CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine will host a groundbreaking ceremony June 20 to kick off a 21,729-square foot expansion of Magruder Hall that will improve instructional space and increase services at the small animal hospital.

The event will feature remarks from President Ed Ray and Susan J. Tornquist, the college’s Lois Bates Atcheson Dean. It will begin at 2:30 p.m. in front of Magruder Hall, 700 SW 30th St., Corvallis. Refreshments will be served in the lobby after the ceremony. The public is welcome to attend.

Over the next two years, the college will add a 100-seat lecture hall and two wings on the small animal hospital. One new hospital wing will house oncology, cardiology and internal medicine, freeing up space for the surgery service to expand. Another wing will house a linear accelerator for a new radiation oncology service.

“This project will directly improve the educational experience of veterinary students by providing improved instructional space,” said Tornquist. “With this project, graduating veterinarians will have training in new and advanced treatment procedures, such as radiation oncology.”

The small animal hospital has treated more than 20,000 animals, primarily cats and dogs, since its opening in 2006. Over the past five years, the hospital’s case load has increased an average of 9.1 percent annually.

Adding a linear accelerator for radiation oncology to the hospital’s existing chemotherapy services means OSU will be able to provide comprehensive cancer care to patients in one location for the first time. Many owners must currently travel out of state for access to advanced cancer care for their animals.

The added lecture hall also helps meet needs of the growing veterinary medicine program, which recently increased enrollment from 56 to 72 students per year.

The Magruder Hall expansion is supported in part by a $5 million gift from Gary. R. Carlson, part of his historic $50 million commitment to the college announced earlier this year, and by earnings from the Lois Bates Acheson Endowment.

Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine

About the OSU Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine: The college serves the needs of Oregon, the nation and the world by training the next generation of practice-ready veterinarians, providing state-of-the-art diagnostic and clinical services and supporting the continuing education of veterinary practitioners. Biomedical research conducted at the college increasingly expands the scope of veterinary medicine to address both animal health issues and the relevance of animal diseases to public health.

Story By: 

Michelle Klampe, 541-737-0784, [email protected]

Source: 

Lyn Smith-Gloria, 541-737-3844, [email protected]

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