Cornell University Veterinary Specialists: A Decade of Excellence in Veterinary Care

Introduction

Cornell University has long been at the forefront of veterinary medicine, and a key part of its commitment is providing exceptional care through its various facilities. Among these, Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS) stands out as a leading provider of veterinary specialty and emergency care. Located in Stamford, Connecticut, CUVS has been serving the New York metro area for over a decade. This article explores the history, mission, and impact of CUVS, as well as the broader contributions of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

A Decade of Service in Stamford

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS), which offers veterinary specialty and emergency care in Stamford, Connecticut. Since its inception, CUVS has strived for excellence, a commitment spearheaded by Dr. Susan Hackner, the hospital’s chief medical officer and chief operating officer. CUVS is a subsidiary of Cornell and the College of Veterinary Medicine, fully owned by the university and governed by a board of directors, chaired by Lorin D. Warnick, D.V.M., Ph.D. ’94, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine.

From its outset, CUVS was designed to merge academic rigor with the practical demands of private practice. According to Warnick, "It brings together the best of academia with the best of private practice." This unique model has been crucial to the sustained success of Hackner and her team, fostering strong relationships with clients over the past decade.

Origins and Growth

The decision to establish a referral and emergency clinic in the New York metro area stemmed from the College of Veterinary Medicine’s strategic planning, which incorporated feedback from the college community, external stakeholders, and veterinarians. As the first person hired, Hackner understood the clinic needed to offer something unique: a blend of advanced medicine, a positive workplace culture, and a strong dedication to customer service.

The hospital has experienced significant growth since its opening in 2011. Initially, it had nine doctors among 36 staff members. Today, CUVS employs 25 doctors among 125 staff, and in the last fiscal year, it recorded over 25,000 patient visits.

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Level-1 Certification

In 2014, CUVS received level-1 certification from the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, distinguishing it as a facility capable of handling the most complex and emergent cases. CUVS is one of very few level-1 facilities in the tri-state area and one of only approximately 30 nationwide.

Focus on Education and Training

CUVS is not only designed to handle complicated cases but is also physically structured to promote learning. Its residency program is a key point of pride. The emergency and critical care residency training program has evolved alongside the hospital’s other educational ventures, successfully producing specialists who now work across the country. Currently, the program has six residents, an increase from the two or three in previous years.

According to Dr. Lyons, "The residency program at CUVS is accredited by the American College of Veterinary Emergency Critical Care and prepares residents not only to take their board exam but also to practice high-quality critical care and emergency medicine." The dual academic and private practice environment at CUVS offers significant advantages to residents. They also rotate through the Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA) in Ithaca, which provides training with a variety of criticalists beyond those in Stamford.

In addition to the residency program, the CUVS team runs an externship program for veterinary students from Cornell and other veterinary schools both domestically and abroad. There is also a veterinary technician externship program for regional schools.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, Hackner stated that CUVS will remain dedicated to its original mission, while also growing and evolving to further advance the medicine they provide and the knowledge they foster. CUVS aims to combine the most advanced medical procedures with a service-oriented, efficient, and sustainable practice model. The facility is wholly owned by Cornell University and operates under the direction of the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. While CUVS has a separate facility, staff, and infrastructure, it maintains close ties with the College, collaborating on clinical cases, student training, and continuing education.

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Commitment to Patient Care and Collaboration

CUVS is committed to providing sophisticated and compassionate patient care, advancing companion animal medicine, and contributing to the community. As the largest university-affiliated veterinary referral center in the country, CUVS redefines veterinary specialty and emergency medicine by integrating the best of specialty private practice with the best of academia.

The medical team at CUVS is dedicated to partnering with pet owners and referring veterinarians, emphasizing collaboration to ensure the best possible outcomes. CUVS serves as an extension of referring practices, offering consultation, treating clients with compassion and respect, and maintaining proactive communication.

