By PAYTON MEDFORD
On June 22, 2023, Clemson University announced what will be a significant development for South Carolina’s educational landscape and veterinary community. The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine will be established as South Carolina’s first College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). Construction began on the college complex in late November 2024, with sights set on welcoming the first class in the Fall of 2026.
Meeting a Critical Need
As of December 2024, there are approximately 130,415 veterinarians practicing across the United States, with only 2,712 serving South Carolina. Of the 130,415 veterinarians, approximately 3.9% specialize in equine care. These numbers highlight the necessity for additional trained professionals in the field, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
A Long-Awaited Vision Realized
“The state of South Carolina has long had a desire to establish a College of Veterinary Medicine,” explains Founding Dean Dr. Steven Marks. “With the strong support of state lawmakers like Senator Harvey S. Peeler Jr. (the college’s namesake) and Clemson University leadership, the stars aligned, and the new college is now becoming a reality.”
As a land-grant institution with established agricultural facilities, Clemson provides an ideal foundation for the new veterinary program. The university already operates several animal facilities that will support hands-on learning opportunities, including:
- The Equine Center
- LaMaster Dairy Cattle Center
- Morgan Poultry Center
- Simpson Sheep Farm
- Simpson Beef Cattle Farm
Innovative Educational Approach
What sets Clemson’s veterinary program apart is its “semi-distributed model” for the clinical training of 4th year students. According to Dean Marks, students “will learn clinical skills through an on-site small animal clinic and large animal ambulatory (mobile) practice that will serve Clemson University’s farms and farms in the upstate.” This approach combines theoretical classroom instruction with practical, hands-on experience.
During their fourth year, students will complete rotations at clinics and hospitals throughout South Carolina, gaining diverse clinical experiences while serving communities across the state. This type of training model is similar to an apprenticeship and will provide students “real world” experience.
The coursework and assessments in the program’s curriculum are derived from the peer-reviewed American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) Competency-Based Veterinary Education (CBVE) model. The Clemson CVM curriculum will be focused on these nine domains of competence:
● Clinical Reasoning and Decision-Making
● Individual Animal Care and Management
● Animal Population Care and Management
● Public Health
● Communication
● Collaboration
● Professionalism and Professional Identity
● Financial and Practice Management
● Scholarship
Through the program, students will be provided with the skills, critical thinking, and experience to excel as a veterinarian upon graduation.
Addressing Equine Care Shortages
Horse owners in particular stand to benefit from the new program. Dr. Nicki Wise, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, notes that “In the next year, the Clemson CVM plans to offer large animal ambulatory services in the upstate.” This initiative will provide local horse owners with access to experienced clinicians and specialists while giving hands-on emergency experience to students.
“The intention is to provide both training for veterinary students in equine medicine and surgery, and to encourage more graduate veterinarians to pursue a career in this [equine] field,” Dr. Wise explains. This focus addresses a significant gap in accessibility to equine veterinary specialists that has challenged horse owners in the region.
Future Impact
Clemson’s College of Veterinary Medicine aims to make more than just a lasting impact on animal healthcare throughout South Carolina. “Our goal is to train the next generation of veterinarians to address the shortage of small and large animal veterinarians in South Carolina and beyond,” says Dr. Wise.
“We want to attract students from rural areas of the state and support them as they return to their community to serve the animals and people that live there.”
As Clemson University’s veterinary program takes shape, it represents not just an educational milestone but a strategic investment in the health and well-being of animals throughout South Carolina and the veterinary profession as a whole.
