Roseman University Plans to Launch New Veterinary College in Nevada to Combat Statewide Care Shortages
In a bold step toward addressing the growing shortage of veterinarians in the Western U.S., Roseman University of Health Sciences has officially announced plans to establish a College of Veterinary Medicine at its Henderson, Nevada campus. The university has submitted a Letter of Intent to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education, marking the start of the formal planning process to bring a new veterinary school to life in one of the country’s most underserved regions.
Leading the effort is Dr. Katherine Fogelberg, a seasoned veterinary educator and clinician, who has been named the college’s Founding Dean. With a career that spans academia, small animal and wildlife practice, military service, and international veterinary education, Dr. Fogelberg brings a mission-driven vision to the program, one rooted in expanding access to care and developing a workforce capable of serving both urban and rural communities.
A New Solution for Nevada’s Veterinary Care Desert
Roseman’s announcement comes at a time when veterinary care shortages are at crisis levels across the western United States, with Nevada identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a high-priority veterinary shortage area in multiple regions. Counties like Douglas, Nye, Lander, and Lincoln continue to experience critical gaps in services for both companion animals and livestock, threatening animal health, public health, and the stability of local food systems.
Urban centers, too, are feeling the pinch—with long wait times for veterinary appointments and burnout among providers. By building a new veterinary college from the ground up, Roseman aims to not only produce more veterinarians but to reshape how and where they practice.
Building from Strength, Guided by Purpose
The proposed College of Veterinary Medicine will become part of Roseman University’s growing portfolio of health sciences programs, which already includes schools of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and biomedical sciences. This cross-disciplinary environment is expected to enhance the veterinary curriculum with opportunities for One Health collaboration, research, and interprofessional education.
Dr. Fogelberg earned a Ph.D. in science education from Texas Christian University, an M.A. in educational leadership from St. Mary’s University, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Texas A&M University. An Army veteran, she has more than a decade of clinical experience in small animal general and emergency practice, with additional work in zoo and wildlife medicine. Over the past 15 years, she has served in higher education as a professor and administrator, publishing widely across veterinary medicine, education, and public health. She is editor and contributing author of a recently published veterinary education textbook, a founding member and past president of the Academy of Veterinary Educators, and one of only 32 distinguished educators selected to lead the development of a global veterinary educator certification process.
“Our goal is to create a veterinary program that is not only academically rigorous but also deeply mission-driven,” said Dr. Fogelberg. “We want to train veterinarians who are equipped to serve all communities—urban and rural, pets and livestock, locally and nationally.”
What Comes Next?
While a definitive launch date has not been set, submitting the Letter of Intent to the AVMA Council on Education allows the university to begin planning critical infrastructure, forging clinical partnerships with veterinary practices across Nevada, and engaging community stakeholders.
“Launching a veterinary college requires both a strong vision and deep engagement with the community it will serve,” said Dr. Renee Coffman, president and co-founder of Roseman University. “Dr. Fogelberg brings the right combination of experience, insight, and passion to help Roseman build a veterinary program that responds to the growing needs of Nevada and the surrounding region.”
Among the program’s early priorities:
Building out clinical training sites to serve rural and underserved communities
Developing a curriculum grounded in community health and public service
Recruiting faculty committed to teaching, mentorship, and hands-on learning
Working with food and agricultural systems to enhance livestock medicine training
Training Vets for Every Community
As Roseman continues the process of accreditation and development, it joins a small but growing number of institutions stepping up to innovate veterinary education and tackle one of the most pressing animal health challenges of our time.
To learn more about Roseman University’s programs and future College of Veterinary Medicine, visit www.roseman.edu.
