The college down south announced last week a $1 billion commitment from Phil and Penny Knight to establish an engineering college.
OSU’s future veterinarians, and the animals they will help, also have a benefactor to be grateful for. OSU alum Audrey Albaugh and her $1 million commitment.
(Photo courtesy/Oregon Humane)
The gift was sent as Oregon faces veterinary workforce shortages, particularly in rural communities. The state’s licensing board says veterinarians and techs leaving or relocating have had a huge effect on access to care. OSU’s veterinary college has reported persistent hiring needs at practices treating livestock and our household pets.
The donation to Oregon Humane was made to support its partnership with OSU’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine. The program provides fourth-year veterinary students with supervised clinical work before they enter the respective field.
“It was a win-win for me because I’m an Oregon State alum,” Albaugh told Jefferson Public Radio. She also said she had seen veterinary staffing shortages firsthand on the coast, where clinics were struggling to recruit and retain veterinarians.
Albaugh comes from a fourth-generation Coos County family. Her gift will support a program serving more than 100 vet students annually. Students complete a two-week rotation at Oregon Humane’s shelter hospital, with an option for another week at its Community Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Steve Kochis, identified in JPR’s report as Oregon Humane’s chief medical officer and interim CEO, said students can perform “upwards of 30 or 40 procedures” through the program.
A former student of the program now helps lead that work. Dr. Franci Forman, medical director at Oregon Humane’s Community Veterinary Hospital, described its value in the gift announcement.
“As a student, the hands-on training I received during my rotation at Oregon Humane was invaluable,” Forman said, according to KCBY.
It’s hard to compare a billion-dollar donation to a million-dollar donation between these two universities. But when your livestock is sick, or your pet is sick, and you depend on that relationship, we’ll take the million bucks every single time.
You can’t engineer love.
This article was written by Derek S., a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com
More recent stories:
→ Donate
We’ll still keep it ad-free and paywall-free even if you don’t. 100% of donations go to expanding local reporting, giving back to community causes, and minor operating expenses. Read more about our values and mission here.
Do you have a story for The Inquirer? Email: editor@corvallisnow.com
