Each year, students graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine select a faculty member to administer the Veterinarian’s Oath at commencement. It is a moving ceremony, as our students accept the responsibilities, and embrace the opportunities, of our profession.

As the oath sets forth, veterinarians play many roles in our society. Some of these are traditional, such as helping owners care for pets and maintaining the health of farm animals, while other roles may be less familiar—conducting research on animal and human diseases or working to ensure the safety of our food supply.

The UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) are advancing all of these roles through programs in teaching, research and public service, and we are recognized nationally for the breadth and the quality of those programs.

The School’s faculty, staff, and students benefit from the dynamic educational process that is part of a major research university. Our faculty members are involved in a broad range of research projects, often in collaboration with faculty in units such as the Medical School and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Discoveries made in the laboratories shape and inform the teaching in our classrooms. Our students also learn and gain experience in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and through externships and other innovative programs that enhance the regular curriculum.

Outreach programs extend and complement our teaching and research activities. The School and the Hospital serve veterinarians, farmers, and pet owners throughout the region, providing an invaluable resource for every aspect of animal health, care and management.

The Veterinarian’s Oath inspires those in its service to strive for excellence. That commitment defines the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, its faculty, staff and students, as we work to advance animal and human health with science and compassion.

We take pride in the reputation the School has achieved since it opened in 1983 and we are enthusiastic about the School’s future. While there are challenges ahead, we can, with your help, ensure that UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine realizes the full potential of its future.

Daryl D. Buss, DVM, PhD
Dean and Professor