Grand opening of farm animal and equine hospitals scheduled
Event includes self-guided tours and ribbon cutting ceremony
It’s not every day that an institution of higher learning and public service can celebrate the opening of a new facility, much less three new facilities. But Sept. 21 is one such day at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center, and everyone is invited.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., the UT Veterinary Medical Center will celebrate the grand opening of its new Farm Animal Hospital, Equine Hospital, and Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center. The free event will be held onsite at the UT Institute of Agriculture campus at 2407 River Drive, Knoxville. UT President Joe DiPietro and UT Institute of Agriculture Chancellor Larry Arrington are scheduled to speak during a brief ceremony at 11:30 a.m. A ribbon cutting will immediately follow.
In spring 2011, the college broke ground on the $20.9 million project that encompasses more than 85,000 square-feet of new and renovated construction. The new Farm Animal Hospital, which was recently completed, includes standing and recumbent surgery suites, species-specific (bovine, small ruminant and swine, and camelids) wards and treatment rooms, new cattle-working facilities and a new facility dedicated to rehabilitation of injured livestock.
The new Equine Hospital and the 32,000 square-foot Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center (EPRC) were finished in February of this year. In addition to an isolation ward, intensive care unit including dedicated neonatal (foal) ICU stalls, and four surgical theaters, the renovation also includes an advanced diagnostic imaging center offering spiral CT, Nuclear Medicine and MRI. The EPRC houses an arena, in-ground underwater treadmill, free walker, cold saltwater hydrotherapy unit, solarium and a podiatry center.
In addition to self-guided tours, the public can see various species of farm animals and enjoy free Mayfield Dairy ice cream. “Maggie” the Mayfield Dairy Cow will also be at the event. The student Farm Animal and Equine clubs will be selling hamburgers, hotdogs and other snacks.
One of 28 veterinary colleges in the United States, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine educates students in the art and science of veterinary medicine and related biomedical sciences, promotes scientific research and enhances human and animal well-being. The UT Institute of Agriculture also provides instruction, research and public service through the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT AgResearch system of 10 research and education centers and UT Extension offices in every county in the state.
