Athens, Ga.-The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual Open House will be held Friday, April 4, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exotic animal displays, horseback-riding demonstrations, a parade of dog breeds and veterinary hospital tours are just some of the activities available to young and old alike.
The event, presented by UGA’s veterinary students, will focus on veterinary medicine as an exciting, rewarding field, and will demonstrate the wide variety of career opportunities available to veterinary medicine graduates, such as maintaining a healthy food supply, as well as researching and controlling infectious diseases.
“I have been looking forward to Open House since the first month of veterinary school. It is an honor to participate in choosing the exciting things we will share with the public this year,” said Brittany Feldhaeusser, vice president of the class of 2017, which is hosting the event. “We learn something new every day and we look forward to sharing our profession with our visitors.”
For the younger crowd, a teddy bear surgery will take place where children may assist while veterinary students repair their favorite stuffed playmates. Other tentatively scheduled activities include reading to dogs, milking demonstrations, police dog demonstrations, question and answer sessions with current veterinary students, a photo booth, games and scientific exhibits showcasing different types of animals. Tours of the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which serves both small and large animals, will be available all day. Veterinary students will sell lunch items, baked goods, refreshments and merchandise.
“I am so proud of the work that our class has put into organizing this year’s Open House,” said Brigitte Gravitt, publicity chair for the 2014 UGA CVM Open House. “With ‘Client Education’ as a theme, we will highlight the value of veterinary medicine, and have demonstrations and activities that inspired some of us to pursue a career in this field.”
Admission is free and open to the public. Parking will be available at the softball complex on Milledge Avenue with shuttles running to the college throughout the day. Maps will also be available to ease navigation through the exhibits. For assistance with sign language interpretation or handicap accessibility, email ugacvm2017@gmail.com, or call Dr. Cheri Roberts at 706-542-8303 or Dr. Sherry Sanderson at 706-542-5870. You may also access more event information at www.vet.uga.edu/openhouse.
The CVM’s Open House has been held annually for more than 30 years and is hosted by the first-year veterinary students with help from the second-year class.
UGA College of Veterinary Medicine
The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, conducting research related to animal and human diseases, and to providing veterinary services for animals and their owners. Research efforts are aimed at enhancing the quality of life for animals and people, improving the productivity of poultry and livestock, and preserving a healthy interface between wildlife and people in the environment they share. The college enrolls 102 students each fall out of more than 900 who apply. For more information, see www.vet.uga.edu.
UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital
The current UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, built in 1979, serves more than 22,500 patients per year in one of the smallest teaching hospitals in the United States. The college is currently building a new Veterinary Medical Learning Center, which will include a new teaching hospital as well as classrooms and laboratories that will allow for the education of more veterinarians. For more information about the VMLC, see http://vet.uga.edu/vmlc/.
