Today, the University of California, Davis announced a historic $120-million philanthropic commitment to their veterinary program. This gift from Joan and Sanford I. Weill, through the Weill Family Foundation, will help expand clinical capacity, modernize teaching infrastructure and address workforce shortages.
This gift represents one of the largest ever made to veterinary medicine worldwide. In response to the generosity, the university has renamed the school the University of California, Davis, Joan and Sanford I. Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, or the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine in short.
“Joan and Sandy Weill’s extraordinary generosity will allow UC Davis to move faster, think bigger and rise to meet the most urgent challenges facing our world,” says Dr. Mark Stettler, dean of the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine. “This gift empowers us to drive discoveries, expand access to world-class education, and develop new insights at the intersection of veterinary and human health. It launches an exciting new era in veterinary medicine and provides the catalyst needed to advance the construction of our new hospital. With continued support from our philanthropic community, we can bring this vision to completion.”
Expanding Capacity as Demand for Veterinary Care Grows
The transformative impact of this gift will center an $80-million investment toward the construction of a new small animal teaching hospital designed to support a significantly higher caseload while serving as an advanced training platform for veterinary students, interns and residents. This is a part of the school’s ongoing initiative to expand their Veterinary Medical Complex. The current UC Davis veterinary hospital treats approximately 50,000 patients annually; the new facility is expected to enable care for up to 20,000 more across species while relieving capacity constraints that can limit teaching exposure.
This expansion means students will be exposed to larger and more diverse clinical caseloads allowing them to encounter a broader range of conditions, gain earlier responsibility under supervision and train in high-demand specialties such as neurology, oncology, cardiology, and primary, emergency and critical care. These updated facilities will also allow for the enrollment of more students, supporting the current veterinary shortage.
The remaining $40 million will be directed toward fundamental and clinical research, strengthening the link between education and discovery. By supporting team-based science and early-stage projects, the funding is expected to give faculty greater flexibility to pursue high-impact ideas that can lead directly into advanced training opportunities.
A Longstanding Connection to Veterinary Medicine
The contributions of Joan and Sanford I. Weill to medical research, education and cultural institutions spans decades. Their support has led to advancements in cancer, immunology and neuroscience research. Their connection to UC Davis veterinary medicine includes earlier support for clinical research initiatives and personal experience as clients of the veterinary hospital. Further, Sanford Weill has served on the UC Davis Chancellor’s Board of Advisors since 2014, helping influence long-term strategy for the university.
“Joan and Sandy have been extraordinary champions for UC Davis,” says Shaun B. Keister, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations. “Their leadership over the years has made a remarkable difference, and I’m truly inspired by their dedication.”
