BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The House has just passed House Bill 400, a bill which would allow Murray State University a veterinarian doctorate program.

What You Need To Know

  • House Bill 400 would make Murray State University the first school in Kentucky eligible to create to offer a doctorate in veterinary medicine

  • If it becomes law, Murray State can become the first Kentucky university to offer a doctorate in veterinary medicine degree 

  • 86 Kentucky counties are facing some sort of veterinarian shortage, particularly in rural areas and large animal specialists 

  • According to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, only 3% of veterinarians in Kentucky practice on large animals

After becoming the dean of Murray State University’s Hutson School of Agriculture in July, Brian Parr has been using his time to focus and advocate for the bill.

Parr said, “It’s something we should all be behind, as a state. It’s not like we’re trying to get a second or a third vet school. We’re trying to create the only vet school in the commonwealth of Kentucky.”

The bill received bi-partisan approval and has been sent to the Senate, where it will remain until further notice. If approved, the veterinarian school will focus on large animals and will cost about $90-million to build. 

Student Lanie Brumfield is enrolled in MSU’s Pre-Veterinary medicine program and was offered a hands-on experience that most pre-vet schools don’t give.

Brumfield said, “Day one, you get into labs. So, for your first semester, you’re hands on.”

Brumfield said that staying with the same school from pre-vet to vet school would not only help with learning but also with saving money on tuition. Right now, students must leave Kentucky to study this specialty. For example, enrolling in Auburn’s vet program could cost students over $50,000.

Brumfield, “Obviously, we do not have a vet school in the state of Kentucky, so this opens a lot of opportunities for students who can’t afford to go out of state or wanted to practice locally.”

Parr did not disclose what tuition might cost at MSU, but said it would be less than Auburn’s in-state tuition cost of $24,000.

According to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, only 3% of veterinarians in Kentucky practice on large animals, so the proposed veterinarian school will help fill a need for large animal veterinarians.

There is no word on when the Senate will decide HB 400.

Related Stories