A Message from the Dean

The School of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1948, but as you’ll read in our main feature, it was years prior when the ideas and hard work began. From their initial concept, it took several decades for the school’s founders and supporters to see their dreams of a veterinary school in California become reality.

With their dedication and insistence on the highest standards, UC Davis didn’t just launch a school—it used that pent-up energy and potential to launch a game-changing institution. We hold firm to those original ambitions and continue to educate the world’s greatest leaders who serve California and beyond.

It is with immense pride that I am provided the opportunity to guide the school as we celebrate 75 years of exceptional care and innovation. As I reviewed our historical journey, I’ve been struck by how UC Davis has led veterinary medicine since its inception. The school immediately inspired changes nationally to the educational curriculum. It pioneered veterinary teaching hospitals and created formal advanced veterinary specialties and training. It helped introduce to the world the One Health paradigm, which centers around collaboration and improving the health of animals, people and the planet.

UC Davis continues to provide leadership today, and we’ll focus on that in our fall issue of Synergy. In the meantime, this anniversary is an opportunity for us to celebrate the breakthroughs achieved, lives saved, and yes, good times we’ve had together. To see more history of the school and find out how to join in with the festivities, please visit the 75th anniversary site.

Veterinary medicine inspires me to be my best and I feel privileged to help lead this caring and innovative community. Thank you for joining us on this spectacular journey.

Mark D. Stetter, DVM, Dipl ACZM
Dean