Latest Internal Hospital / VMC Updates

Latest Internal Hospital / VMC Updates

VMTH PERSONNEL:
As the VMTH transitions to the Veterinary Medical Center, we want to ensure that faculty, staff, and students know the latest updates. The most current information on the project and other important hospital news will be regularly updated on this page. If you have any questions regarding the VMC and its impact on your area, please speak to VMTH Administrator Joy Hoover. Please see the VMC website for a complete view of the overall plans to bring UC Davis to a new level of veterinary care. 

May 30, 2023

• The VMTH now has an enhanced security presence from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., with security guards from a private security company who are familiar with working on the UC Davis campus. They will be patrolling the entire VMTH complex (inside and out) and will routinely check in at more than a dozen locations throughout the night. Please remember to always wear your ID badge and be aware of your surroundings after dark. If you will be here after-hours, consider moving your car to a closer, well-lit parking place before it gets dark. Main campus resources are also available, such as Safe Ride (530-754-2677), to help provide rides on campus from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Please help us by keeping all doors throughout the complex closed and locked overnight, not propping doors open, and using keys, keypads, or ID badges to access buildings. Thank you for helping to keep the VMTH a safe working environment.

April 27, 2023

• This week, we celebrate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, an annual opportunity to recognize medical laboratory professionals and pathologists and highlight the important role they play in diagnostics and patient care. Let’s celebrate our VMTH clinical and anatomic pathology laboratory professionals. Thank you for your dedication to our patients and clients.

March 27, 2023

• UC Davis Chancellor Gary May announced the end of the Campus Interim Public Health Policy as of February 28, 2023 in coordination with the end of the County, State, and Federal Emergency Public Health Orders. This will bring changes to policies and protocols we have used for the past 3 years. The Daily Symptom Survey is no longer in use. Reports of positive cases of COVID-19 are strongly encouraged, but not required. It is also strongly encouraged to report positive cases, mask in crowded indoor spaces, and test for COVID-19 if symptomatic. It remains mandatory to stay home if sick and to document your vaccination series in Health e-messaging.

February 28, 2023

• The VMTH has officially welcomed the first veterinary technician interns back into the hospital since before the pandemic. Yuba College and Carrington College have sent four outstanding and enthusiastic veterinary technician students to learn alongside the VMTH’s incredible staff and faculty. The interns will rotate through both large and small animal one day per week for the duration of their semester. In the summer, the VMTH will welcome a new group of interns two days per week, with plans to increase partnerships and intern numbers into the fall. If you are lucky enough to work alongside any of the interns, you will find their positivity and eagerness engaging. If your service is interested in having a future technician intern rotate through, please reach out to Harmony Lindberg at harlindberg@ucdavis.edu.

January 31, 2023

• UC Davis will adopt the UC updated policy on Vaccine Program With Interim Amendments, effective January 31. The policy requires all employees and students to get the primary COVID-19 vaccine series and be up to date on boosters, except for those people who have approved exceptions. For those who prefer to opt out of COVID-19 boosters, there is an option to do so by submitting a declination statement. To comply with policy, employees and students will need to upload their COVID-19 vaccine information or submit the declination form via Health-e-Messaging, or HEM, no later than February 28, 2023. The declination form is still in development and will be available in HEM in early February. For more information on the vaccine policy, please visit Campus Ready.

December 21, 2022

• Construction on the All Species Imaging Center continues to progress. In small animal, the opening of the renovated and expanded ER and ICU will be coming in January, providing much needed space for around-the-clock management of our most critical patients. Emergency care in small animal increased as much as 65% during the pandemic and more than 160% in the past decade, so this expansion is vital to our continued success in compassionate emergency service. Other small animal construction projects over the next year will include new and/or expanded spaces for Cardiology, Nutrition, Behavior, Dentistry, and Orthopedic Surgery.

November 23, 2022

• Improvements to utility infrastructure have sprawled throughout the hospital complex over the last year in preparation for All Species Imaging Center (ASIC) construction to begin. In December, construction will be concentrated within the actual ASIC footprint and the VMTH loading dock, as well as the completion of the new equine induction/recovery stalls in B-Barn. In January, the newly enlarged and remodeled small animal ER/ICU will officially open, providing much needed space for around-the-clock management of the VMTH’s most critical patients.

October 27, 2022

• Updated COVID-19 protocols began in the VMTH on Monday, October 24. Masks will be encouraged, but optional, in all VMTH clinical spaces, as they are currently optional throughout campus. All employees will still be required to complete and pass the symptom survey. Clients will be required to take and pass a verbal symptom survey upon arrival (proof of vaccination is no longer mandated). The hospital will return to normal use of client waiting facilities and examination rooms. This new protocol aligns the VMTH with the majority of veterinary teaching hospitals in the nation, UCD main campus spaces, and all other UCD veterinary teaching facilities. The hospital will continue to provide a variety of mask options to meet our team's individual needs. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 positivity rates in the community and may have times of surges where masking is required of clients and/or our team members in the future. Vaccination mandates remain unchanged for employees and students.

