The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine hosted the grand opening of its Equine Intensive Care Unit, the newest addition to the school’s Equine Health Studies Program, on October 22. This new 10-stall facility will enable the school to provide comprehensive, advanced veterinary care for the ever-increasing number of horses requiring emergency and critical care services.

Michael G. Groves, DVM, MPH, PhD, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, made the opening remarks and introduced Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, director of the school’s Equine Health Studies Program. “Today’s event signals another significant accomplishment in the growth and development of the equine programs here at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine,” said Groves. Moore explained the function of the new facility and commented on the fact that this facility was built with private funds. He then thanked each of the major donors and presented them with certificates of appreciation. LSU System President William Jenkins, BVSc, PhD, was also present. He thanked the donors and complimented the School on its continuing progress.

Each of the donors present was asked to take part in the ribbon-cutting. Saundra Lane Garrett, representing Gerry Lane Enterprises, and Nadine Carter Russell, representing Paula Manship, cut the ribbon, officially opening the new intensive care unit. The other major donors present were Sydney Hines of Pass Christian, Miss., on behalf of Jeanne H. McDaniel; Yvette Barbazon, representing Clear Creek Stud; and Francois Stirling, representing the Downman Family Foundation. Donors not present were Ruth Hubert of the Hubert Charitable Foundation and Sydney Biedenharn of the Biedenharn Foundation. Naming opportunities still exist for Equine ICU stalls with gifts of $50,000 or more, as well as a naming of the entire unit. “These funds will help us to continue to deliver state-of-the-art advanced veterinary medical care for horses in Louisiana and the surrounding area and will enable us to construct additional facilities that will enhance our program,” said Moore.

The emergency and critical care field has been rapidly evolving and becoming a more common practice in veterinary medicine. According to the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), an Emergency & Critical Care Center is a facility specifically designated to be operated, staffed and equipped 24 hours a day to provide a broad range of veterinary emergency and critical care services