E-Insight

April 2007

CVMBS Veterinary Program Ranks in Top Three of American Veterinary Schools

The Professional Veterinary Medical Program at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences was ranked second in the nation this month in the coveted U.S. News and World Report annual rankings of America's best university graduate schools.

"Colorado State continues to set standards of excellence in veterinary medical programs, with internationally recognized research and clinical programs, as well as a world-class hospital,” said Dr. Lance Perryman, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “Our faculty and staff provide an exceptional education to future veterinarians and consistently strive to improve the health of all animals. They work to translate veterinary medicine breakthroughs into human therapies, and provide students with a holistic sense of the responsibilities - medical, ethical, scientific - of practicing and studying in this field.

“This ranking also reflects our commitment to meeting the health needs of animals as well as societies here and abroad. In addition, this achievement echoes the determination and devotion that our graduate students give to the program."

U.S. News and World Report rankings are based on the results of peer assessment surveys at accredited degree programs or schools in each discipline. The rankings of health programs are compiled every three years. Colorado State's Veterinary Medical program has consistently ranked in the top two positions of veterinary education in the rankings after climbing from fourth place in the late 1990s.

Colorado State outpaced other strong programs at the University of Pennsylvania, North Carolina State University, Texas A & M University-College Station, Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison and The Ohio State University. Cornell University topped the 2007 list in veterinary medicine, while Colorado State University and University of California-Davis were tied at second.

The College is a leader in the advancement of small animal medicine including the fields of cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, pain management and scientifically sound alternative medicine. The College's veterinary programs provide innovative equine and agricultural animal medical advancements that are changing the way health, disease and injury in large animals are managed.

The James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital provides routine, specialized and emergency care for more than 24,500 small animals each year, with faculty and students providing medical services for animals. Some services are not available to animal owners anywhere else in the world. The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Colorado State was selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as one of seven labs in the nation to test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. The Animal Cancer Center is the largest center of its kind in the world and has trained more veterinary surgical, medical and radiation oncologists than any other veterinary institution. The ACC has been funded by the National Cancer Institute for more than 25 consecutive years. The College includes the first successful canine open heart surgery program in the world, as well as world-recognized programs in equine medicine and equine orthopaedic medicine.

The Argus Institute is another exclusive center in the College. It trains future veterinarians to better communicate with clients and provide services that better serve the emotional bonds clients form with their pets. In addition, the College continues to lead the veterinary field in exploring and teaching animal ethics and pain management.

The College also is the lead institute in the University's new and unique Supercluster approach to technology transfer. The Infectious Disease Supercluster (and its business arm, MicroRx) is the first-of-its-kind technology transfer structure at a university, and will speed the transition of life-saving research on infectious diseases from the academic world into the global marketplace. The Infectious Disease Supercluster is comprised of alliances of academic researchers, economists and business experts designed to encourage collaboration and bridge the gap between the worlds of business and academia.

The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences leads all other schools of its kind in external research funding. Research into disciplines such as infectious disease, biodefense and oncology is extensively supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Agriculture and NASA.

Celebrating its 100th year, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences was founded in 1907 when the Department of Veterinary Sciences was established by the Colorado State Board of Agriculture, the board that governed Colorado State University at that time.