This New $6 Million Vet School Facility Is Set to Revolutionize Clinical Training at Penn Vet
The University of Pennsylvania marked a major milestone in veterinary education with the groundbreaking of the Gail P. Riepe Center for Advanced Veterinary Education—known simply as the CAVE.
Set to open next spring, this 11,800-square-foot facility will be the first dedicated classroom building at New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s renowned large-animal hospital. Once complete, it will provide cutting-edge teaching tools for veterinary students, including high-fidelity simulators, flexible learning spaces, and modern meeting areas.
“The research that goes on at Penn Vet not only informs the care that will take place here but informs the rest of the world in the best practices in veterinary medicine,” said Penn President J. Larry Jameson during the ceremony. He emphasized that Penn Vet’s role extends far beyond academia, serving the community through critical clinical services and diagnostics that benefit both animal and human health as part of the University’s One Health initiative.
The CAVE is made possible by a $6 million leadership gift from longtime Penn supporters Gail P. Riepe and Jim Riepe. Gail, a Penn alumna and dedicated member of the Penn Vet Board of Advisors, recognized the urgent need for expanded teaching space more than a decade ago. Her vision helped shape the Center’s design, with student input playing a key role in how the space will function.
“Together, the Riepes epitomize the values that define Penn—leadership, service, and an unwavering commitment to innovation,” Jameson said.
Penn Vet Dean Andrew M. Hoffman described the CAVE as a “student-centered learning space” that will not only elevate veterinary education at Penn but also engage alumni, stakeholders in agriculture and animal health, and the public at large.
The Center will also house two classrooms funded by Robert Marookian in memory of his family, including his father, a 1954 Penn Vet graduate. These spaces are a tribute to the legacy of veterinary service and will further support the hands-on training essential to the profession.
Fourth-year student Scarlett Loya, who will soon begin an equine ambulatory internship in Kentucky, reflected on the significance of this investment. “Knowing that there are people deeply invested in our futures and the future of veterinary medicine motivates us to do our best and strive for excellence,” she said.
With a new curriculum launched in 2022 emphasizing clinical skills from day one, the CAVE is positioned to become the heart of experiential learning at Penn Vet. Amy Durham, associate dean for education, explained that the Center will bridge the gap between theory and practice, giving students a dynamic environment where they can confidently prepare for real-world clinical settings.
Beyond training students, the facility will also serve the wider community. Barbara Dallap Schaer, hospital director and associate dean for clinical education and operations, noted that the CAVE’s large, modern classrooms will provide space for community-based educational programming on everything from companion animal care to food security and agriculture.
Dean Hoffman said that the CAVE is just the beginning. As construction progresses, Penn Vet will continue advancing its vision for New Bolton Center, including plans for a new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and a major renovation of the Large Animal Hospital.
With a mission rooted in service, science, and education, the CAVE stands as a bold statement: the future of veterinary medicine is hands-on, high-tech, and happening right now at Penn Vet.
