN HANDS-ON KNOWLEDGE TO PERFORM AT HIGHEST LEVELS

“A competency-based curriculum involves reframing the role of instructors to teacher-coaches, rather than simply lecturers and test-givers,” said Banse. At the heart of the student learning experience is a three-year integrated hands-on-animals program in a spacious new Clinical Skills Laboratory that integrates classroom learning and prepares practice-ready graduates. The Clinical Skills Lab is located within our new 40,000-square-foot Stephenson Pet Clinic, home to our companion animal wellness efforts and several clinical services, including community practice (primary care), dermatology, integrative medicine, and ophthalmology. Our veterinarians-in-training learn from boardcertified and other experts who are trained to teach.

Into The Field

Students gain exposure to all species. Treating 1,200 wildlife cases and releasing 40 percent back into the wild each year, the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana provides veterinary care for injured wildlife, conducts conservation research, and educates the public with resident raptors.

The Shelter Medicine and Community Outreach programs feature two fully equipped mobile clinics, including a new unit funded by Petco Love in which students and clinicians perform spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, flea and heartworm prevention, and general wellness examinations.

The mobile clinics are used to provide disaster relief and animal shelter services. LSU Vet Med trains and deploys animal rescue and response teams who are ready when disaster strikes our hurricane-prone region.

AT THE HEART OF THE STUDENT LEARNING EXPERIENCE IS A THREE-YEAR, INTEGRATED HANDS-ON-ANIMALS PROGRAM IN A SPACIOUS NEW CLINICAL SKILLS LABORATORY THAT INTEGRATES CLASSROOM LEARNING AND PREPARES PRACTICE-READY GRADUATES.