PHOTOS BY TANNER BEGGS

A Closer Look at Amarillo’s Vet School

Three years after opening its doors in the fall of 2021, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo celebrated its first white-coat ceremony this spring. The event marks a student’s passage from pre-clinical training to actual veterinary care—in the form of clinical rotations—on their way to working more directly with animals.

The milestone represents the school’s first steps toward fulfilling the goal that drove its existence in the first place. When it opened in northwest Amarillo, near the medical district, it represented the first new veterinary school in Texas in more than a century. It addresses a growing shortage of rural and agricultural veterinarians and has quickly become a center for research in veterinary sciences.

“There is a huge need for veterinarians in the United States,” says John Dascanio, the school’s Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. “We’re trying to put veterinarians into some of the underserved areas of Texas and New Mexico.”

The numbers support that need. Since opening in late 2021, the school has admitted around 100 students per class out of nearly a thousand applicants. “There’s still a big demand for programs,” he says. Texas Tech hopes to offer not just a world-class veterinary education, he explains, but one that is also affordable for students from rural, and regional communities.

With the first class of vet school students moving into the final clinical year of their four-year education, Brick & Elm toured the $90 million, 185,000-square-foot facility to better understand how students are learning in the school’s state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and clinical spaces.

The exterior of the building matches the Spanish Renaissance style of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center immediately to the south, as well as the buildings on the Tech campus in Lubbock—right down to the same four colors of brick and three colors of Spanish tiles.
The exterior of the building matches the Spanish Renaissance style of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center immediately to the south, as well as the buildings on the Tech campus in Lubbock—right down to the same four colors of brick and three colors of Spanish tiles.
A high-tech, 400-seat lecture hall at the main campus, known as the Happy State Bank & Trust Co. Auditorium, allows the school to gather all its students and staff in a single room. “We can have meetings of the entire school in here,” Dascanio says, along with continuing education activities and other gatherings.
A high-tech, 400-seat lecture hall at the main campus, known as the Happy State Bank & Trust Co. Auditorium, allows the school to gather all its students and staff in a single room. “We can have meetings of the entire school in here,” Dascanio says, along with continuing education activities and other gatherings.
The ceiling height of these first floor labs and classrooms is a spacious 18 feet. That’s to accommodate hoists that can pick up an adult cow or horse. But even a large-animal veterinary practice includes much smaller components, including microscopic analysis at the cellular level. “In bulls, we do a lot of semen analysis,” says Dascanio, who also serves as a professor of theriogenology, the study and practice of animal reproduction. “If somebody has a young bull that they want to turn out with a bunch of cows, we’ll collect a semen sample, look at the sperm and make sure they’re normal.” That means a greater chance the bull can impregnate cows.
The ceiling height of these first floor labs and classrooms is a spacious 18 feet. That’s to accommodate hoists that can pick up an adult cow or horse. But even a large-animal veterinary practice includes much smaller components, including microscopic analysis at the cellular level. “In bulls, we do a lot of semen analysis,” says Dascanio, who also serves as a professor of theriogenology, the study and practice of animal reproduction. “If somebody has a young bull that they want to turn out with a bunch of cows, we’ll collect a semen sample, look at the sperm and make sure they’re normal.” That means a greater chance the bull can impregnate cows.
After entering through one of three archways, students arrive in ASCO Hall, a 5,000-square-foot lobby connecting east and west wings.
After entering through one of three archways, students arrive in ASCO Hall, a 5,000-square-foot lobby connecting east and west wings.
In the two-story building, most of the staff and faculty offices take up the upper floor, with educational and laboratory space on the bottom floor. Appropriately, an enormous wall sculpture uses panels from cattle trucks.
In the two-story building, most of the staff and faculty offices take up the upper floor, with educational and laboratory space on the bottom floor. Appropriately, an enormous wall sculpture uses panels from cattle trucks.
The porcine lungs shown in this photo are plastinated versions of actual animal lungs. The plastination process uses a type of liquid polymer to replace water and fat in tissues. The end result is durable and odorless but retains the texture and anatomical details of the original.
The porcine lungs shown in this photo are plastinated versions of actual animal lungs. The plastination process uses a type of liquid polymer to replace water and fat in tissues. The end result is durable and odorless but retains the texture and anatomical details of the original.
