Bucking Downward Trends in Higher Education Through Veterinary Medicine
Rowan University Keeps Driving Regional Growth as It Meets Training Demand
In a little more than a decade, Rowan University has undergone one of the most dramatic transformations in American higher education. Since 2012, the South Jersey institution added three medical schools, nearly doubled enrollment, became a top 100 public research university and built public-private partnerships to improve health care education, patient care and research.
In 2025, Rowan leapt forward once again when it opened the doors to Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine. A landmark achievement regionally and nationally, Shreiber School is New Jersey’s first veterinary school and one of just 36 in the United States. The latest addition makes Rowan one of two public universities in the nation offering M.D., D.O. and D.V.M. degrees, solidifying its spot among the fastest-growing public research institutions in the nation.
Veterinary Medicine: A Historic Milestone for New Jersey
For years, aspiring veterinarians from the Garden State had no choice but to leave New Jersey to pursue their education, with many of them not returning to serve their home state as professionals. Shreiber School changes that.
Development of the state’s first veterinary school was championed by the southern New Jersey legislative delegation and approved by former Governor Phil Murphy. In 2021, the state designated $75 million to support the construction of the school’s academic and clinical facilities.
Business leader and longtime Rowan supporter Gerald B. Shreiber pledged an additional $30 million to support the school and student scholarships. Shreiber School was only the fourth veterinary school in the U.S. named for a benefactor.
Rowan’s model of education leans practical more than theoretical. Shreiber School is designed the same way.
“Our students don’t just learn veterinary medicine from a textbook, they develop the clinical and professional skills that ensure they feel prepared to enter veterinary practice from the moment they graduate,” said founding dean, Dr. Matthew Edson of the curriculum. “We’re creating an environment where students apply what they learn in the classroom and community.”
Training Career-Ready Veterinarians
The 70,000 sq. ft academic building was designed for evolving teaching strategies and to support the extensive clinical experiences built into the school’s curriculum. Located on Rowan’s West Campus, the classrooms, research facilities and educational and diagnostic laboratories adjoin a 47,000 sq ft. teaching hospital—another first for New Jersey.
Focused on practical research at the intersection of medicine, engineering, science, business and the environment, Shreiber School is uniquely positioned to advance the health and well-being of animals, humans and the environment through the One Health Concept. This idea is woven into everything Shreiber School does from curriculum to research, including its newly announced Master of Science in One Health. Designed for students passionate about animal health, human health and environmental sustainability, the new program will prepare students for careers in biomedical research, public health and global health.
Hands-on experiences begin early for Shreiber students, with rotations between lectures and practical experience through more than 70 partnerships with practices, wildlife refuges, farms, zoos and animal shelters throughout the region.
This past semester, students enrolled in a business class taught by the dean. Founder of Rancocas Veterinary Associates, Edson introduced students to the fundamentals of veterinary business and practice management. According to Edson, students will leave the program prepared to care for animals and contribute to the professional economy, either within established practices or as entrepreneurs.
Shreiber School is also one of six veterinary schools in the country with a farrier, a blacksmith responsible for care of the equine foot. With 35 years of experience, assistant professor Patrick Reilly brings Shreiber students on calls to farms across South Jersey. During the first semester, Reilly says Shreiber students’ experience in equine podiatry surpasses the average veterinary student’s experience over four years.
Specialties Lead to Opportunity
As southern New Jersey’s first teaching hospital, Shreiber School is transforming access to veterinary medicine in the region. From wellness exams to emergency and specialty care, pet owners no longer have to travel for advanced veterinary care.
With multiple specialties including ophthalmology, neurology, cardiology, dentistry and oral surgery and exotics, the teaching hospital provides even more opportunities for Shreiber students. Clinical services support hands-on experiences with companion animals, large animals and exotics, reinforcing the day-one-ready mission.
Beyond the halls of the hospital, Shreiber students have the opportunity to hone their skills by caring for animals, especially in underserved areas. The Large Animal Field Service takes routine and emergency services on location to tend to horses and other livestock throughout the region. A custom Freightliner bus brings the Shelter Medicine & Community Engagement Mobile Unit to underserved communities in New Jersey. Equipped with three surgical suites and exam spaces, the unit provides wellness exams and preventative care and surgical services to animals in need.
“Being a good neighbor is part of our mission,” said Edson, “We want our students to be good doctors and carry these service traditions into their careers.”
The Future of Veterinary Medicine
As Rowan University continues to rise, the Shreiber School stands as a model of strategic investment, partnerships and a launching pad for what’s to come. By expanding access to veterinary education and meeting workforce needs across New Jersey—especially in rural and agricultural areas—the school reflects Rowan’s commitment to innovation and public service.
Its state-of-the-art education and clinical facilities, community-centered mission and focus on producing career-ready veterinarians show the Shreiber School is not only transforming the future of animal, human and environmental health, it is helping redefine Rowan University's role as a national public higher education leader.
Specialties Lead to Opportunity
As southern New Jersey’s first teaching hospital, Shreiber School is transforming access to veterinary medicine in the region. From wellness exams to emergency and specialty care, pet owners no longer have to travel for advanced veterinary care.
With multiple specialties including ophthalmology, neurology, cardiology, dentistry and oral surgery and exotics, the teaching hospital provides even more opportunities for Shreiber students. Clinical services support hands-on experiences with companion animals, large animals and exotics, reinforcing the day-one-ready mission.
Beyond the halls of the hospital, Shreiber students have the opportunity to hone their skills by caring for animals, especially in underserved areas. The Large Animal Field Service takes routine and emergency services on location to tend to horses and other livestock throughout the region. A custom Freightliner bus brings the Shelter Medicine & Community Engagement Mobile Unit to underserved communities in New Jersey. Equipped with three surgical suites and exam spaces, the unit provides wellness exams and preventative care and surgical services to animals in need.
“Being a good neighbor is part of our mission,” said Edson, “We want our students to be good doctors and carry these service traditions into their careers.”
The Future of Veterinary Medicine
As Rowan University continues to rise, the Shreiber School stands as a model of strategic investment, partnerships and a launching pad for what’s to come. By expanding access to veterinary education and meeting workforce needs across New Jersey—especially in rural and agricultural areas—the school reflects Rowan’s commitment to innovation and public service.
Its state-of-the-art education and clinical facilities, community-centered mission and focus on producing career-ready veterinarians show the Shreiber School is not only transforming the future of animal, human and environmental health, it is helping redefine Rowan University's role as a national public higher education leader.
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