Cummings School

Cummings School. It is the graduate school of veterinary medicine of Tufts University and the only veterinary school in New England. Established in 1978, it is named for its principal benefactors, William and Helen Cummings, and is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. The school is renowned for its innovative curriculum, commitment to One Health, and extensive clinical and research programs that address both animal and public health challenges.

History

The school was founded in 1978 following a gift from William S. Cummings and his wife, Helen Cummings, to Tufts University. It was established to address the regional need for a veterinary college in the Northeastern United States. The first class of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students was admitted in 1979, with initial classes held in temporary facilities. The school's permanent campus in North Grafton, Massachusetts was developed on the former grounds of the Grafton State Hospital, with the Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals opening as a cornerstone facility. Under the leadership of its founding dean, Dr. Franklin M. Loew, and subsequent deans like Philip Kosch and Deborah T. Kochevar, the school expanded its academic and clinical footprint, including the establishment of the Tufts Wildlife Clinic and formalizing its One Health mission.

Academics

The school's primary degree program is the four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, which emphasizes hands-on clinical training and a foundation in biomedical sciences. It also offers combined degree programs, including the DVM/Master of Public Health in conjunction with the Tufts University School of Medicine and a DVM/Ph.D. through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Advanced training is provided through numerous internship and residency programs across various specialties, accredited by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and other boards. The curriculum integrates core rotations at its teaching hospitals with extensive community practice and ambulatory service experiences, preparing graduates for diverse careers in private practice, public policy, and biomedical research.

Campus and facilities

The main campus is located on a 634-acre site in North Grafton, Massachusetts, approximately 40 miles west of Boston. Central to its clinical operations are the Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals and the Hospital for Large Animals, which together handle over 35,000 cases annually. The Luke and Lily Lerner Spay-Neuter Clinic provides high-volume community service. The campus also houses the Tufts Wildlife Clinic, a renowned rehabilitation center for native wildlife, and the Mildred Bernice Cummings Research Building, which supports laboratory-based investigation. The Ambulatory Service operates from the campus, providing farm calls throughout New England, while the school also runs the Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic in partnership with Worcester Technical High School.

Research and centers

Research is organized around interdisciplinary themes, notably infectious disease, conservation medicine, and clinical sciences. The school is a key partner in the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Major research centers include the Center for Conservation Medicine, which collaborates with the USDA and Environmental Protection Agency, and the International Veterinary Medicine program, with field projects in regions like East Africa. The Comparative Oncology Research Group investigates spontaneous cancers in animals as models for human disease. Faculty regularly secure grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and publish in journals like the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Notable people

Prominent alumni include Ruthanne Sudol, former president of the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association, and John R. Brooks, a noted equine surgeon. Distinguished former faculty include Nicholas H. Dodman, a world-renowned veterinary behaviorist, and Lisa M. Freeman, a leading researcher in veterinary clinical nutrition. The school's deans have included influential figures like founding dean Franklin M. Loew, who later led Becker College, and Deborah T. Kochevar, who also served as senior vice president of Texas A&M University. Benefactors beyond the Cummings family include Henry Foster and Lois Foster, namesakes of the small animal hospital.

Category:Tufts University Category:Veterinary schools in the United States Category:Educational institutions established in 1978 Category:North Grafton, Massachusetts