Purdue News
Purdue News
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November 30, 2001 Purdue North Central prepares for vet center groundbreakingWESTVILLE, Ind. – Purdue University North Central, the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine and area veterinarians will launch a first-of-its-kind partnership when ground is broken Dec. 7 for the new North Central Veterinary Emergency Center on campus. Through this new public-private partnership, an investor group of 36 area veterinarians, many of whom are Purdue graduates, will build a $2 million regional veterinary clinic that will offer 24-hour emergency and referral services on land leased from PNC. As a privately owned and managed facility, the new center will be designated as an official Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine affiliate. It is the first known privately funded emergency referral center established in cooperation with a public school of veterinary medicine in the country. "This is a tremendous partnership for Purdue North Central and our local veterinarians, said James B. Dworkin, chancellor of Purdue North Central. "Together, we will deliver a vital service to the residents of North Central Indiana." Dworkin said that the clinic will be staffed by local veterinarians who will be on site around the clock. The veterinary staff also will be available for specialty services upon referral of a practicing veterinarian. Currently, pet owners have to travel to Purdue's West Lafayette veterinary clinic to obtain many of these specialty services. The 2 p.m. CST (3 p.m. EST) groundbreaking ceremony will include remarks by Martin C. Jischke, president of Purdue; Dworkin; Alan Rebar, dean of the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine; and David Schmidt, chair of the North Central Veterinary Emergency Care Oversight Committee. The Discover Purdue event, which will be on the southeast corner of the campus on land adjacent to the athletic fields, is open to the public. "This partnership will make possible the delivery of emergency, critical care and referral services that neither the private nor public sector, acting alone, could accomplish as effectively," said Rebar. "This facility also will assist the school in training more veterinary specialists who are in extremely high demand in the private sector." The investing veterinarians were motivated to support the project because they want to provide clients with better access to specialty and emergency care, Schmidt said. "We have looked at this for some time. There are some clients who are reluctant to travel to West Lafayette or the Chicago area for referrals," Schmidt said. "And we really need a local facility to treat animals in need of emergency care." He also said the Purdue affiliation will give the clinic instant credibility. In addition to providing essential animal care services, it is anticipated that the clinic will be a training site for advanced veterinary residents, as well as fourth-year veterinary students from Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, Rebar said. PNC, the School of Veterinary Medicine and the participating veterinarians are exploring the possibility of establishing a veterinary technology program at PNC. Presently, the state’s only veterinary technology degree program is offered at the West Lafayette campus and Rebar says this new clinic would offer an ideal location for classes and hands-on training. Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine is the only one in Indiana and among 27 in North America. Since the graduation of its first class of DVMs in 1963, the school has produced nearly 2,331 veterinarians who practice in all 50 states and fill roles in government, industry and academia. In addition to the professional DVM degree, the school offers associate and bachelor's degrees in veterinary technology and graduate and postgraduate programs in three academic departments: basic medical sciences, veterinary clinical sciences and veterinary pathobiology. There are 468 professional, graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in veterinary programs on the West Lafayette campus. "Discover Purdue" is the theme for a universitywide program that invites the public to learn more about Purdue University – its leadership and its potential for economic development, research and education. The campaign included the unveiling of plans for a new nanotechnology center and Discovery Park on the West Lafayette campus, the veterinary clinic at PNC and other events. "Discover Purdue" activities have included the announcement of some of the largest gifts in the university's history to support research, economic development, scholarships, professorships and athletics. Writer: Carol Connelly, (219) 785-5267, cconnell@purduenc.edu Sources: James B. Dworkin, (219) 496-6305, jdworkin@purdue.edu Alan Rebar, (765) 494-7608, rebar@purdue.edu David Schmidt, (219) 762-7781 Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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