Limitless: A Vision for Transformational Impact

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine recently launched the next phase of its Veterinary Medical Complex (VMC) expansion—in large part thanks to dedicated donors who have supported the school’s bold vision with $110.5 million in gifts to date.

More than 250 people gathered in the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Gardens on September 18 to celebrate the school’s plan to renovate and build new facilities over the next decade. The expansion will help address the critical veterinary workforce shortage, expand patient care, and support cutting-edge research in cancer, translational medicine and other key areas of biomedical science.

The event also celebrated the new campaign to support the VMC. The "Limitless" campaign reflects the school's ambition to define a new era in veterinary health.

The next phase of the VMC expansion will include a new veterinary education pavilion, primary care hospital, large animal hospital (equine facilities expansion), veterinary cancer center, spay/ neuter clinic and raptor education exhibits. This phase builds upon a successful series of facility projects started in 2016 that have modernized and expanded the capabilities of veterinary medicine. 

“The expansion of our Veterinary Medical Complex lays the foundation for a future without limits—a place where healing, innovation, and discovery come together to transform the lives of animals and people alike,” said Dean Mark Stetter in his opening remarks. 

UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May noted the vital role that veterinary medicine plays in our world.

“The higher moral and societal values of veterinary medicine guide us each day,” May said. “We are caring for the creatures who are part of our lives, whether in our homes, on our farms and ranches, or in the wild spaces of the world. So, it’s both our duty and desire to do the best we can for them.”

On one of his first visits to a UC campus as the new president of the University of California, James B. Milliken highlighted UC’s leadership as a global research enterprise and as an engine of social and economic mobility.

“It’s an honor to support this institution and to hear about the ambitious and exciting plans for the future,” Milliken said. “It’s what makes UC Davis and the University of California the best in the world.”

The day also marked the grand opening of the All Species Imaging Center. Serving as a central hub for advanced diagnostic imaging, the center represents a decade of leadership vision and philanthropic commitment. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, the entire building and two of the new scanners were funded through philanthropy.

Additional specialty facilities, including the Advanced Veterinary Surgery Center (opened in 2024) and Dentistry and Oral Surgery Center (opened in January 2025) are also part of the Veterinary Medical Complex buildout. Each of these milestones has been fully or largely funded by philanthropy.

THE NEXT PHASE: VMC Expansion Creates a Limitless Future

Addressing some of today’s most complex issues at the intersection of animal and human health is no small feat. The next phase of the VMC expansion will add state-of-the-art hospitals, specialties, and clinical facilities increasing patient capacity from approximately 50,000 to 75,000 annually.

The new complex will expand opportunities for veterinary education, providing space to increase the number of DVM students; advance veterinary health research and treatments; and accelerate translational medicine with the potential to unlock new therapies for human health. 

The images shown here are conceptual representations to support planning discussions; final designs are subject to change.

Veterinary Education Pavilion and Welcome Center 

The Veterinary Education Pavilion and Welcome Center (housed in the same building as the Primary Care Hospital) will accommodate more than 400 students at one time. Once operational, it will enable the school to increase DVM enrollment from a current class size of approximately 150 to 200, bringing the total number of DVM students to 800. This expansion will directly address the critical shortage of veterinarians in California and across the world. 

Primary Care Hospital

Reception and Waiting Area

The new Primary Care Hospital will be what families turn to first for trusted, day-to-day veterinary care. The hospital will focus on preventive care, urgent care and community surgery and provide “day one” skills for fourth-year veterinary students.

Veterinary Cancer Center

Reception and Waiting Areas, Veterinary Cancer Center, Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials

In the new Veterinary Cancer Center, medical, surgical, and radiation oncology come together, working side by side with our Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials, which will be in an expanded space within the facility.  This integration will create limitless opportunities to advance diagnostics, pioneer therapies, and bring hope to families when they need it most. The center will serve as a hub for translational research supporting both animal and human health.