Welcome

In 2003 WesternU's College of Veterinary Medicine opened its doors to students, and already we have a stellar reputation as an innovative school with top faculty that prepares competent and compassionate veterinarians.

We are a "college without walls" with many clinical partners in the community and around the world. As a student you will experience extensive interaction with animals beginning your first semester, working alongside faculty and veterinarians in the local area and beyond. After completing our four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program, you will be well prepared to enter a rewarding career caring for animals as a veterinarian.

Why choose WesternU? We have a nationally recognized program and offer: 

• an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program.
• problem-based learning (PBL) where you will investigate veterinary cases in small groups.
• an opportunity to learn how to heal animals without harming them for educational purposes.
  This is our guiding reverence for life philosophy.
• a curriculum that prepares you to work with a wide variety of animals, including small companion animals, horses, food animals, exotics and wildlife.
• extensive clinical experience where you have the opportunity to experience large caseloads.
• numerous partnerships with other universities including Cal Poly Pomona and UCLA, area animal clinics, emergency facilities, specialty practices and humane societies.
• numerous corporate partners such as Banfield, The Pet Hospital, and the Los Angeles Zoo.
• a small, private, health-focused institution that fosters interprofessional learning with other health professions.
  
• rich array of student club and volunteer opportunities.
• multi-national faculty with diverse expertise.
• outstanding student support services including tutoring and disability resources. 
• Southern California location with tremendous clinical training opportunities as well as access to
  major cultural and recreational resources.

For more information, please join us for an information session,
complete the information request form or contact us.

Meet some of our College of Veterinary Medicine students, faculty and alumni and read their candid thoughts about their experiences at WesternU. Move your mouse over each picture to read more about that individual.

Jennifer Stonequist DVM, Class of 2011	Pamela Govett, DVM, Dipl. ACZM Assistant Professor	Emily Clinton, DVM DVM, Class of 2007
Favorite WesternU professor: Dr. Carlos Crocker. He leads us in our weekly discussions of molecular and cellular biology (MCB). He has a way of asking questions and probing for information, so that he is in no way lecturing us, but facilitating our learning. I never hesitate to ask questions, and feel that class is a safe learning environment where we are all working collaboratively to learn. He is also a genius and takes time out to meet with students having difficulty with certain subjects. Academic environment: My study group consists of five people who meet Tuesdays, Thursdays, and on weekends. This has been an invaluable addition to my schooling, as the PBL curriculum is student-centered and not lecture-based. We all do our individual reading and studying and then come together as a group to discuss the main topics of the current week's case. Beyond the classroom: I help with the Zoo, Wildlife, Exotic, & Aquatic Animal Medicine Club. I¿ve enjoyed sharing my field with students in lectures and laboratories, as well as on field trips to places like the Long Beach Aquarium. I¿m also working with the California Science Center to establish and provide health care for their aquarium and other animal exhibits. Courses Taught: Aquatic Animal Medicine Avian and Reptile Clinical Skills Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service (VACS) Program 4th year Rotation Administrator 1st and 2nd year Problem Based Learning Facilitator   Research Interests: Pharmacokinetic study on koi Cause of metastatic calcification in elasmobranches Cataract development in sea lions E-mail me Best advice:  It's a unique program that is still evolving and it is really on the cutting edge of education due to their philosophies such as reverence for life. The faculty are here because they are dedicated to the program, not just because they have tenure or to do research. Why WesternU: Partly because of the great location in Southern California but also because I really appreciated the theory of reverence for life. Human patients are not euthanized during unnecessary procedures in medical school so why should it be acceptable in vet school?