As one of the oldest and most esteemed veterinary schools in the United States, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine's rich history is the foundation of our present-day influence and impact. For over six decades, we have shaped the field of veterinary medicine through our pioneering education, research, and service, graduating over 5,000 professionals who have gone on to make significant contributions all around the world.
Our past informs and empowers our present, enabling us to continue to drive change and advancements in veterinary science, illustrating that our rich legacy is not merely a reflection of where we've been, but a blueprint for our ongoing work and our future endeavors.
Originally named the School of Veterinary Science and Medicine, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine enrolled its first class of veterinary students in 1959.
Lynn Hall construction was completed in 1960 and became the new home for the College of Veterinary Medicine.
The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program graduates its first class of veterinarians in 1963. Since then the college has produced thousands of professionals who fill important roles in government, industry and academia.
The Purdue Veterinary Nursing Program was established in 1975 to educate veterinary professionals who perform roles similar to nurses in human medicine.
The college becomes the first to offer a “tracked curriculum” with species specialization in 1990.
The current home of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, which provides vital diagnostic services to veterinarians and animal owners, was dedicated in 1991.
Lynn Hall was expanded as part of a major addition in 1995.
The Donald J. McCrosky Equine Sports Medicine Center opened in 1996 to educate and support of the Indiana equine community and veterinarians through the study of the equine athlete.
The Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Program was launched in 1999 to provide an online learning option for veterinary technicians to earn an Associates degree.
In 2000, a sculpture, "Continuum" by Larry Anderson, depicting the human-animal bond and the role of veterinary medicine, was installed and dedicated in front of the college.
The Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Office of Engagement were established in 2008.
Also, Boiler Vet Camp began as a way to provide aspiring teenage veterinary healthcare professionals with first-hand experiences of the fascinating world of veterinary medicine.
Priority 4 Paws Shelter Medicine and Surgery Program begins in 2012 to provide high-quality medical and surgical care for shelter animals while educating the next generation of veterinarians.
The Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital opened in 2017 to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, sports medicine, and surgical services to equine athletes.
The new David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex was dedicated in 2022. The new construction expanded the Small Animal Hospital and created new Equine and Farm Animal Hospitals that replaced the aging Large Animal Hospital in Lynn Hall.
