A decades-long effort to establish Kentucky’s first School of Veterinary Medicine has officially moved forward following state approval, marking a historic moment for higher education and rural workforce development in the Commonwealth.
According to Laura Ken Hoffman, founding dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, the approval process required an extensive submission to the Council on Postsecondary Education, including a notice of intent, a feasibility study, a detailed curriculum plan, and faculty documentation.
“It evaluated student and market demand, research opportunities, and our library facility,” Hoffman said. “So it was a very comprehensive and all-inclusive list of questions and documents that we submitted to CPE.”
With approval secured, Hoffman said the program is on track to enroll its first class of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students as early as 2028.
For Brian Parr, dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture, the moment represents the culmination of an idea that began more than half a century ago.
“It took 56 years to get to the point that we are now,” Parr said. “There’s been multiple iterations over the last 56 years, but it started in 1973 and finally came to fruition this past Friday with state approval.”
Parr emphasized the significance of the achievement, noting that Kentucky has never before had a veterinary school.
“There has never been a vet school in the state of Kentucky—ever,” Parr said. “This is absolutely monumental for our state.”
University leaders say the absence of an in-state veterinary school has long limited access to the profession, particularly for rural students who were unwilling or unable to leave Kentucky to complete their degrees.
“It became a type of pre-selection,” Parr explained. “You had to be willing to move out of state to finish the degree. That immediately eliminated a large group of rural students who tend to stay closer to home and ultimately changed their career paths.”
The need for veterinarians—especially in rural communities—remains urgent. Hoffman cited USDA data showing 237 rural veterinary shortage areas across 47 states. Within Kentucky alone, she said there are 10 designated shortage areas and 70 underserved rural regions.
“We would definitely be helping address this dire shortage that everyone is experiencing in veterinary medicine,” Hoffman said.
Parr added that the program is particularly significant for a regional university and will be strengthened by its integration with existing agricultural resources.
“We already have the Breathitt Veterinary Center, the diagnostic lab in Hopkinsville, and equine, cattle, and swine units,” Parr said. “All of those resources are already in place and pledged to work hand in hand with the School of Veterinary Medicine.”
The program will also be closely connected to undergraduate animal agriculture studies, creating a seamless pathway for students from rural backgrounds.
“We’re very good at attracting students from rural areas,” Parr said. “This gives them a feasible, local track into veterinary medicine.”
The next step for the program is accreditation through the American Veterinary Medical Association. Hoffman said the school will undergo multiple consultative site visits before receiving a letter of reasonable assurance, which will allow recruitment of its first cohort of students.
Once complete, the School of Veterinary Medicine is expected to play a key role in strengthening Kentucky’s agricultural economy, rural healthcare access, and workforce sustainability for decades to come.