September 28, 2022

• Faculty and staff recently gathered at the annual American Association of Bovine Practitioners conference, held this year in Long Beach. Led by Large Animal Clinic Director Dr. Bret McNabb, several members of the Livestock Medicine & Surgery Service and the Livestock Herd Health & Reproduction Service attended the event and hosted an alumni reception. The hospital was also well represented with a booth in the exposition hall to promote clinical and laboratory services, as well as residency and graduate programs. This is the first year the VMTH has been represented in this capacity at AABP, and all who attended agreed it was an overwhelming success.

August 29, 2022

• Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service Opens Stomatitis Clinic

  DOSS is opening a monthly Stomatitis Clinic to better serve patients suffering from this oral disease and provide them with cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic options. This expansion of oral medicine opportunities will greatly improve UC Davis’ ability to treat one of the most devastating oral diseases in pets. Following a successful soft launch in July and August, the clinic will officially open on September 8, with a 2-day “stomatitis only” receiving and treatment schedule. The Stomatitis Clinic will be the first of its kind anywhere in veterinary medicine. Going forward, DOSS will continue to dedicate two days each month exclusively to stomatitis patients.

• Large Animal Clinic Opens New Equine Stalls

  LAC celebrated the grand opening of new clinical space in its equine barns. LAC Director Dr. Bret McNabb and several faculty and staff members recently cut the ceremonial ribbon into new hospitalization space of three large-capacity equine stalls and an adjacent treatment area. The new space repurposes an area of the hospital that had not been utilized in more than a decade and paves the way for future renovation projects to move forward, including the All Species Imaging Center, a central hub of imaging modalities which will be located between the main hospital building and the barns.

July 28, 2022

• VERT Rescues Horse at Tevis Cup

  On July 17, members of the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team (VERT) responded to a request by the organizers of the Tevis Cup to rescue a horse that had fallen off the Western States Trail while competing in the famous 100-mile endurance ride. Partnering with emergency crews from CalFire, as well as Placer, Nevada, and Butte Counties, VERT played a major role in a dramatic helicopter rescue that was featured extensively on Northern California news outlets. Dr. Lais Costa led the team of four, including Dr. Tara Urbano, staff member Tim Williamson, and veterinary students Julia Hills and Caitlyn Higginbotham.

June 30, 2022

• As we wrap up Pride Month, I want to take a moment to reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am proud to sign the Pride VMC Gender Identity Bill of Rights on behalf of the hospital. Every day and especially during Pride Month, it is important to reflect on our community commitment to these rights and reaffirm our intent to ensure safe spaces for all members of our team. --Joshua Stern

May 26, 2022

• The American Veterinary Medical Association’s American Board of Veterinary Specialties has provisionally recognized the American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology (ACVNU) as veterinary medicine’s newest specialty discipline. Decades in the making, the charge for ACVNU’s establishment was led by Dr. Larry Cowgill, along with an organizing committee of leading experts in the field. Dr. Cowgill will serve as ACVNU’s first president, and under his guidance, the VMTH and UCVMC-SD will be prominent initial training centers for ACVNU’s residency program, as we help establish the initial benchmark for the new college’s training programs.

April 29, 2022

• The VPETT program is designed to emphasize the importance of recognizing the hard work and dedication of our team members in alignment with the hospital's five Cultural Pillars (Realize Our Vision, Value People, Pursue Excellence, One Team, and Trusted Dialogue). In this video created by the VPETT Committee, you can see some of the great prizes available and how easy it is to nominate your colleagues.

March 30, 2022

• Construction Update

  Please be advised there will be major disruption around the VMTH loading dock area the first week of April, as the canopy over the loading dock will be demolished. This demolition is one of the beginning phases of preparing the area for the construction of the All Species Imaging Center as part of the Veterinary Medical Center campaign. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

February 26, 2022

• COVID-19 Update

  Remember that it is still required to take and pass a daily symptom survey prior to entry into VMTH facilities, as well as forwarding the results of that survey to your supervisor. Masks at VMTH entry points are being replaced with high quality KF94 masks. Changing into a fresh, provided mask at the entry point is required for all employees and students. The only exception to this rule is if you are wearing a fresh N95/KN95 of your own or as provided by central supply. Thank you for your diligence in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our community and all your hard work during these times of staff, student, and clinician shortages. Feel free to reach out to vmthcovidqns@ucdavis.edu if you have questions.

