Purina Pro Plan Veterinary has opened the Purina Pro Plan Wellness Center at Utah State University (USU) to support the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary students. This initiative is part of the Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission, which aims to eliminate barriers that veterinarians encounter throughout their careers. Situated within the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the center is designed to help students integrate self-care into their professional development.
Read More
Michael Bishop, director of student affairs for USU's CVM, stated, "The Purina Pro Plan Wellness Center represents our commitment to making wellbeing an integral part of veterinary education. We want our students to develop not only the knowledge and clinical skills to care for others, but also the habits, resources, and resilience needed to sustain themselves throughout a demanding and rewarding career in veterinary medicine."
The opening comes as USU prepares to expand its four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, which admitted its first class of 39 students in August 2025. The latest cohort, consisting of 77 students, began first-year classes this fall, following the move to the new Thomas and Patricia Willis Veterinary Medical Education building in summer 2026.
Veterinarians often experience burnout, and studies indicate that 32% of first-year veterinary students report clinical levels of depressive symptoms. Emily Cross, DVM, noted, "Veterinary medicine is an incredibly rewarding profession, but we also recognize the demands that come with answering the call to care. Our commitment to veterinary professionals begins before their first day in practice. By investing in the Purina Pro Plan Wellness Center, we want to create an environment where future veterinarians have access to resources for their well-being."
USU's CVM received provisional accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education in 2025, aiming to prepare competent and compassionate veterinary professionals.
Since launching in 2024, the Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission has contributed over $3.5 million to various organizations addressing veterinary profession challenges, including mental health support and financial assistance for pet care. The new wellness center enhances these efforts by focusing on the wellbeing of future veterinarians during their critical training years.
For more details on the Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission, visit ProPlanVet.com.