We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new space of quiet comfort for our NC State Veterinary Hospital clients and staff! 💗

The seeds of the new Ross C. Levin Quiet Room in Honor of Jake the Therapy Dog were planted 13 years ago when Levin walked into the hospital`s designated bereavement room and braced himself to hear a difficult diagnosis about his golden retriever Max.

Happily, Max`s cancer turned out to be benign, and the dog lived another three years. Since then, Levin has been joined by Jake, another golden he rescued and then trained as a therapy dog. 😻 The two have made more than 350 visits to hospitals, elder care facilities and other places in need of smiles.

Watching Jake`s presence completely transform a room sparked an idea in Levin, and he generously supported the complete renovation of the Quiet Room in honor of Jake, including portraits of the pup that he had commissioned.

Levin’s hope is that the space he found a bit cold 13 years ago is now as inviting as a warm blanket and more accurately reflects the kindness and compassionate care he has found at NC State.

“We’ve seen firsthand how even small acts of compassion can have an extraordinary impact on anyone facing a difficult moment, and that`s what this room represents,” Levin said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week. ✂️“May it soften difficult conversations, support healing and continue the tradition that makes the CVM and the Terry Companion Animal Medical Center so special.”

#givingback #generousdonors #ncstatevetmed #ncstateveterinaryhospital #RossLevin

Before Madison Henderson started her @boehringer_ingelheim fellowship supporting #ebola-fighting efforts at the @usdagov, she traveled to Peru, learning lessons in cultural competency that will stay with her throughout her veterinary career. 🗺️

"Cultural competence directly affects the human-animal bond by improving client communication, fostering trust and helping veterinarians navigate the unique cultural views individuals hold regarding animal care and end-of-life decisions," she says.

Don`t miss the rest of her Peru takeaways in her #FromtheField dispatch linked in our profile.

#vetstudent #culturalcompetency #ebolafight

🎉 Dogs 99 and 100 have been enrolled in our ground-breaking longitudinal study on canine aging — a milestone worth marking!🎉

The study, launched by Dr. Natasha Olby and colleagues in 2018, is following what happens to dogs as they age and has led to tools to measure decline, all of which has implications for aging and Alzheimer’s research in humans. 🔥

The study has also produced a biobank and database that could be used for scores of new research into canine diseases, with data already contributing to two other exciting NC State research projects!

Find a Q&A with Olby and get up to date on the research at the link in our profile!

#canineaging #doglover #doglife #geriatrics #alzheimersresearch #veterinaryresearch

Affirmation received. ❤️

#FromtheField correspondent Kate Bessette shares that her experience at her first dairy farm visit of the summer has already cemented her love of pursuing veterinary medicine, educating neighbors and serving diverse communities. 🐮

As a Veterinary Scholars Program participant, Kate is working with Dr. Derek Foster, professor of ruminant medicine, on a research project, using her Spanish skills to talk with workers in Florida, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico and California about their knowledge of prudent drug use in animals.

Find out what she`s learned at the link in our profile.

#FromtheField #studentresearch #VSP #dairyfarm #dairyworkers

#TraineeCenteredLearning is what we`re about.

When people talk about the excellent veterinary education NC State University provides, they most often are thinking of our four-year students leaving as world-class veterinarians.

At the NC State Veterinary Hospital, however, our faculty members and clinicians are training our fourth-year students AND residents, interns and fellows, doctors of veterinary medicine who look to NC State`s experts for advanced learning in their specialties. 👩‍🔬

🔥 Tonight, we recognized 61 house officers, as we call them, who finished their advanced programs across 30 different specialties and will be heading into their exciting futures.🔥

Erin Lempp is our #NCStateVetMed house officer coordinator who gets to welcome them as they come and say goodbye to them as they go.

"This time of year is always bittersweet for me," she says. "Seeing the tremendous growth and confidence in our interns and residents makes my job incredibly rewarding. I`m so grateful to be part of their story, and I`ll always be cheering them on from the sidelines."

Dr. Joshua Stern, associate dean for research and graduate studies, also recognized those who completed the college`s Veterinary Academic Leaders Program, which helps prepare house officers for careers in academia at a time when veterinary shortages are leading to crises.👩‍⚕️

The week of June 15, we and Lempp will get to welcome 20 new interns to Raleigh, and in July, 37 new residents, four speciality interns and three fellows will begin training at NC State, one of only four medical campuses in North Carolina. Seven of those doctors arriving for specialty training are returning NC State DVM alumni! 🐺

"As one chapter closes, another begins!" Lempp says. "I’m already looking forward to building connections with our incoming group and working hard to ensure they know they always have a trusted sounding board and support system in me."

#thrivingcollegecommunity #veterinarytraining @lifechangers

We`re celebrating #HugYourCatDay by enumerating just a few of the ways we are wrapping all of our feline friends with love! 💗
Our leadership on all things cat is undeniable with:

🐈 Our new Vladimir Cader Feline Health Research Distinguished Chair, with Dr. Joshua Stern as the first recipient, and its focus on promoting groundbreaking translational research to find answers to diseases like #HCM in cats! go.ncsu.edu/cader-chair

🐈‍⬛ Our Feline Health Center dedicated to improving cat health through clinical service, medical research, community outreach and education! go.ncsu.edu/felinecenter

🐈 Our leadership in training the next generation of feline-focused veterinary clinician scientists by starting Cat Camp. go.ncsu.edu/catcamp

🐈‍⬛ Our expertise in helping educate veterinarians and cat owners about the latest breakthroughs in cat care with the annual Feline Health Symposium. go.ncsu.edu/felinesymposium

🐈 Our Veterinary Hospital with four dedicated feline exam rooms (thank you, donors!) and compassionate and cutting-edge caregivers who see more than 2,000 feline cases each year.

Hugs to all!

#felinehealthcenter #catcenteredcare #innovators #problemsolvers #lifechangers

For our veterinary students, new experiences can reinforce their interests or lead to the realization that something they thought they would love just isn`t for them.

At her externship at Hilltop Animal Hospital in Fuquay-Varina, Kristen Folk from our Class of 2028 happily learned that surgery does indeed fascinate her — especially when it ends in puppies!

She also notes the importance of working in a culture that supports exploration. Thank you, Hilltop! #FromtheField2026

Get the rest of her insights at the link in our profile.
@hilltop_animalhospital/