New vet school offered
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from July 2004.
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The Government of the Cayman Islands, acting through the Ministry of Education, Human Resources and Culture, has given St. Matthew's University permission to expand its graduate degree programme to include the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).
St. Matthew's University President and CEO Michael A. Harris, announced plans for the opening of the School of Veterinary Medicine in Grand Cayman Continued on page 16 from page 1 to a gathering of local veterinarians at a reception held on Friday evening at Café Med, according to a release.
Dr. Harris noted that there is a strong need for additional training opportunities for students wishing to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine and practice in the US. This need creates an exciting new opportunity for St. Matthew's University and Grand Cayman to fill yet another significant role in the training of professionals in the field of public health. It is the hope of the President that veterinarians currently in practice in Grand Cayman will consider becoming members of the faculty and play an integral role in the growth and development of this new school of the University, the release states.
During a tour of the agricultural and veterinary facilities in Lower Valley on Friday morning, Dr. Alfred Benjamin, Chief Agricultural and Veterinary Officer discussed with the St. Matthew's President and Vice Presidents the possibilities of collaboration in areas that would be mutually beneficial, it states.
Classes are scheduled to begin in January of 2005 with a small charter class of 20-25 students. Students of Veterinary Medicine at St. Matthew's will spend their first three years of training in the Basic Sciences of Veterinary Medicine in Grand Cayman and then complete their Clinical Sciences in academic facilities throughout the US and the UK.
A Caymanian scholarship providing for all tuition and fees for the three years of Basic Sciences (valued at over US$65,000) will be awarded annually to a qualified Caymanian to study Veterinary Medicine at St. Matthew's University.
The Vice President of St. Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. David Scott Harris, announced that a search will begin immediately for farm acreage in rural Cayman to be purchased and adapted to accommodate the needs for the clinical facility for the third year curriculum, the release states.
The University will purchase or produce all stock necessary for the operation of the school. No direct animal care will be provided by the facility, but St. Matthew's faculty will gladly provide consultative services to local veterinarians. Dr. B. D. Owens, Chief Financial Officer of St. Matthew's University noted that, "a recent economic impact study showed that St. Matthew's University is currently causing a positive annual economic impact of US$147,000,000 on the Cayman economy using the Keynesian Economic Multiplier Model."
Dr. Owens' Economic Impact Study also showed that St. Matthew's University is contributing heavily to tourism for the Cayman Islands, the release states. Currently, relatives and friends visit SMU students at the rate of 3.8 visits per year averaging 16.5 days per stay while faculty members reported a slightly higher number of people visiting them, averaging five days per visitor. The 2004 Spring Commencement brought 62 new graduates to Cayman and with them an average of slightly over two parents and friends for each. graduate for a total exceeding 180 persons for the long graduation weekend.
Vice President and COO of St. Matthew's University Jerry W. Thornton reported that the School of Veterinary Medicine, operating under the auspices of St. Matthew's University and the direction of the St. Matthew's University Board of Trustees, is projected to develop rapidly into a top training and research facility known for its progressive academic programme and international leadership in public health and veterinary medical care. He also projected that the expected enrollment in the School of Veterinary Medicine, coupled with the rapidly increasing enrollment of the School of Medicine, will easily double the size of the University presence in Grand Cayman over the next three years.
