Community members of all ages and UF College of Veterinary Medicine affiliates filled the lobby of the new 100,000 square foot UF Small Animal Hospital Sunday afternoon at an open house. The open house is part of a series of events leading to the Nov. 1 opening of the hospital.
According to Dr. Glen Hoffsis, dean of the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, the $58 million building was nearly 20 years in planning.
Christi Sproule, a client liaison at the UF Small Animal Hospital, brought her children, brother, nieces, nephews and parents to the event to enjoy refreshments and take a self-guided tour of the building. As an employee and a pet owner of two cats, two dogs and a gecko, she expressed much excitement about the new building.
"There is great peace of mind knowing there are so many specialists under one roof," said Sproule, who has brought all of her pets, except the brand new gecko, to the small animal hospital.
The building, located on 2015 SW 16th Ave., boasts 22 new exam rooms, 12 surgical suites, a new 24/7 emergency unit, advanced educational technology and a list of new specialty services.
Perhaps what generated the most hype was the linear accelerator in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.
The cardiac catheterization lab, or the cath lab, will allow veterinarians to treat heart and blood vessel-related illnesses that are sometimes untreatable with conventional surgery.
"This type of equipment would make human surgeons drool," said Dr. Dana Zimmel, the chief of staff of the small animal hospital.
The linear accelerator, surrounded by 40-inch concrete walls and a four-inch steel door, will allow the hospital to treat some of the rarest and most difficult cancers in animal patients. It uses a specialized type of radiation to attack tumors
in areas dangerous to operate on.
The old hospital saw about 16,000 animal patients per year and according to Dr. Colin Burrows, chairman of the department of small animal clinical sciences, said that number can easily be doubled in the new hospital.
Most patients, according to Burrows come from the tri-county area. Animals have also come to UF for treatment from as far as Texas, Indiana and North Carolina.
According to Burrows, the cost of animal care at the UF Small Animal Hospital is representative of most of Florida vets, but when more extensive care is needed, prices can get high.
Aside from the cutting-edge improvements to animal treatment, the educational environment was also improved.
Large monitor screens and microphones have turned operating rooms into classrooms. Discussion areas, study rooms and a 140-seat conference room all on the third floor provide more comfortable and spacious environment for interns, residents and students.
Sarah Carey, director of public relations for the College of Veterinary Medicine, said that after all the planning, it's a dream come true that this building is finally finished.
"It's been dreamed about and talked about, but we did it," said Carey. "It's amazing."
