UCD vet school celebrates 20 years at campus with alumni wall

University College Dublin’s School of Veterinary Medicine recently celebrated 20 years at its Belfield Campus.

The Vet School moved from Ballsbridge, where the teaching of veterinary medicine had been based since 1900, to the purpose built Veterinary Sciences Centre and Veterinary Hospital in June 2002, following a successful campaign for a new vet school led by Professor Michael Monaghan with the support of the late Professor Tommy McGeady.

To mark the important milestone, the school launched its ‘Alumni Wall’ celebrating 20 of the most exceptional alumni from across the UCD Veterinary Community at an event on 15 June.

Those featured were nominated by staff, students and graduates as individuals who have excelled in their fields and have made a positive impact in others’ lives whilst exemplifying UCD’s values of excellence, integrity, collegiality, engagement, creativity, diversity and innovation.

Alumni featured include Ireland’s Ambassador to China Ann Derwin, All-Ireland winning Tyrone Gaelic footballer and co-manager Brian Dooher, ‘Supervet’ Noel Fitzpatrick, renowned racehorse trainers John Oxx and Dermot Weld, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Patricia Reilly, internationally recognised experts in infectious diseases John and Peter Timoney and critically acclaimed concertina player Brenda Castles.

The full listing can be found on the School’s website.

The UCD School of Veterinary Medicine is the only school of Veterinary Medicine on the island of Ireland.

It is accredited by the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE), the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) and the school’s MVB degree programme is one of only seven in Europe fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Veterinary Science at UCD has consistently ranked in the top 40 since the QS World University Rankings by Subject introduced Veterinary Science to the rankings in 2015, achieving its highest ranking of 23rd in the world in 2021.