The University of Maryland Eastern Shore announced on Apr. 16 that it will open the state’s first Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program, with plans to admit its inaugural class in the summer of 2027.
This development is significant because Maryland currently lacks a DVM program, requiring students who wish to become veterinarians to study out-of-state. The new program at UMES aims to address both a statewide and national shortage of veterinarians while increasing diversity within the profession.
Currently, Maryland students interested in veterinary medicine rely on a collaborative arrangement between Virginia Tech and the University of Maryland for accreditation. With UMES’s new offering, aspiring veterinarians will be able to complete their training without leaving Maryland. The university also noted that it will become the first public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the country to offer a DVM degree, seeking “to increase the representation of Black Americans and other people of color in a profession that is currently predominantly white.”
Located in Cecil County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore—a region known for its agricultural productivity—the DVM program builds upon UMES’s established strengths in agricultural studies. The university said this location positions it well “to support Maryland’s agricultural economy.” In addition to producing more veterinarians trained in large-animal medicine, UMES plans for its new school to advance research into food safety and zoonotic diseases as part of broader One Health initiatives focused on public health.
As preparations continue ahead of welcoming its first cohort, UMES said the launch represents not only a milestone for higher education but also an opportunity for more students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers as veterinarians without leaving their home state.
