The Accessible Veterinary Care (AVC) program enables the school’s faculty and students to provide veterinary services primarily to dogs and cats of clients with limited resources or other barriers to care.
About AVC at UC Davis
Accessible Veterinary Care (AVC) at UC Davis works to address societal needs through student and community engaged outreach clinics, as well as to advance the field of accessible veterinary care with innovative educational models and groundbreaking research.
Our various AVC projects aim to mentor veterinary students within community-based veterinary care. While UC Davis has operated some of these organizations for years to decades, this AVC framework is designed to bring these organizations together in one cohesive structure.
The clinical services for Accessible Veterinary Care (AVC) are based in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The AVC program is administrated One Health Institute.
Community AVC Organizations at UC Davis Veterinary Medicine
History and Mission
For many years, UC Davis faculty, staff, and students have addressed the needs of underserved communities, shelters, and rescue groups through student-led community-based initiatives to provide animal care. AVC is structured to provide the framework for these student-run veterinary clinics, offering organizational leadership and coordination. Through this work, UC Davis veterinary students develop leadership skills and cultural humility while gaining additional hands-on training and practicing compassionate care.
With UC Davis being a California public entity, it is the school’s responsibility to continue these critical programs. Rooted in the school’s mission to address societal needs, expanding access to care for underserved communities remains a driving force behind its outreach efforts. Teaching veterinary students about AVC and supporting the health and people in our community is key to the school’s land grant mission.
Support for the Program
In 2024 as part of a 100 million dollar investment in Accessible Veterinary Care, PetSmart Charities established an endowed chair for Accessible Veterinary Care at the University of California Davis with Dr. Emily McCobb leading as the inaugural chair. Read more
Our Team
Faculty Veterinarians
- Emily McCobb, DVM, MS, DACVAA - PetSmart Charities Endowed Chair in Accessible Veterinary Care
- Jonathan Dear, DVM, MAS, DACVIM (SAIM)
- Michael Ziccardi, DVM, MPVM, PhD
- Steven Epstein, DVM, DACVECC
- Karen Vernau, DVM, MAS, DACVIM (Neurology)
- Elizabeth Montgomery, DVM, MPH
Staff Veterinarians
- Stacy Hart-Kraus, DVM
- Cindy Karsten, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine)
- Jeannie Knuchell, DVM
OHI Administrative Staff
- Carolyn
- Cindy
- Eunah
- Sarah
VMTH Administrative Staff
- Kelly Stetter, RVT - AVC Program Coordinator
- Jodie Cheun - Veterinary Assistant