THE CRAFT OF THE VETERINARIAN IS FOR THE GOOD OF THE NATION: Supporting Every Animal, Everywhere.
AN INDUSTRY IN CRISIS
Ontario is facing a crisis in veterinary care. A systemic, province-wide shortage of veterinarians began long before COVID-19 and intensified during the pandemic as animal ownership spiked. In addition to this, a recent study concluded a lack of veterinary capacity in northern Ontario impacts food animal producers, in turn impacting the larger agricultural industry in the north. This has put unsustainable pressure on veterinary healthcare teams and created a desperate need for new vets.
The risk of maintaining the status quo is simply too grave while the potential benefits of growth and evolution are compelling; now is the time to pursue an ambitious new plan.
ALIGNING ACADEMIC STRENGTHS
Turning years of discussions and strategy into concrete plans, in March 2023, the Province of Ontario announced support of an innovative program: the new Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP) which unites the Ontario Veterinary College with Lakehead University in Thunder Bay in a one-of-a-kind educational partnership focused on recruiting and training new veterinarians.
For the first time in more than 35 years, the class size of OVC’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program will increase from 105 for domestic students to 125 bringing the total number of graduates to 140 each year.
BRINGING A VISION TO LIFE: THE COLLABORATIVE DVM PROGRAM
Your support of new facilities will help us bring this new innovative program to life. With the long-awaited expansion of our class, we need to right-size and modernize our learning facilities for medical and surgical management of patients. Yes, it is about increasing the number of graduates, but it is also about increasing the number of quality learning experiences for every one of these students. As a result, final year students will be more fully prepared to apply these skills confidently and effectively for the benefit of all animals, everywhere, across a spectrum of environments.
THE NEW MULTI-STORY MEDICAL AND SURGICAL LEARNING CENTRE WILL PROVIDE:
- Optimized teaching and learning space including modernized, dedicated areas for students to practice their foundational pre-surgical, surgical, post-surgical and medical skills.
- An increase in hands-on learning experiences for all students in phases 3 and 4 through the development of two new, updated and expanded surgery suites: a surgical lab and a foundation surgical suite for training on models.
- Dedicated patient preparation, treatment, and recovery rooms.
- A designated room for dentistry training.
- State-of-the-art facilities for teaching and learning clinical skills that are foundational to companion animal, equine, farm animal, and wildlife practice.
- Additional support to the community through access to care programs such as the Kim and Stu Lang Community Healthcare Partnership Program.
SUPPORTING EVERY ANIMAL, EVERYWHERE
From its inception, OVC has been dedicated to serving its communities. This is reflected in its motto: Opus Veterinum Civibus, or “The Craft of the Veterinarian is for the Good of the Nation.” OVC’s dedication to working for the “good of the nation” means that we have a duty to address Ontario’s veterinary crisis and continue to enhance how we deliver education to build a larger and more diverse, resilient, inclusive and effective workforce. We continue to re-align our training program around the skills, knowledge and culture our veterinary workforce requires so our graduates have what they need, technically and culturally, to contribute to primary care for all.
This success cannot be achieved alone.
HELP US IMPROVE LIFE
We need your help to meet our $33-million goal for the new multi-story Medical and Surgical Learning Centre. Your donation will bring us closer to our goal and help us to continue enhancing OVC’s teaching and learning spaces while supporting the much-needed increased class size.
Gifts of all amounts are precious to us! Opportunities for one-time gifts and pledges are available. Naming a space for an animal or person you love can be activated through gifts of $50,000 or more.
To learn more about the new Medical and Surgical Learning Centre please contact the OVC Advancement team at: ovc.advancement@uoguelph.ca or 519-824-4120 ext 52248.
Double your impact today! All gifts made by December 31, 2024, to support the new Medical and Surgical Learning Centre will be matched dollar for dollar.
