05-02-94 New Equine Trauma Center

NEW EQUINE TRAUMA CENTER PLANNED AT OHIO STATE

     COLUMBUS -- Construction of a 40,000-square foot Equine
Trauma, Intensive Care and Research Center will begin later this
year at The Ohio State University.

     The announcement was made by President E. Gordon Gee, who
said the center will be one of the finest and most advanced
equine care facilities in the nation.

     "Our College of Veterinary Medicine has long been known for
its excellent care of horses and its training of skilled
professionals," Gee said.  "This new facility will allow us to
build on that fine tradition while offering state-of-the art care
for the equine industry in Ohio and in the Midwest."

     Glen Hoffsis, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine,
said that a major gift from an anonymous donor has provided the
opportunity for Ohio State to move forward with the $6.9 million
facility.

     "This center will allow the college to deal more effectively
with the growing numbers of veterinary clients and enhance our
research efforts," Hoffsis said.  "It will provide faculty with
an additional facility in which to develop and implement medical
and surgical advances."

     Hoffsis noted that the center is needed to support and
protect the $6 billion equine industry in Ohio.  Currently, 1,200
ill or injured horses are hospitalized each year at Ohio State,
and a similar number are treated on an outpatient basis.  The
college draws patients from Ohio and surrounding states and has
had referrals from as far away as Florida, Arizona, California,
Rhode Island, as well as Canada, Switzerland and Great Britain.

     In recent years, the college's crowded facilities have made
in increasingly more difficult to keep pace with the growing
demand for equine care.  The new center will alleviate the
problem.

     The facility, which will be located adjacent to and just
west of the present Veterinary Hospital, is scheduled to open in
1996.  It will include:

     =FE a modern building where faculty can develop, implement and
teach medical and surgical advances;

     =FE two state-of-the-art surgery suites;

     =FE 14 intensive care stalls with capabilities for continuous
monitoring of patients;

     =FE 19 stalls for patients and horses used in teaching and
research;

     =FE a high-speed treadmill for exercise and performance
studies of patient and research horses;

     =FE a surgical observation area for clients, faculty and
students;

     Hoffsis noted that while private gifts, from the anonymous
donor and others, along with state funds, will pay for
construction of the center, additional private funding is being
sought to fully equip the building.

     "This is a very exciting time for the college," Hoffsis
said.  "This new center will enhance our ability to serve the
people of Ohio and will enable us to bring our research expertise
to bear directly on the well-being of our patients."
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Contacts:  Steve Reed, professor of veterinary clinical sciences,
(614) 292-6661; Larry Rummell, development officer, (614) 292-
1171.


[Submitted by: GERSTNER  (gerstner@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
               
Mon, 02 May 1994 11:26:08 -0500 (EST)]
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