One Life. One World. One Health. One Great Event!

MU's College of Veterinary Medicine to Host Annual Open House

March 30, 2009

Story Contact:  Christian Basi, 573-882-4430, BasiC@missouri.edu

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Forget sheet cake and coffee. The University of Missouri's College of Veterinary Medicine Open House will feature less traditional attractions: a teddy bear surgery lab for kids, the Purina Incredible Dogs and a horse rescue simulation. There also will be informational lectures about topics ranging from rabies, orthopedics, cancer, the human/animal bond and malaria.

This year's theme is "One Life. One World. One Health." The event is free and open to the public. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 4 at the College of Veterinary Medicine on the MU campus.

"This year's open house is aimed not only at informing the public of our college and hospital facilities, but also at creating a learning opportunity for all ages," said Jennifer Sandler, an MU veterinary medicine student and one of the organizers of the event. "The theme, 'One Life, One World, One Health,'refers to the interconnectedness between animals and people. The open house will provide visitors the opportunity to learn more about that connection, not just in medicine, but also everyday life."

The students, faculty and staff host the free open house each year to give the public and aspiring veterinarians the opportunity to see one of Missouri's most advanced veterinary facilities. Seeing more than 16,000 patients annually, students of the MU Veterinary Medical Teaching hospital have medical experience in emergency medicine, surgery, oncology, neurology, orthopedic surgery and cardiovascular medicine.

Sponsors of the open house include Hill's Pet Nutrition, Iams, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, Purina, Schering Plough, VCA Animal Hospitals and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

For more information about the open house visit http://www.cvm.missouri.edu/openhouse

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