A lab includes preserved specimens—like the hoof above—which show muscles, tendons, arteries, veins and nerves. “They have to learn the insertions of all the tendons and ligaments,” Dascanio says. “They have to know the pathways for the nerves. So if I want to do a nerve block to deaden something, I have to know where to put my needle.”
A lab includes preserved specimens—like the hoof above—which show muscles, tendons, arteries, veins and nerves. “They have to learn the insertions of all the tendons and ligaments,” Dascanio says. “They have to know the pathways for the nerves. So if I want to do a nerve block to deaden something, I have to know where to put my needle.”
This lab includes skeletal models of major species, along with preserved specimens.
This lab includes skeletal models of major species, along with preserved specimens.
Training rooms like this lab help students learn clinical skills, including animal handling, physical exams, basic surgery and dental procedures. “It’s the same kind of monitoring equipment you’d find in a human hospital: anesthesia machines, heart monitors, blood pressure,” Dascanio says. Cameras and monitors allow an instructor to broadcast a procedure in front of students.
Training rooms like this lab help students learn clinical skills, including animal handling, physical exams, basic surgery and dental procedures. “It’s the same kind of monitoring equipment you’d find in a human hospital: anesthesia machines, heart monitors, blood pressure,” Dascanio says. Cameras and monitors allow an instructor to broadcast a procedure in front of students.
Another part of the campus simulates a veterinary clinic, complete with a reception area and exam rooms.
Another part of the campus simulates a veterinary clinic, complete with a reception area and exam rooms.
Students access dozens of surgical and procedural models that simulate everything from obstetrical deliveries to IV insertion. The school employs a full-time model builder and operates a synthetic model lab which uses 3D printers, silicone rubber, epoxy resin molds and other materials. “The idea is to practice on something like this and then transition to a live animal after you’ve learned all the manual skills and instrumentation,” Dascanio says. Students learn to draw blood, insert catheters or even place cattle ear tags. Live animals bleed during procedures, so students practice proper technique multiple times with lifelike skins and materials before moving to that stage. The model in this image is a spay simulator. “Before they ever spay a live animal, for example, they use a model like this to do the complete simulated surgery,” he says.
Students access dozens of surgical and procedural models that simulate everything from obstetrical deliveries to IV insertion. The school employs a full-time model builder and operates a synthetic model lab which uses 3D printers, silicone rubber, epoxy resin molds and other materials. “The idea is to practice on something like this and then transition to a live animal after you’ve learned all the manual skills and instrumentation,” Dascanio says. Students learn to draw blood, insert catheters or even place cattle ear tags. Live animals bleed during procedures, so students practice proper technique multiple times with lifelike skins and materials before moving to that stage. The model in this image is a spay simulator. “Before they ever spay a live animal, for example, they use a model like this to do the complete simulated surgery,” he says.
Private practices across Texas use advanced CT scanners and ultrasound machines to diagnose smaller animals like dogs and cats.
Private practices across Texas use advanced CT scanners and ultrasound machines to diagnose smaller animals like dogs and cats.
Veterinary students learn to use equipment with model dogs equipped with synthetic bones, allowing students to perform X-rays.
Veterinary students learn to use equipment with model dogs equipped with synthetic bones, allowing students to perform X-rays.
“Instead of having a live animal be there all the time for students to figure out the right position, we can practice with several model species,” Dascanio says.
“Instead of having a live animal be there all the time for students to figure out the right position, we can practice with several model species,” Dascanio says.
The school’s scientists benefit from technologically advanced equipment, including gene sequencing machines and a cold storage laboratory with freezer units that keep biological samples at a cool -112 degrees Fahrenheit.
The school’s scientists benefit from technologically advanced equipment, including gene sequencing machines and a cold storage laboratory with freezer units that keep biological samples at a cool -112 degrees Fahrenheit.
In addition to producing veterinarians, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine also offers a PhD graduate program in its One Health Sciences collaboration with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The curriculum, which includes more than 30 students from 15 countries, trains scientists to develop research and strategies “addressing the intersection between human, animal and environment,” says Thu Annelise Nguyen, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Toxicology at the Vet School. For instance, many of the world’s infectious diseases—including COVID-19—have origins in the animal world. The One Health program allows the Vet School to work closely with medical schools in studying the ways human biology interacts with animal biology. It also opens up important career pathways for students. “This is one program [for students] to see other horizons besides being a clinician,” she says. A significant influx of state funding is already helping the school produce a portfolio of research—from studies about pathogens causing intra-mammary infections to dietary modifications to reduce the impact of salmonella among beef cattle. Nguyen and the rest of the school’s scientists benefit from technologically advanced equipment, including gene sequencing machines and a cold storage laboratory with freezer units that keep biological samples at a cool -112 degrees Fahrenheit.
