Community Connections

Servant leadership and community involvement are pillars of the CVM’s core values. Brian Butler, Associate Dean of Clinical Programs is living those values with a recent volunteering event with Greenville County Animal Care. The animal welfare group hosted Fix a Feral Day to serve over 100 community cats in Greenville County.

“Fix a Feral Day with Greenville County Animal Care was an amazing opportunity to observe how volunteers can have a major impact in their community by working with local animal shelter experts and veterinarians,” said Butler. “Exposing future veterinary students to these types of community efforts is a major goal of the Clemson CVM.”

Butler is building relationships with veterinarians and animal shelters around the state. CVM students will spend over a year in clinical rotations learning from these veterinary professionals.

“Exposure to a broad range of experiences will help ensure that Clemson students become well-rounded veterinarians with a dedication to servant leadership and community support,” said Butler. “This type of engagement with the community is one of the many advantages provided by a partially distributive model of clinical training.”

The Clinical Training Network will allow students to learn in a variety of settings from general practice to a variety of specialty fields. The goal is to bridge the gap between medical theory and practical clinical training for all Clemson students. This critical fourth-year experience will broaden horizons and expose students to different career opportunities in real-world settings.

“The Clemson CVM is working hard to establish strategic partnerships with veterinarians throughout the state that will have a positive impact on our efforts to train the next generation of veterinarians,” said Butler. “The CVM will have partnerships that expand across the diverse animal healthcare industry from hometown community clinics to large urban specialty care and referral hospitals. Students will also have opportunities to train with veterinary professionals in the farm animal industry and state-level diagnostics as a part of the required curriculum.”

For these soon-to-be-partners, they’ll play a vital role in training the next generation of veterinarians. Students will hone their clinical skills, animal care knowledge, and professional skills like communication and business management abilities. For the CVM’s Clinical Partners, it’s a win-win situation.

“Greenville County Animal Care is interested in the clerkship program to give students hands-on experience in a high-volume animal shelter setting,” said Shelly Simmons, Director, Greenville County Animal Care and Control. “We hope this partnership will help them sharpen their clinical skills while developing a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and rewards of shelter medicine. Our goal is that students leave inspired to improve access to care for animals in shelters and throughout our communities.”

CVM students will build their knowledge base and begin refining their clinical skills during years one through three in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program. The fourth year will help them go from novice to expert. The vision is Clemson CVM students will cross the stage during graduation and be able to go directly in to practice the next day. Students can also continue their education with another degree program such as public health or focus on a specialty with an internship or residency. No matter which path they choose, they’ll have support from CVM Student Services.

Learn more about the curriculum here.

Learn more about joining the Clinical Training Network here.

Pending accreditation, the CVM will welcome its first class of students in Fall of 2026.