The Barometer Online

Issue date: 5/9/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Reid Parham

The Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Large Animal Clinic extension to the Oregon State University Animal Hospital was unveiled Saturday, May 3, in conjunction with the annual Pet Day celebration.

The extension, adjacent to Magruder Hall, will significantly increase the experience of students, large animal owners and industries with the new care and practice facilities included in the expansion.

Many new technologies are now available to veterinary students, such as an intensive care and isolation unit for large animals, a multi-purpose, all-weather arena, a nuclear medicine suite for assessing muscles and tissue, more teaching and research space and a new imaging wing that will include the most sophisticated CT scanner in Oregon.

This summer, the college plans to install a high-speed treadmill designed to evaluate racehorses and equestrian animals in motion.

"I am going to be trained on state-of-the-art equipment and facilities," said Ryan Scholz, a freshman in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

"Knowing how to use this new technology will make me more competitive in the job market, as well as a more educated veterinarian."

The extension was launched through a $5 million gift from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation, as well as several other donations.

In addition, a 1937 OSU graduate, Lois Bates Acheson, left the college with $21 million in an endowment, and will help fund the project as the second largest gift in the university's history.

The class of 2007 was the first able to complete its entire veterinary medicine education in Oregon. The OSU College of Veterinary Medicine is the only professional program in the state of Oregon and graduates approximately 50 students per year. The new addition of the $12 million project will provide unique experiences to the students.

"OSU is now a teaching hospital which can handle any case which is referred to it," Scholz said.

For the most part, veterinary students are excited about the new resources.

"The expansion of the [hospital] is going to allow students to use advanced technology and diagnostic tools that were not available before," said Andrea Sundholm, a junior in animal sciences who will be entering the College of Veterinary Medicine.

"I am really thankful and excited to be a part of this remarkable college."



Anneke Tucker, staff writer

news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231

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