UF College of Veterinary Medicine announces name change for hospital operation

August 16, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In an effort to better align public perception with its true function, the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine has changed the name of its hospital operation from the UF Veterinary Medical Center to UF Veterinary Hospitals.

“As the result of ongoing efforts to better understand how we identify ourselves and how the public sees us, our hospital board approved this name change, effectively immediately,” said Glen Hoffsis, the college’s dean.

“Our research has shown us that the public was not entirely sure what the term ‘veterinary medical center’ meant, or how it might relate to them,” Hoffsis said. “We felt that we needed to simplify our name to reflect our core mission, which, as set forth in our strategic plan, puts the animal patient, the client and the referring veterinarian as our central focus.”

In addition, UF Veterinary Hospitals have adopted a new tagline, “Here When You Need Us,” to underline the hospitals’ role as a resource to private practice veterinarians who refer cases to UF, as well as to the animal-owning public. The tagline will be used in college publications and marketing materials in conjunction with overall UF branding efforts.

UF Veterinary Hospitals include both the large and small animal hospitals. Both hospitals are staffed by board-certified veterinary specialists and provide wellness care, specialty care and 24/7 emergency services to horses, pets and food animals. Approximately 18,700 animals from throughout the state of Florida and the Southeast receive care at UF each year.

Since it graduated its first class in 1980, the UF College of Veterinary Medicine has expanded both its small and large animal hospital operations to maintain its accreditation in good standing with the American Veterinary Medical Association and to better accommodate clients who bring their horses and companion animals to Gainesville for veterinary care.

The new UF Small Animal Hospital, a $58 million, state-of-the-art, 100,000 square-foot facility, will open for business in November and will enhance and supplement existing operations. The Alec P. and Louise H. Courtelis Equine Hospital opened in 1994.

For more information about the UF Veterinary Hospitals, please call 352-392-2235 for small animals, 352-392-2229 for large animals or visit www.vethospitals.ufl.edu.