Dr. Callie Fogle, faculty member and head of Veterinary Services at the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine, recently shared an update on the college during a presentation to the Greenville Livestock Association. The update highlighted the progress of building out a local ambulatory (mobile) service and how the program will help the Clemson CVM expand access to veterinary care in the region while strengthening partnerships with local practitioners.
Designed to meet the needs of South Carolina’s robust animal agriculture industry, the ambulatory service will provide on-farm and after hours care for cattle, small ruminants and horses, while also supporting backyard poultry and small-scale swine operations, particularly those connected to 4-H and youth programs. When fully operational, ambulatory services will be equipped with four state-of-the-art trucks. The service will bring advanced veterinary care directly to farms. Each unit includes ultrasound, digital radiography, patient-side diagnostic tools and specialized equipment for procedures such as hoof care.
Based in the Ambulatory Services building on the new college’s campus, the service will provide daytime and after-hours veterinary care to farms within a radius of approximately 30 miles around Clemson, a region rich in livestock production. One truck will travel farther afield, with a focus on regional herd health experiences for the students, working in collaboration with local veterinarians and Extension agents to support large-scale operations, improve efficiency, and promote food safety across the state.
Fogle emphasized in her presentation that the ambulatory program is designed to complement, not compete with, existing veterinary practices. By working in partnership with area veterinarians, the service aims to expand capacity and provide additional support to veterinarians and producers who may otherwise face challenges accessing timely care.
The program will also serve as a cornerstone of the college’s teaching mission. The service will serve as one of the core rotations for all 4th year Clemson DVM students, giving those students the necessary opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world settings under the guidance of experienced practitioners.
“The ambulatory service will be a very hands-on, student-led service,” Fogle said. “It’s a critical opportunity for fourth-year students, supported by an experienced practitioner, to use what they’ve learned in real-world, practical on-farm cases. The students really will lead the way…they will talk to the clients, examine the animals, come up with the plans, discuss with the clients, and initiate the treatments.”
Sharing updates with producers was especially meaningful. “I loved meeting the producers in Greenville County and understanding more about their struggles of accessing veterinary care for their animals,” Fogle said. “It means a lot to me to be part of the new College of Veterinary Medicine. It is very exciting to share how the graduating veterinarians of Clemson’s new college will impact the lives of people and animals across the state.”
Through this new ambulatory service, the PCVM is advancing its mission to promote animal and human health while preparing the next generation of veterinarians to serve communities across South Carolina. Follow the college website and social media pages for important updates on when services will begin rolling out in later summer/early fall.
Special thanks to the Clemson University Farms for their help in capturing these photos from: LaMaster Dairy Cattle Center, Clemson Equine Center, Simpson Sheep Farm.
Learn more: Piedmont Research and Education Center