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: A Historical Perspective

The New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University is a statutory college, located in Ithaca, New York. The college has a rich history, marked by numerous milestones and contributions to the field of veterinary medicine.

Early Years and Key Figures

The history of veterinary medicine at Cornell began even before the college was officially established in 1894. Ezra Cornell, shortly after founding the university in 1865, insisted on establishing a chair of veterinary medicine. He tasked Andrew D. White, the university's first president, with finding the most qualified person to teach veterinary medicine and surgery.

White secured the services of Dr. James Law, a distinguished veterinarian and graduate of the Edinburgh Veterinary College in Scotland. Law was committed to rigorous training for veterinarians, and at his urging, Cornell set higher requirements for a veterinary degree than any other institution at the time.

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In 1871, the University Faculty passed a resolution requiring four years of study for a bachelor of veterinary science (B.V.S.) degree and an additional two years for a doctor of veterinary medicine (D.V.M.), a degree previously unavailable in the United States. In 1871, Myron Kasson earned the University's first B.V.S. degree, followed in 1872 by Daniel Salmon. In 1876, Salmon earned the first D.V.M. degree in the country.

Expansion and Development

For the next 20 years, James Law lobbied state legislators to expand Cornell's veterinary program into a full-fledged college. His efforts paid off in 1894 when New York State Governor Roswell P. Flower signed the legislation that chartered the veterinary college as the first state-supported college at Cornell University.

The college's first building, James Law Hall, opened in 1896, providing classroom space, laboratories, a library, and a museum. The faculty were hand-picked by Law and represented the finest scholarship in their fields. The scholastic requirement for entrance was a high school diploma, a high standard at the time.

Key Milestones

1910: Florence Kimball becomes the first woman in the United States to receive her doctorate in veterinary medicine, graduating from Cornell.
1912: Dr. Kirksey L. Curd becomes Cornell's first African-American D.V.M. graduate.
1970: The Coggins test, a blood test to identify horses carrying equine infectious anemia, is developed by Dr. Leroy Coggins and colleagues.
2016: Research at the Baker Institute leads to the first puppies born by in vitro fertilization.
2020: The college establishes the Cornell COVID-19 Testing Laboratory (CCTL) to provide in-house COVID-19 tests for Cornell's staff, students, and faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Academic Programs and Research

The College of Veterinary Medicine is an internationally recognized institution of public health, biomedical research, and veterinary medicine education. It offers a variety of programs, including:

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) program: Provides student instruction in the biological basis of medicine, training in primary and referral veterinary care at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, and instructed practice in the Small Animal Community Practice.
Master's degree programs: Includes a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) Program and a Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) Program. The M.P.H. Program prepares students through training on diverse public health issues at municipal, state, national, and international levels.
Ph.D. and research programs: The Biomedical and Biological Sciences Program is an interdisciplinary program that trains students in basic, clinical, and translational life sciences research.
Other professional training: The college regularly hires postdoctoral associates in its departments, centers, and institutes.

Cornell University Hospital for Animals

The current Ithaca space for the Cornell University Hospital for Animals was built in 1996 and houses three of Cornell's animal hospitals: The Companion Animal Hospital, the Cornell Equine Hospital, and the Nemo Farm Animal Hospital. It's also the home of the hospital's Ambulatory Service, which makes on-site visits to dairies and farms throughout the region. The Janet L. Swanson Wildlife hospital is located in a nearby facility next to the Baker Institute for Animal Health and the Cornell Feline Health Center. According to the college's most recent annual report, the Cornell University Hospital for Animals saw 30,083 cases in fiscal year 2021.

Genetic Material Storage

CUVS actively works with Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine to store genetic material from patients in the Cornell Veterinary Biobank (CVB). The CVB contains DNA samples from over 18,700 patients representing a wide variety of animals and over 190 diseases of interest, many of which affect humans as well. These archived samples are paired with information from the patients' history and medical records and can be used by researchers to discover the genetic basis of disease.

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