For generations, New Jerseyans who aspired to be veterinarians had to study out of state, most often at the University of Pennsylvania or Cornell. But beginning in 2025, they can get started on their degree in the state where they live.
Rowan University has announced is establishing the first school of veterinary medicine in New Jersey in response to what it termed the national demand for vets, specialists and technicians. It will be the country’s 34th veterinary school, and one of only six on the East Coast.
The state Legislature approved $75 million in funding to construct the school’s primary academic and clinical facility in Sewell, South Jersey. Pending approval from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, the inaugural class of 60 students start going to class in the fall of 2025.
“Launching New Jersey’s first school of veterinary medicine at Rowan University is just the latest in a series of strides we have made in expanding and improving the quality of medical education and research over the past decade,” former state Senate President Steve Sweeney said before leaving office after losing his re-election bid.
“With this investment, we will be able to keep our best and brightest veterinary students in New Jersey, and we will attract aspiring veterinarians from other states to study here as well.”
Rowan will establish undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and internship/residency programs at the veterinary school. Additionally, an A.S. in veterinary technology to B.S. in veterinary technology pathway program will be offered in collaboration with Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester. Graduate programs, including an M.S./Ph.D. in veterinary biomedical science in collaboration with Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan Universities and the College of Science & Mathematics;
An accelerated DVM/MBA in collaboration with Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business, designed to improve training of students in veterinary practice management, business and economics beyond what will be offered as core content within the DVM curriculum.
Undergraduate programs will include bachelor’s degrees in veterinary studies and veterinary technology, as well as certificates and training pathways for veterinary technicians and assistants;
Internship and residency programs will provide postgraduate educational opportunities for those who already have completed their DVM degree. The programs could lead to specialization, including specialist board certifications.
The School of Veterinary Medicine’s primary academic and clinical facility will be located on the campus of Rowan College of South Jersey in Sewell, near the new Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine facility
Designs for a 100,000-square-foot veterinary medical complex are under way and will include academic classrooms, diagnostic and teaching laboratories, a teaching hospital, and administrative and faculty offices. The teaching hospital will provide core experiential learning to students. It also will offer animal health care services to the public, as well as specialty referral and diagnostic services to veterinary practices in the region.
The founding dean, Dr. Matthew Edson, is a 2007 graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in animal science and biology.
Rutgers’ “Department of Animal Science reached out to him and offered anything they needed relating to horses,” according to Karyn Malinowski, founder of the Rutgers Equine Science Center.
She did note that 10 years ago, a meeting at Rutgers came up with the decision that a New Jersey veterinary school was not needed in New Brunswick. But now that the Rowan project is getting started, “We certainly can complement each other,” said Karyn, citing the treadmill lab among other Rutgers facilities the South Jersey school can access.
“We’ve got tons of resources that they can share. They can count us on any capacity,” Karyn continued.
The Rowan dean has been in practice for more than a decade as founder and owner of Rancocas Veterinary Associates, a multi-doctor, mixed-animal practice in South Jersey. He has special professional interests in miniature pig and small ruminant medicine and surgery and has lectured nationally on those subjects.
A native of Eastampton Township, he is an executive board member and the immediate past president of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association, a site visitor for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education, former chair of the AVMA Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues, and former vice chair of the AVMA Practice Advisory Pilot Panel. He also has served as a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine.
Licensed in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, he earned his veterinary medical degree from Kansas State University.