CHAMPAIGN,Ill. – Your dog may say “woof woof” (English), “ouah ouah” (Finnish), “gav gav” (Greek), or “bau bau” (Italian), but at the University of Illinois Veterinary Medicine Open House, there is bound to be a veterinarian who speaks your language.
The annual open house, slated for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 2), invites visitors to explore the world of veterinary medicine during “World Veterinary Year” – the 250th anniversary of the founding, in Lyon, France, of the first veterinary school.
More than 300 U. of I. veterinary students will staff the event, which provides a behind-the-scenes look at the state’s only veterinary college and its Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Dozens of exhibits and demonstrations will illustrate the many aspects of veterinary education and practice, with lots of animals and animal-related activities for young and old.
Prospective veterinarians are encouraged to attend the Open House. Career talks will demystify the path to becoming a veterinarian and offer details about the Illinois Integrated Veterinary Professional Curriculum and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program. The nation’s most comprehensive veterinary clinical skills learning facility will be open to visitors as well.
New to this year’s program will be demonstrations of the work that service dogs do, presented by a U. of I. student organization that trains these dogs.
Visitors who are animal owners will have an opportunity to prepare for a medical emergency by pre-registering their animals with the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Pre-registering is free, and it eliminates the new patient fee otherwise incurred. Those who sign up at Open House will receive a key tag on the spot to aid in quick access of their account information in the event of an emergency.
Vet Med Open House is free; registration is not required. Free parking is available in Lot F-27 at 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana. A list of exhibits and directions is online.
Organizers note that this event is for people only. The public should not bring their animals to the Open House.
