SEWELL, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Rowan University will soon break ground on New Jersey’s first veterinary school.
Founding Dean Dr. Matt Edson said the goal of this program is to prepare doctors to serve the diverse and immediate needs of local farmers and pet owners.
“So the day they leave, that doesn’t mean they don’t have more to learn and many years to grow, but I want them to be able leave and confidently enter the workforce,” he said.
The School of Veterinary Medicine will be incorporated with the existing vet tech program at the community college — a huge benefit for students, Edson noted.
“I want to make sure this program gives them the opportunity to start at the ground level and work their way up without having to repeat a bunch of steps along the way, so that’s what will be a little bit different,” he added.
The program will also incorporate business classes so veterinarians have the tools and knowledge to run their own practices.
“We enter vet school because we want to care for animals, but the reality of that is operating a practice does take some degree of business acumen,” he said.
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Rowan University President Ali Houshmand is proud of the fact that his school will be one of only two in the country with osteopathic and veterinary medicine programs, all on the same campus in Sewell.
“People need that kind of service,” he said, “and the more we create them and, like I said, keep the practitioners practicing here, the better it is for everyone.”
He said one of New Jersey’s chief exports is young, educated talent, and this program should help keep some of them closer to home.
Houshmand also singled out New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney to thank him for being the driving force that got the $75 million needed to build this school.
Currently, there are only 33 veterinary schools in the country, and just five are on the East Coast.
Rowan’s inaugural class of 60 students is expected to start in the fall of 2025.
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