School of Veterinary Medicine

Established in 1884, Penn Vet is the only veterinary school developed in association with a medical school, and is one of only four private veterinary schools in the nation. Penn Vet's two campuses, urban and rural, offer students learning opportunities and experiences in virtually every aspect of veterinary medicine. As part of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Vet is a key partner in one of the world's great biomedical research and teaching centers. Our students can learn first-hand how veterinary medicine and research impacts human lives, as well as those of animals. 

The relationship between animal health and human health is the core of our teaching tradition. Our distinguished faculty members bring a diverse range of academic backgrounds and unique perspectives to the classroom and clinic that will broaden our students' views of veterinary medicine. 

At the center of Penn Vet’s efforts is compassion for both animals and people, as well as the preservation of a healthy environment. People look to veterinarians as professionals who not only deliver healthcare throughout the lifespan of animals, but also improve our quality of life within that context. We value relationships with our clients and further their interests along with those of the local community. Moreover, as a profession and an institution, veterinarians are well positioned to contribute solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including food security, biosecurity, biodiversity, antimicrobial stewardship, and climate change. 

On the campus where modern veterinary medicine was born, we have an obligation to train a diverse student body on emerging career pathways. Adapting the curriculum to a new vision of the veterinary profession will be critical to our success. Penn Vet will further strengthen our profession by enabling broader opportunities through novel certificate and dual degree programs that break down traditional boundaries between the veterinary and other professional disciplines: public health, human healthcare, social policy, business, and law. As a result, graduating VMDs will be better prepared to fashion their own career goals, and ultimately contribute more creatively and effectively towards building a better world. 

For more information: https://www.vet.upenn.edu/  

Mission

Penn Vet’s mission is to lead the advancement of health and science for the betterment of animals, humans, and their environment. 

For more information: https://www.vet.upenn.edu/education  

Research

At Penn Vet, our challenge is to advance the field of veterinary medicine, and by extension, all science. Penn Vet faculty conduct groundbreaking research projects ranging in focus from osteosarcoma, molecular genetics, retinal blindness, the therapeutic potential of stem cells, the impact of stress on pregnant females, to the impact of nutrition and crating on swine health and reproduction. From large to small, from molecular to systemic, research at Penn Vet continues to push the limits of what we know about animals and humans. 

The work we do here is diverse—from dinosaurs to dogs, from cytokine biology to cell engineering, from mitochondria to mapping avian flu outbreaks, our researchers are in constant motion, advancing the scientific knowledge base. 

Penn Vet's research centers are recognized throughout the nation and the world for groundbreaking advances in: 

• Comparative oncology 
• Health and productivity in food animal herds and flocks 
• Infectious disease 
• Regenerative medicine 
• Neuroscience 

We chose these thematic areas because they cover the major areas of biomedical science and we have outstanding scientists and clinicians working in each of these fields. Just a few of our achievements include our advances in stem cell biology, our strong parasite immunology group, our successes in treating inherited diseases in dogs and cats using gene therapy, our remarkable programs in clinical and basic neuroscience, and our basic and emerging translational work in comparative oncology. In research that impacts humans and non-humans alike, Penn Vet is leading the way toward eminence in veterinary scientific investigation. 

For more information: https://www.vet.upenn.edu/research