About the Department
Welcome to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS). VCS is one of five academic departments in the CVM comprising 50+ diverse faculty and staff members across a wide range of disciplines, all allied in teaching, research, and clinical efforts relevant to companion animals, equines, and other large animals. VCS faculty members teach over one-third of the professional veterinary curriculum courses in the fully accredited DVM program, however, most classroom teaching is concentrated in the second and third years. Fourth year veterinary students spend much of their time in the veterinary teaching hospital, working alongside the clinicians and residents, refining the clinical training which they started in the second and third years of the professional program. Additionally, faculty are responsible for instructing numerous graduate classes, providing house officer training programs, and offering graduate programs in numerous clinical specialties. The majority of VCS faculty hold appointments in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center (LVMC) where they provide outstanding clinical service to patients, animal owners, and referring practitioners.
Research in VCS reflects the various disciplines represented, and concentrates on problems relevant to the causes, diagnosis and treatment of problems affecting large and small animals with areas of strength in comparative gastroenterology, oncology, ophthalmology, cardiology, and equine medicine and surgery. Numerous faculty are involved in active clinical trials within the LVMC to benefit individual animals and further knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment of significant animal diseases. Collaborative activities in all areas are enriched by support of interdisciplinary programs and the close proximity of the National Animal Disease Center, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, the Center for Veterinary Biologics, the University of Iowa, and Des Moines University.
The department boasts an award winning team which includes recent recipients of numerous CVM Awards (Early Achievement in Extension and Professional Practice, International Service Award, Professional and Scientific Outstanding New Professional Award, Faculty Member of the Year, Service Team of the Year), the Iowa State University Award for Early Achievement in Teaching, the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association’s Rising Star Award, along with several other professional recognitions and accolades.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department and the Veterinary Medical Center is to be strong academically, to provide outstanding services, and to conduct research in the multiple areas of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
Our goals are to teach students in the multiple disciplines of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, to provide excellent veterinary services to clients, and to generate and disseminate new knowledge in the areas of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
Our objectives are to provide a curriculum in the various aspects of Veterinary Clinical Sciences which ensures students acquire the skills and knowledge to be successful in their chosen careers. We also strive to maintain a caseload of sufficient size and diversity which insures a broad clinical experience for students, residents, and faculty. In addition, we aim to provide clinical veterinary services of the highest standards to animal owners and to referring veterinarians. And finally, we strive to provide an environment and opportunities which foster and encourage the generation and dissemination of new knowledge in many of the disciplines of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
Governance Document
The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences is governed by the established procedures described in our Governance Document.
Location
The Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department is housed within the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center. The Administrative Office is 2540 Lloyd.