Texas Tech graduates first class of veterinarians

Photo: Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Texas Tech University

The inaugural class at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine graduated Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium. The university in Amarillo, Texas, awarded Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees to 61 new graduates, marking a milestone for the school that opened to its first students in August 2021.¹

The Texas Tech veterinary school was established in 2018 and ground broke on building its’ campus in early 2020. It now has a 185,000 sq ft campus with “world-class” facilities that include the interactive classrooms, state-of-the-art research laboratories, teaching laboratories, student support areas, and more, according to the university.²

Provisional Accreditation status was granted to the school by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) in March 2021.² The final step of the accreditation process for Texas Tech was completed during the final semester for the inaugural class.¹

The Lone Star State’s second veterinary school, Texas Tech’s institution for doctorate students was the first to open in more than a century.^1,2 It joins Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences in College Station, which was established in 1916 about 500 miles away from Amarillo and graduated its inaugural class in 1920 with 4 students.³

According to Texas Tech officials, there is a longstanding need for veterinary care in rural and regional communities. The new graduates are projected to help address veterinary shortages with 95% headed to work in rural and regional communities, and 69% hired by clinical year practice partners, according to the university.¹

“The goal was to create a pipeline for veterinary workers to fill these gaps, specifically in rural and regional areas. When you look at the first class of graduates, and you see how many are going into large-animal practices and into practices in our rural and regional communities, you realize that we have accomplished what we had hoped and planned for, and it’s incredible,” Tedd L. Mitchell, MD, chancellor of the Texas Tech University system, said during the graduation ceremony that was also attended by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.¹

Guy Loneragan, PhD, BVSc, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, told ceremony attendees of the university’s pride for the inaugural class. “We were all in this educational journey together. They helped solve problems and develop solutions. They embraced and fostered the school’s core values. And so many found ways to give back to the community through their efforts. Now they are helping us achieve our promise to Texas by starting their careers in a practice that serves rural, regional or large animal needs. That is transformative, and demonstrates how Texas Tech responds to and helps address the important needs of Texas,” he said.¹

In addressing fellow graduates, Austin Byrd, DVM, Class of 2025 president, said he and his peers feel well-supported and prepared for starting their careers in veterinary medicine. “Texas Tech and the Amarillo community have done an incredible job at making all of us feel welcome and at home,” he said.¹

References

1. Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine hosts historic inaugural graduation. News release. Texas Tech. May 18, 2025.
2. Texas Tech opens Texas’ first new veterinary school in more than a century. dvm360. April 25, 2022. Accessed May 22, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/texas-tech-opens-texas-first-new-veterinary-school-in-more-than-a-century
3. College history. Texas A&M University Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Accessed May 23, 2025. https://vetmed.tamu.edu/about-us/history