Dean's Annual Fund for Excellence

The Dean’s Annual Fund for Excellence provides flexibility for strategic investments in programs, projects and activities that advance, enhance and expand the overall mission of the School of Veterinary Medicine. The School’s goal is to “Create the future of veterinary medicine through unparalleled excellence in education, clinical service and research for the benefit of animal and human health.”

As you may know, state support for the university has waned in recent years. While state tax money does not constitute an overwhelming share of the School’s budget, a decrease in funding prevents the School from making investments in strategic priorities like equipment that improve the diagnosis and care of animals with a wide range of diseases and injuries, scholarships that help support the next generation of veterinarians by offsetting our students’ $110,000 average debt load upon graduation and research support that improves the care, diagnosis and treatment of animals, often with applications to human health as well.

Unrestricted funds enable the School of Veterinary Medicine to respond to unexpected opportunities and unforeseen needs, provide ancillary support for faculty and staff enrichment, and make funds available for investment in programs, projects and activities that the Dean finds essential to the School’s overall mission. Despite its relative youth, the UW School of Veterinary Medicine has emerged as one of the leading schools of veterinary medicine in the nation, advancing both animal and human health through research, teaching and clinical care.

Ground-breaking research in the areas of influenza and other infectious diseases, neurobiology, ophthalmology, oncology, orthopedics, and production medicine is internationally recognized. Internationally renowned faculty provide a superior education to an exceptional and diverse student body. Treatment of beloved family pets and valued production animals is provided by clinicians, students, and residents with the skill, knowledge, and experience to diagnose and treat these prized animals with genuine care and compassion using advanced technologies.

Together, all of us create the future of veterinary medicine. Says Professor Sheila McGuirk, “Our goal is to
marry science with the soul, the head with the heart, and hi-tech with high touch.” Invest in excellence for
the benefit of both animal and human health.