January 26, 2022

• COVID-19 Update

  Remember that it is still required to take and pass a daily symptom survey prior to entry into VMTH facilities, as well as forwarding the results of that survey to your supervisor. Masks at VMTH entry points are being replaced with high quality KF94 masks. Changing into a fresh, provided mask at the entry point is required for all employees and students. The only exception to this rule is if you are wearing a fresh N95/KN95 of your own or as provided by central supply. Thank you for your diligence in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our community and all your hard work during these times of staff, student, and clinician shortages. Feel free to reach out to vmthcovidqns@ucdavis.edu if you have questions.

December 28, 2021

• Facilities Update

  Expansion of the small animal ER/ICU is underway, and the service has temporarily moved to Ward 3 during renovations. The blood gas machine, Omnicell, and all other associated ECC equipment is now located in Ward 3. Please use the centrifuge in the front of Ward 4 for PCV/TPs to minimize congestion in the ER. A huge thanks to Cole Jacobsen, Charlie Porter, Ramon Andres, Debbie Davis, and the IT team for doing so much to make the move possible. Work continues on the demolition and renovation of VMTH 1071. Estimated completion for this space is the end of January and Central Supply will then occupy the room while their current area is being renovated. Infrastructure changes will continue to occur over the next several weeks with some disruption to the south and west side of the VMTH, particularly in the parking lot and between buildings, as the construction crews are digging several trenches to identify utilities, create new plumbing lines, HVAC, and mechanical tie-ins for the new All Species Imaging Center and other related projects. As always, we truly appreciate your patience during this period of construction; the new facilities are greatly needed and will be a vast improvement for our clinical services, teaching, patient care delivery, and all who work in those spaces.

November 30, 2021

• VMC Update

  Infrastructure upgrades are ongoing in the Large Animal Clinic. New water lines, steam pipes, and oxygen lines currently being installed will support the future All Species Imaging Center. Thank you to everyone for your patience with the construction and hospital modifications during this phase.

• Facilities Update

  The rollout of Instinct in the Small Animal Hospital has gone very well. All small animal inpatients (excluding exotics) are displayed on the monitors, which allows all members of the patient care team to view their treatment progression in real time from any location. Instinct allows for the capture of all patient care data into an electronic medical record and has numerous built-in systems to improve patient safety. We are pleased with the initial success and look forward to how it will improve our standard of care and its potential for educational and research benefits.

October 28, 2021

• VMC Update

  Many preliminary projects have commenced in order to prepare for construction of the All Species Imaging Center. Currently, contractors are installing utility lines throughout the large animal complex. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding through this process. Routine updates on projects that affect hospital areas will continue to be emailed, so please be sure to check your email on a regular basis. Signage to better direct large animal clients is currently being updated and will continue to be throughout different phases of construction.

September 23, 2021

• VMC Update

  The general contractor, Roebbelen Construction, has been selected for the All Species Imaging Center and has begun pre-planning activities with campus designers. We anticipate construction staging to begin shortly. You will begin to see signage around the complex alerting employees and guests of the latest activities and areas to avoid. If you have not done so already, please familiarize yourself with the ASIC project, as clients will be curious about the advancements being made to the hospital. This central hub of imaging is the first major building construction of Phase I of the Veterinary Medical Center campaign.

August 27, 2021

• COVID-19 Update

  All employees who have not finalized their vaccine information in the HEM portal have received an e-mail from campus regarding the vaccination requirement and the process for requesting an exemption. If you choose to pursue an exemption, please be aware the process may take additional time and the deadline for being fully vaccinated or having the exemption finalized is September 8, 2021. There are no exceptions.

July 27, 2021

• VMC Update

  The selection of a contractor for the Veterinary Medical Center’s All Species Imaging Center (ASIC) was recently completed. Construction staging for the ASIC project is expected to begin in August.

June 24, 2021

• VMC Update

  The construction bidding process for the Veterinary Medical Center’s All Species Imaging Center (ASIC) wrapped up on June 15. The selection of a contractor is expected to be finalized by the end of June, and construction staging for the ASIC project will begin shortly after, with work expected to begin in mid-summer.

• COVID-19 Update

  •    All UC Davis employees working in person, on campus are now eligible to be vaccinated, please visit the UC Davis COVID-19 Vaccine Program site for details.
  •    With new COVID-19 guidelines changing constantly, the UC Davis Emergency Management Team has created a matrix to help UC employees and student navigate those changes. The matrix will be updated weekly by the Emergency Management Team based on changes in our state, county, and UC policies.

May 17, 2021

• VMC Update

  The construction bidding process for the Veterinary Medical Center’s All Species Imaging Center (ASIC) is well underway. Pre-qualified contractors will be working on their bids throughout May, with all bids to be received in early June. Contractors were able to complete a site visit to walk through areas of construction and renovation earlier this month. All of the pre-qualified bidders that attended the walk through expressed their continued interest in the project. Once a contractor is selected, construction staging for the ASIC project will begin in early summer and work will begin mid-summer.

