Community Outreach
The UF College of Veterinary Medicine is involved in a variety of programs created to educate the veterinarians of the future and make a difference in the lives of pet owners and others throughout Florida and the Southeast through the advancement of human, animal and environmental health.
Shelter Medicine Programs
UF’s shelter medicine course offers several opportunities for veterinary students to improve their surgical skills while helping needy animals in the community. The program offers spay-neuter services to various animal rescue groups in the Gainesville area. Additionally, through a program known as HAARTS — Helping Alachua’s Animals Requiring Treatment and Surgery — certain animals from shelters or at rescue organizations have been able to receive life-saving medical care. The HAARTS program was conceived by UF veterinary students and has been funded by the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association and Dr. Paula Kislak, a UF veterinary college alumna.
Another important program is the St. Francis Pet Care Clinic, which was founded by Dr. Dale Kaplan-Stein, a local veterinary practitioner; Chris Machen, wife of UF president Bernie Machen; and Dr. Natalie Isaza, UF’s shelter medicine course coordinator. The St. Francis Pet Care Clinic offers a unique learning opportunity for veterinary students and helps disadvantaged Gainesville-area residents at the same time.
UF veterinary students who are enrolled in the college’s shelter medicine course have become involved in activities at the St. Francis Pet Care Clinic by helping to provide basic veterinary care -- with an emphasis on spay-neuter procedures -- to the pets of homeless and financially disadvantaged people living in our community. This program brings together volunteers and professionals in an effort to improve health and overall quality of life of individuals who are too frequently marginalized by society and unable to properly care for themselves or their pets.
VETS
The college’s Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service team trains with local fire rescue and disaster response organizations to help plan and prepare for disasters such as hurricanes and other weather-related events. Key individuals involved with this program have shared their knowledge through team-building drills and classes offered to a variety of city, county, state as well as non-governmental agencies. Visit the VETS Web site for more.
OIP
In addition, the college encourages its students to participate in international studies, broadening their understanding of veterinary care and public health issues as experienced in countries other than our own. The Office of International Programs was formed in response to one of 10 initiatives of the UF Strategic Plan: internationalization of the curriculum. The OIP’s mission is to increase student awareness in global health issues of interest to the public, the veterinary profession and other disciplines in the health and social sciences, as well as to facilitate medical research and outreach activities abroad. Our goal is to help prepare a new generation of veterinarians with a more global outlook and a better appreciation of the impact of veterinary medicine on development and growth in low and middle income countries. Visit the OIP Web site for more.
PAWS
Many people who suffer from debilitating illnesses such as cancer and AIDS struggle emotionally, physically and financially to care for themselves, so properly looking after their four-legged family members can quickly become more effort than they can shoulder alone. The Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) group at the UF Veterinary Medical Center works with representatives of community organizations that serve such individuals to identify potential clients. PAWS members consist of UF veterinary students who, with guidance from supervising faculty members and local veterinarians, are able to offer clinical assistance to the pets of people with special needs. Thanks to generous partnerships with local veterinarians and pet product companies, PAWS is frequently able to provide wellness care, food and medications to these pet companions.
For more information about how other colleges are reaching out to the community, visit UF Colleges With a Conscience.