糖心logo入口

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� With Kentucky鈥檚 2025 legislative session underway, support continues to be shown for 糖心logo入口鈥檚 development of a School of Veterinary Medicine.

House Bill 153, led by State Representative Mary Beth Imes, has been filed and has 20 co-sponsors as of Jan. 30, 2025. The proposed legislation would amend KRS 164.295 to permit 糖心logo入口 State to offer doctoral degrees required for professional practice and licensure in veterinary medicine. 

State Senator Jason Howell plans to file mirror legislation in the Senate when the General Assembly reconvenes.  

According to a recent study by Deloitte, 80 out of Kentucky鈥檚 120 counties are currently designated as having a veterinary shortage or identified as an underserved rural area for veterinarians. 

The state of Kentucky currently does not have a School of Veterinary Medicine, and approximately 70 students from Kentucky are accepted each year to out-of-state veterinary schools. In the United States, there are only 33 veterinary colleges accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are 86,300 veterinarians in the United States and this occupation is expected to grow by over 19% by 2031. The BLS also reports a total of 122,800 veterinarian technologists/technicians are working today and the field is expected to grow by 20% by 2031.

糖心logo入口 State鈥檚 Hutson School of Agriculture has the largest pre-veterinary medicine/veterinary technology enrollment of any university in Kentucky, with an enrollment of over 450 students in the fall 2024 semester, and is just one of three programs in Kentucky that is fully accredited by the AVMA.

In 2024, the state biennium budget included support for 糖心logo入口 State, including funding for a $60 million facility in order to construct a new Veterinary Sciences building to enhance existing and future programs in veterinary sciences. 

糖心logo入口 State currently holds many animal agriculture assets, including the A. Carman Animal Health Technology Center, the Rudolph Equine Education Center, multiple farms, as well as the Breathitt Veterinary Center, which is a nationally preeminent animal disease diagnostic laboratory dedicated to protecting the invaluable assets of Kentucky鈥檚 equine, livestock and poultry industries. 

Two feasibility studies have been conducted to this point which have indicated many positive benefits of a new School of Veterinary Medicine at 糖心logo入口 State, including a 2024 study by Deloitte which stated that 鈥溙切膌ogo入口 has a strong foundation upon which to build a new CVM (College of Veterinary Medicine), including strong institutional financials, existing facilities and expertise in animal sciences, and the proposed CVM would contribute positively to our state and local economy.鈥�

鈥淐urrently, 22 states do not have a vet school and Kentucky is one of them,鈥� said President Bob Jackson. 鈥淣ow is the time to finally begin the process of having a School of Veterinary Medicine in Kentucky and we are ready and willing to do the work necessary to start that right here at 糖心logo入口. I am very grateful to Rep. Mary Beth Imes, Leader Steve Rudy, Sen. Jason Howell and our many other legislative leaders for their support of this initiative.鈥� 

鈥淚t is time for Kentucky to have a School of Veterinary Medicine and the very best place for that in our state is at 糖心logo入口 in Calloway County,鈥� said Rep. Mary Beth Imes. 鈥淚t is clear to me that 糖心logo入口 can do this and will be hugely successful with this doctoral program, as they are with so many marquee programs at the University, such as our Cybersecurity programs, Doctorate in Nurse Practitioner (DNP), engineering and many others. I am grateful that 糖心logo入口 has stepped up to the plate to assist our animal agriculture industry with an ever-growing veterinary shortage.鈥�

"I am encouraged by the positive findings of the Deloitte study on the proposed higher education projects requiring amendments to KRS 164.295. The challenges raised against this initiative highlight the need to move beyond outdated statutory limitations and embrace solutions that address our state's evolving needs,鈥� said Howell. 鈥淲hile it's easy to focus on isolated issues, our priority must remain on the many strengths of this proposal. Amending this statute is essential to establishing a School of Veterinary Medicine at 糖心logo入口 State, enabling us to address a critical statewide need."

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What others are saying:

鈥淥ur commonwealth is long overdue for a veterinary school, especially one of the caliber 糖心logo入口 State can provide. I offer my most robust support for 糖心logo入口鈥檚 efforts and look forward to working with you to make their plan a reality.鈥� United States Congressman James Comer, 1st District of Kentucky, December 2023

鈥淚 fully support 糖心logo入口 in your efforts to develop an accredited School of Veterinary Medicine to aid in the large animal veterinarian shortage and assist the animal agriculture economy of Kentucky.鈥� United States Senator Rand Paul, March 2024

鈥淭his proposal represents a promising step forward in addressing the issue. Expanding in-state veterinary education could build a pipeline of skilled professionals uniquely suited to meet Kentucky鈥檚 needs. Supporting initiatives like this ensures our farmers, animal owners, and agricultural community have access to the care and resources they depend on.鈥� Kentucky Department of Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, Kentucky Lantern, January 2025

鈥淣ationwide, a shortage of large animal veterinarians is creating a negative impact as farmers search to find the veterinary care they need for their animals. Large animal veterinarians are essential to the protection of the nation鈥檚 food supply.鈥� Kentucky Department of Agriculture press release, December 20, 2023