• COVID-19 Update

  All UC Davis employees working in person, on campus are now eligible to be vaccinated, please visit the UC Davis COVID-19 Vaccine Program site for details.

April 29, 2021

• VMC Update

  Advertising for construction bids for the Veterinary Medical Center’s All Species Imaging Center (ASIC) began this week. The bid process will be roughly four weeks and another six to eight weeks for finalizing the contract. As part of the process, there is a mandatory pre-bid conference where prospective bidders are walked through the areas of construction and renovation. Currently, that walk through is scheduled for May 4 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Areas affected will be most of the Large Animal Clinic (including barns), Pharmacy/Central Receiving, and the Small Animal ER/ICU. Thank you for accommodating this temporary inconvenience. Once a contractor is selected, construction staging for the ASIC project will begin in early summer and work will begin mid-summer.

March 30, 2021

• COVID-19 Update

  On March 17, the Office of the Dean held a town hall as an opportunity for School of Veterinary Medicine community members to learn, ask questions and make suggestions to help improve the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining Dean Lairmore were: UC Davis Chief Wellness Officer Dr. Peter Yellowlees and Dr. Margaret Rea, director of wellness for the School of Medicine who discussed “Coping in the Era of COVID-19.” The meeting was recorded for those who missed it.

February 24, 2021

• COVID-19 Update

  •    All UC Davis employees working in person, on campus are now eligible to be vaccinated, please visit the UC Davis COVID-19 Vaccine Program site for details.
  •    On February 17, the Office of the Dean held a town hall as an opportunity for School of Veterinary Medicine community members to learn, ask questions and make suggestions to help improve the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining Dean Lairmore were: Dr. Smita Iyer, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology who discussed immune response to SARS-CoV2; and Dr. Brian Bird, associate director, of the One Health Institute Global Lead-Sierra Leone who discussed viral variants in coronaviruses and how this may influence public health or responses to vaccination strategies. The meeting was recorded for those who missed it.

January 27, 2021

• COVID-19 Update

  On January 20, the Office of the Dean held a town hall with leaders from the UC Davis Safety Services and Genome Center to discuss the latest developments in the campus’s COVID-19 response. The Safety Services has led the campus’s overall COVID-19 response and Genome Center has led the campus effort to develop and administer the saliva test. The event was an opportunity for School of Veterinary Medicine community members to learn, ask questions, and make suggestions to help improve the university’s response to the pandemic. The meeting was recorded for those who missed it.

Latest News

October 11, 2020

UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Aims to Raise $500 Million in University’s Fundraising Campaign

The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis is taking one of the lead roles in the university’s new $2 billion fundraising campaign, “Expect Greater: From UC Davis, For the World.” This marks the largest philanthropic endeavor in the university’s history, and the school’s 25% portion of the goal is also its largest fundraising challenge. This bold goal will help create the future Veterinary Medical Center, where clinical innovation, transformational research, and compassionate healing come together. The school’s portion of the $2 billion goal includes a decade-long campaign to raise more than $500 million to create a new veterinary hospital that sets the gold standard of care while defining advanced clinical research and education.

Latest Newsletter Issues

• VMTH Voice

VMTH Voice is a monthly internal newsletter for faculty and staff of the UC Davis veterinary hospital.

• May 2023
• April 2023
• March 2023
• February 2023
• January 2023
• December 2022
• November 2022
• October 2022
• September 2022
• August 2022
• July 2022
• June 2022
• May 2022
• April 2022
• March 2022
• February 2022
• January 2022
• December 2021
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• December 2020
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• August 2020
• July 2020
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• May 2020
• April 2020
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• February 2020
• January 2020
• December 2019
• November 2019
• October 2019
• September 2019

• VMTH Heartbeat

As of Winter 2020, Heartbeat became a quarterly electronic newsletter for the hospital's referring veterinarians only. The publication acts as a timely reference for veterinarians on the latest clinical advancements, clinical trials, and research happening in and around the UC Davis veterinary hospital. 

• Fall 2022
• Summer 2022
• Spring 2022
• Winter 2022
• Fall 2021
• Summer 2021
• Spring 2021
• Winter 2021
• Fall 2020
• Summer 2020
• Spring 2020
• Winter 2020

Prior to 2020, Heartbeat was a public newsletter about the latest happenings at the UC Davis veterinary hospital.

• Fall 2019
• Special Edition Vol. 8
• Summer 2019
• Special Edition Vol. 7
• Spring 2019
• Winter 2019
• Special Edition Vol. 6