In addition to producing veterinarians, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine also offers a PhD graduate program in its One Health Sciences collaboration with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The curriculum, which includes more than 30 students from 15 countries, trains scientists to develop research and strategies “addressing the intersection between human, animal and environment,” says Thu Annelise Nguyen, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Toxicology at the Vet School. For instance, many of the world’s infectious diseases—including COVID-19—have origins in the animal world. The One Health program allows the Vet School to work closely with medical schools in studying the ways human biology interacts with animal biology. It also opens up important career pathways for students. “This is one program [for students] to see other horizons besides being a clinician,” she says. A significant influx of state funding is already helping the school produce a portfolio of research—from studies about pathogens causing intra-mammary infections to dietary modifications to reduce the impact of salmonella among beef cattle. Nguyen and the rest of the school’s scientists benefit from technologically advanced equipment, including gene sequencing machines and a cold storage laboratory with freezer units that keep biological samples at a cool -112 degrees Fahrenheit.
Located a couple miles west of the main campus and outside the Loop, the Vet School’s 80,000-square-foot Mariposa Station gives students hands-on access to horses and cattle just outside the city limits.
Located a couple miles west of the main campus and outside the Loop, the Vet School’s 80,000-square-foot Mariposa Station gives students hands-on access to horses and cattle just outside the city limits.
This large animal facility includes a 100-seat classroom, but much of the learning takes place in the facility’s arena and a 24-stall horse barn. The first horse to stay overnight in the barn was Fearless Champion, one of the mascot horses ridden by Tech’s Masked Rider.
This large animal facility includes a 100-seat classroom, but much of the learning takes place in the facility’s arena and a 24-stall horse barn. The first horse to stay overnight in the barn was Fearless Champion, one of the mascot horses ridden by Tech’s Masked Rider.
“[Ours is a] very traditional program in that they go through three years of pre­-clinical education, and then they have a one-­year clinical,” explains Dascanio. In most cases, that year will be spent in private practices, with students performing primary care. They graduate with the ability to go directly into practice. “We’ve got to pack everything in four years that a human doctor would typically do in seven years,” Dascanio says. “We’ve really got to push their skills and get them ready to be independent.”
“[Ours is a] very traditional program in that they go through three years of pre­-clinical education, and then they have a one-­year clinical,” explains Dascanio. In most cases, that year will be spent in private practices, with students performing primary care. They graduate with the ability to go directly into practice. “We’ve got to pack everything in four years that a human doctor would typically do in seven years,” Dascanio says. “We’ve really got to push their skills and get them ready to be independent.”
Bovine and equine stalls—and live “patients”—at Mariposa allow budding large-animal veterinarians to learn how to conduct physical exams, collect blood, examine hooves, give injections and vaccinations, and perform other procedures safely. This kind of hands-on, practical experience is highly valuable to prepare students for careers in veterinary medicine.
Bovine and equine stalls—and live “patients”—at Mariposa allow budding large-animal veterinarians to learn how to conduct physical exams, collect blood, examine hooves, give injections and vaccinations, and perform other procedures safely. This kind of hands-on, practical experience is highly valuable to prepare students for careers in veterinary medicine.
In addition to the horse herd, a number of cows live at the Mariposa Station. “We have cows out there that are kind of residents for a semester,” Dascanio says. The school buys cattle from local ranchers so students can learn to diagnose and treat live animals. “At the end of the semester, the cows are sold,” says Dascanio.
In addition to the horse herd, a number of cows live at the Mariposa Station. “We have cows out there that are kind of residents for a semester,” Dascanio says. The school buys cattle from local ranchers so students can learn to diagnose and treat live animals. “At the end of the semester, the cows are sold,” says Dascanio.

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