The University of California, Davis, today announced the largest gift ever made to veterinary medicine worldwide: $120 million from philanthropists Joan and Sanford I. Weill through the Weill Family Foundation to support its top-ranked veterinary school.
In recognition of this commitment, the university has renamed the school the University of California, Davis, Joan and Sanford I. Weill School of Veterinary Medicine — or simply the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine.
Jonna Mazet arrived at UC Davis as an undergraduate curious about veterinary medicine in 1986, and is retiring four decades of groundbreaking campus initiatives later, having built a legacy of cross-discipline innovation on global health problem-solving, particularly regarding emerging infectious diseases and conservation challenges.
"I am always motivated by the excellence, innovation and the collaborative spirit at UC Davis," she said.
In recent decades, the global landscape of health has shifted dramatically. Pandemics, climate change, food insecurity and emerging zoonotic diseases have highlighted intricate connections between animals, humans and the environment, underscoring the fact that veterinary medicine is not just about the care of animals — it is essential to the health of people and the planet.
UC Davis Veterinary Medicine is one of only three veterinary schools to receive the Insight Into Academia Magazine’s 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award, recognizing the school's commitment to supporting scholars and helping them transition into an emotionally demanding profession.
The global leadership of the University of California, Davis, in the fields of veterinary science, and agriculture and forestry continues to be recognized in rankings released today (March 12).
Quacquarelli Symonds, or QS, considered one of the most influential international authorities on university rankings, placed UC Davis second in the world in both subjects in its QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. The campus was first in the nation in the two subjects.
Beyond its role as a teaching facility for DVM students and a leading referral hospital for advanced care, the UC Davis veterinary hospital also serves as the world’s largest training ground for future veterinary specialists.
The hospital’s house officer program—which offers residencies, internships, and fellowships—attracts participants from around the globe.
The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine welcomed 54 new house officers (fellows, interns, residents) into its advanced training programs this year. The School’s House Officer Program is the largest of its kind in the United States with 140 total house officers training in 47 specialty disciplines.
During a lunch talk hosted by the UC Davis Chapter of Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment (VOICE) earlier this month, Gina Davis B.S. '95, DVM '97 shared her journey as an African American woman navigating the veterinary profession. She took attendees of the talk through her career journey, which started with her undergraduate studies and veterinary school at UC Davis, working in private practice, before returning to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
More than 100 veterinary students attending the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in San Diego got a unique glimpse behind the racetrack at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on one of the final race days of the fall meet.
