Purina opens wellness center for veterinary students

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary has announced the opening of the new Purina Pro Plan Wellness Center at Utah State University (USU). According to a company press release, the facility is intended to support veterinary students' mental health and wellbeing as they prepare for their professional careers.

Located within the university's College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the center is part of the Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission, an initiative aimed at addressing challenges faced by veterinary professionals. The facility will provide students with rooms to meet one-on-one with wellness specialists and a dedicated space for meditation and mindfulness practice.

‘The Purina Pro Plan Wellness Center represents our commitment to making wellbeing an integral part of veterinary education,’ said Michael Bishop, Director of Student Affairs at USU's College of Veterinary Medicine.

The initiative comes amid growing attention to mental health challenges within the veterinary profession. In its press release, Purina refers to a study reporting that 32 per cent of first-year veterinary students experienced clinical levels of depressive symptoms.

‘Our commitment to veterinary professionals begins before their first day in practice,’ said Emily Cross, Director of Veterinary Technical Communications at Purina.

The opening coincides with the expansion of Utah State University's veterinary programme. The university welcomed its inaugural class of 39 students in August 2025, followed by another 77 students in autumn 2026.

According to Purina, the Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission has contributed more than $.5 million to non-profit organisations since its launch in 2024. These include mental health support through the Veterinary Hope Foundation, financial assistance for pet owners unable to afford veterinary care through the American Veterinary Medical Foundation's REACH programme and Paisley Paws, and support for challenging animal behaviour cases through Ease Pet Vet.