A kitten is scanned for a microchip inside the Veterinary Community Outreach Program clinic at UF’s Small Animal Hospital.

The Caspersen Foundation has gifted $1 million to establish The Caspersen Foundation Endowed Professorship in the Veterinary Community Outreach Program. The professorship will support a faculty member and their efforts to train veterinary medical students in spay and neuter surgical skills. The program is an elective rotation for veterinary medical students.

One of the most popular electives, VCOP teaches students life-saving medical and surgical skills, while animals from local shelters and rescues receive advanced veterinary care at minimal or no charge.

“The Veterinary Community Outreach Practice is an incredible program that provides low cost spay/neuter surgeries for local shelters and animal rescue groups,” said Chris Adin, D.V.M., chair of the college’s department of small animal clinical sciences. “Support with gifts like the Caspersen Endowed Professorship allows UF to continue these community service activities that don’t generate significant income, but play a crucial role in helping animals get adopted, while simultaneously providing hands-on surgical experiences for veterinary students.”

The Caspersen Foundation was formed by John B Caspersen.  He and his wife, June, supported rescue as well as spay and neuter efforts most of their lives.  Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, the Caspersens relocated to Florida, where they continued to support shelter and spay and neuter efforts.

“The founder of the Caspersen Foundation wanted his legacy to support spay and neuter efforts,” explained Sandra Lynn, the foundation’s president. “When we discovered the state’s only college of veterinary medicine provided hands-on training of students in spay and neuter surgery skills, this aligned perfectly with Mr. Caspersen’s wishes. We are pleased to know these students will positively impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals throughout their individual careers.”