Banfield Announces Grand Opening of Teaching Hospital at Western University of Health Sciences
Banfield, The Pet Hospital will host a grand opening celebration
for the new temporary on-campus Banfield hospital at Western University
of Health Sciences on Aug. 23.
Construction for Banfield’s permanent 6,000-square-foot on-campus
hospital will be completed for the fall 2006 school year. In the
meantime, Banfield has provided a temporary hospital to make clinical
teaching facilities available.
The celebration will be highlighted by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at
noon and will include hospital tours, an all-campus barbecue, and
commemorative gifts.
“”This is a one-of-a-kind partnership between the nation’s largest
private veterinary practice and the first new U.S. school of veterinary
medicine in 20 years,”” said Banfield Chairman and CEO Scott Campbell,
DVM. “”By investing in the provision of high quality practical experiences
for veterinary students, it is our hope that together Banfield and
Western University can help produce some of the most skilled, confident
and efficient new graduates in our profession.””
The school admitted its first class of veterinary students in August
2003, and the second class began classes this week. This new on-campus
teaching hospital will be used in the curriculum for WesternU’s College
of Veterinary Medicine, and is being completely built with funds donated
by Banfield. Banfield also will build or remodel at least four hospitals
within a 30-minute drive of Western U’s campus to serve as sites for
clinical rotations for third- and fourth-year students.
Banfield Medical Director Amy Raines, DVM, has been appointed
associate professor and medical director for the WesternU hospital. Dr.
Raines also will oversee the Banfield hospitals near the university,
which will be used for clinical rotations.
“”We are all very excited to be involved in shaping the future of
veterinarians,”” said Dr. Raines. “”The faculty and staff at Western
University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine are all
very talented and tremendously committed to providing the best education
to these wonderful students. The Banfield doctors and team members are
also very proud to be part of this new and exciting curriculum.””
Since 1999, Dr. Hugh Lewis, Banfield’s senior vice president of
practice Development and former dean of Purdue University’s School of
Veterinary Medicine, has been a part of the advisory council that
assisted the college through the curriculum development process.
The college’s curriculum gives first- and second-year veterinary
students the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in the on-campus
Banfield hospital, actively participating in wellness examinations and
preventive care treatment.
Founded in Portland, Oregon in 1955, Banfield, The Pet Hospital is
committed to giving pets the same medical care people expect for
themselves. Practicing at Banfield offers all the challenges of an
exciting veterinary career, with the ability to practice the highest
quality medicine, and great financial and personal rewards. Banfield
veterinarians receive medical and administrative support that allows them
to spend more time with pets, access to better equipment and supplies
than many practices can afford, and the opportunity to participate in a
benefits program unparalleled in the veterinary industry. With 400 full-
service hospitals across the country, Banfield, The Pet Hospital extends
the lives of more than 2.5 million pets each year.
