UC Davis held onto its top spot in veterinary sciences in the latest QS World University Rankings released today. As the inaugural No. 1 university in Veterinary Science, UC Davis is renowned for applying a “One Health” approach to addressing critical health concerns on a local and global scale.

"We are very proud to be ranked #1 in the QS World University Rankings in veterinary science for the fourth year in a row,” said Dean Michael Lairmore. “The rankings are a testimony to the excellence of our people and programs that strive every day to advance the health of animals, humans, and the environment."  

The veterinary school, also ranked #1 by U.S. News and World Report, is home to a robust research program with more than $85 million in annual research funding (21 percent from NIH) and provides clinical services to more than 50,000 animal patients annually in 34 specialties. UC Davis serves as a strong leader in veterinary medical education, providing nearly 700 DVM students with a curriculum built on sound educational theory designed and delivered by prominent faculty members. Advanced training is also provided to 170 graduate students and 110 clinical residents.

The school improves the lives of people, animals and the environment through efforts such as: 

• PREDICT—a $175 million multi-institutional program in more than 30 countries worldwide led by the school’s One Health Institute and funded by USAID to rapidly detect and respond to emerging viruses such as Ebola.

• CounterACT Center of Excellence—a $36 million NIH-funded program over 10 years to combat chemical threat agents. Research is conducted as a collaborative effort of the School of Veterinary Medicine, the School of Medicine, the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and the College of Engineering. 

• California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System—a group of four laboratories across the state that protects public and animal health in partnership with the state’s Department of Food and Agriculture.

In October of 2017, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May and Dean Michael Lairmore announced plans to enter a new era of veterinary medicine with a transformative UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center (VMC). The school is raising $115 million in philanthropic support through a campaign called “Leading the Way,” to update and improve three critical areas of the VMC: the Livestock and Field Service Center, the Equine Performance Center and the All-Species Imaging Center. Opened in 1970 to serve 3,000 patients per year, the hospital now sees more than 50,000 annually, causing the hospital to face significant constraints in space, layout and capacity, and impacting the speed at which clients receive care.

“We have a vision for a comprehensive Veterinary Medical Center unlike any in the world,” Lairmore said. “One that combines compassionate health care for animals with innovation, discovery, and education - all within a collaborative and fertile academic environment. The new VMC will amplify our ability to collaborate and create new solutions for our patients that translate to human care.”

The QS World University Rankings institutions are based on reputational surveys and research citations prepared by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a British firm that previously was the data provider for the annual Times Higher Education rankings. The firm is widely considered to be one of the most influential international university rankings providers.