Purina Pro Plan opened a wellness center at Utah State University's College of Veterinary Medicine to support veterinary students' mental health and combat burnout in the profession. The center, funded through Purina's Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission, provides access to wellness specialists, meditation spaces, and mental health resources as part of the university's new four-year veterinary medicine program.
- 32% of first-year veterinary students experience clinical levels of depressive symptoms, highlighting the mental health crisis in the profession
- The Purina Pro Plan Wellness Center at USU features one-on-one counseling with wellness specialists and dedicated meditation and mindfulness spaces
- Purina's Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission has contributed over $3.5 million since 2024 to address veterinary profession challenges
- USU's inaugural veterinary medicine class of 39 students began in August 2025, with the class of 2030 now at 77 students
- The center supports the university's new four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program that received provisional accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2025
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary has opened the Purina Pro Plan Wellness Center at Utah State University (USU), funded through the company’s Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission, a program aimed at removing barriers veterinarians face in practice.
The center, located within USU’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), includes rooms where veterinary students can meet one-on-one with the college’s wellness specialists, as well as a space for meditation and mindfulness practice.
“The Purina Pro Plan Wellness Center represents our commitment to making well-being an integral part of veterinary education,” said Michael Bishop, director of student affairs for USU’s CVM. “We want our students to develop not only the knowledge and clinical skills to care for others, but also the habits, resources and resilience needed to sustain themselves throughout a demanding and rewarding career in veterinary medicine.”
The opening comes as USU continues to build its new four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. The program welcomed its inaugural class of 39 veterinary students in August 2025 and moved into the new Thomas and Patricia Willis Veterinary Medical Education building in summer 2026. The class of 2030, made up of 77 students, began first-year instruction this fall.
USU’s CVM received provisional accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education in 2025.
Mental health concerns among veterinary students
Many veterinarians experience burnout, and veterinary students face their own challenges. One study reported that 32% of first-year veterinary students experienced clinical levels of depressive symptoms.
“Veterinary medicine is an incredibly rewarding profession, but we also recognize the demands that come with answering the call to care,” said Emily Cross, DVM, DABVP, director of veterinary technical communications at Purina. “Our commitment to veterinary professionals begins before their first day in practice. By investing in the Purina Pro Plan Wellness Center at Utah State University, we want to create an environment where future veterinarians have access to resources for their well-being as they develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they will carry throughout their careers.”
Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission
Since its launch in 2024, the Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission has contributed more than $3.5 million to nonprofit organizations addressing challenges in the veterinary profession. These include mental health support through a partnership with the Veterinary Hope Foundation; financial assistance for clients who cannot afford lifesaving care through the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) REACH Program and Paisley Paws; and expanded access to expert care for challenging behavior cases through Ease Pet Vet.
The Utah State wellness center extends the program to veterinary students.
More information about the Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission is available at ProPlanVet.com.
