RPM Visits UGA’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Research and Prospect Management recently set out on another “campus crawl”, this time to UGA’s Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. The team met up with Ellen Sims, Regional Director of Development, and Dottie Wray, Office Manager for the College of Veterinary Medicine. After brief introductions and a reminder of the hospital’s HIPAA policy (no photos allowed!), our tour commenced!
The tour of the 300,000-square-foot facility began in the Cora Nunnally Miller Small Animal Hospital, where we immediately witnessed the impact of transformational giving. Quiet yet deeply meaningful, Cora’s philanthropy (recognized through the hospital’s naming) has left a lasting imprint on the Vet Med program. Her legacy is honored with a portrait in the main lobby, celebrating her generous contributions.
Our first stop was the small animal pharmacy, where veterinary and pharmacy students, alongside faculty and staff, collaborate to operate a fully functioning pharmacy for hospital patients. It was inspiring to see firsthand how departments across UGA work together so seamlessly.
After passing the pharmacy and catching a glimpse of the small animal surgery prep areas, we made our way to the exotic animal wing. Here, we learned about the remarkable range of patients the team has cared for—from crafting a prosthetic leg for a frog to performing surgery on a tiger. Their work truly spans the extraordinary!
Throughout the tour, Ellen and Dottie emphasized how essential donor support is to the hospital’s success. Thanks to philanthropy, the facility can maintain state-of-the-art equipment, such as MRI machines and CT scanners, and continue developing cutting-edge veterinary technologies and innovative care techniques for animals of all kinds.
We then crossed into the large animal hospital—and immediately felt the shift in scale. The receiving area alone, designed for hooved patients, is tall enough to accommodate a fire truck! It features pulley systems to assist animals that cannot stand and specialized, padded stalls to safely administer anesthesia. Beyond this space, we saw equipment sized for horses and cattle, including massive CT scanners and MRI machines. Just another testament to the power of donor-funded resources!
One of the most memorable moments of the visit was seeing patients resting in their stalls, including two young foals who stole the show!
Ellen and Dottie concluded our visit at Butler Garden, a tranquil outdoor space honoring the special bonds we share with companion animals. Through pavers, plaques, and other tributes, donors can commemorate these relationships while directly supporting the College of Veterinary Medicine Support Fund.
As with all of our campus visits, one truth stood out: philanthropy is vital. It fuels exceptional care, drives groundbreaking research, and ensures that animals receive the best possible treatment, helping them live healthier, happier lives!
