The Alberta government is investing $7.2 million in the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to help meet the increasing demand for veterinarians across the province.
Starting in 2020, and continuing for the following three years, UCVM’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program will increase first-year enrolment from 30 students to 50. By 2023, when all four years are combined, the provincial government will be funding a total of 80 extra students across the program.
The additional one-time funding will cover a wide range of capital costs including state-of-the-art equipment, an expanded surgery suite and new laboratory space. As well, to accommodate extra students, facilities such as locker rooms, kitchenette and student study and wellness spaces will be expanded.
Increasing the number of students trained in Alberta is also good news for animal owners, who will benefit by improved access to quality veterinary care. “As Alberta’s veterinary college, UCVM is strongly committed to the community of livestock producers, horse and pet owners in our province,” said Dr. Baljit Singh, Dean of UCVM. “This investment helps increase our capacity to graduate local veterinarians to support this diverse community. We thank the Government of Alberta for its continued support.”
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