Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC): Inauguration of the teaching building of the UC School of Veterinary Medicine
An imposing construction of more than 4,800 square meters, consisting of a central research laboratory; a multidisciplinary one; a modern anatomy pavilion and a pathology pavilion are part of the facilities that give life to the new teaching building of the UC School of Veterinary Medicine , located on the San Joaquín Campus.
The exclusive architectural work was inaugurated in a ceremony headed by the rector, Ignacio Sánchez, and the academic vice-rector, Fernando Purcell, who highlighted the facilities, valuing their contribution to the UC community and the country in the development of research in Veterinary Medicine, prioritizing the approach of One Health.
“This new space is part of our university project that, based on its identity, should be a high-quality contribution to the comprehensive training of its students, new knowledge and its transfer to society. There is no doubt that the relationship with pets, animals, our food and the environment are issues that are so relevant today that it was impossible for UC not to be present in Veterinary Medicine training,” said UC rector Ignacio Sánchez.
For his part, the academic vice-chancellor Fernando Purcell congratulated “the management team that has been filling this space. The formation of an organized community is not enough. A house is needed and this first-class building is what the career needs. Today we proudly inaugurate what was once a longing.”
Dr. Víctor Cubillos, director of the UC School of Veterinary Medicine, highlighted the work as the result of the effort that began in 2017, and which began to materialize on March 13, 2020, when the first stone of the building. In that sense, the authority declared that “for us as the UC School of Veterinary Medicine, this inaugural milestone is very significant, since we are receiving them for the first time in our house. That is why I want to especially thank the deans of the Faculties of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering; Biological Sciences; and Medicine, for welcoming us during the first years of the school’s operation, welcome to it”.
Cubillos highlighted the importance of the institutional building, pointing out that “veterinary sciences play a central role, since without animal health, there is no health or well-being of people. In this sense, we hope that multiple investigations will arise in our laboratories, with a comprehensive view, fundamentally prioritizing the well-being of humanity, animals and the sustainability of the environment.”
“Veterinary sciences play a central role, since without animal health, there is no health or well-being of people” – Víctor Cubillos, director of Veterinary Medicine
Finally, the director thanked the participation in this ceremony of SAG authorities, from the private sector, and in turn, highlighted the academic staff of the school and the more than 260 students who give life to MedVet UC.
Detail of the facilities
The building is a modern infrastructure, with four levels, which has various laboratories to support undergraduate and postgraduate training and research. In addition, it has in its basement, a modern pavilion for anatomy and another for animal pathology, unique in the country.
It also includes a central laboratory where studies are carried out on: food safety, animal reproduction, bacteriology, virology, animal physiology, parasitology, toxicology, cancer research, among other areas of veterinary medicine. It also consists of a multidisciplinary laboratory, which has state-of-the-art technological equipment for the use of academics and the student community.
For students, it has two study rooms, a computer and bioinformatics room, along with 3D printers that contribute to the development of academic and study support material.