Nine hospital departments have shuttered since CVM relegated to probationary accreditation for “major deficiencies,” new Dean appointment.

Concerns are growing both inside and outside the College of Veterinary Medicine that the upcoming accreditation review by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education may go poorly as a result of the shuttering of no less than nine medical services due to an exodus of more than 50 faculty and staff in just two years.  Two-thirds of respondents to an anonymous, opt-in survey conducted from April through August of this year believe that the Teaching Hospital does not practice medicine according to industry best practices, as the following core medical services have fully or partially shuttered as a culture crisis has worsened in the 6 years since CVM was relegated to probationary accreditation by the AVMA and Dr. Carlos Risco was appointed Dean of the College:

• Anesthesia (no anesthesiologist)
• Cardiology (fully shuttered)
• Dentistry (fully shuttered)
• Dermatology (fully shuttered)
• Emergency and Critical Care (reduced to simple daytime urgent care only)
• Internal Medicine (fully shuttered)
• Radiology (no radiologist)
• Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (fully shuttered)
• Surgery (Department Head recently resigned)

CVM was recently ranked by deans, administrators and faculty of other vet colleges as the 6th lowest scoring college out of 33 in North America, the worst-rated major program in America. With more than 50 faculty and staff departing in just the past two years, and an inability to recruit new talent due largely to a toxic work environment, which Dean Risco privately has acknowledged, there is substantial internal worry among remaining staff that more key team members will depart in the coming months, further risking declining patient care and the capability of remaining functional services medical departments.

As recently as last month, the newly appointed Head of Emergency and Critical Care resigned the post just weeks after assuming the position, although she stayed on as a practicing veterinarian. The Head of Surgery has resigned and will leave her post this year.

Concerns are growing that CVM may be placed on probationary accreditation status again - or worse. "You already know that OSU's status will require some twisting and straining at the next accreditation go-round," commented one person with knowledge of the accreditation process. "There will be a whole lot of forward-looking consideration because if it was measured on its current state, it's probably in worse shape now than it was."

6 years ago CVM was put on probationary accreditation due to "major deficiencies" in its program in large part over concern that its Teaching Hospital could not offer students a caseload sufficient for teaching according to accreditation standards. Since then, as staff departures and medical services closures have accelerated, students report a resulting decline in their educational opportunities.

Multiple people affiliated with CVM said the problems will only get worse until University leadership takes responsibility for the current state of affairs, "They need to stop saying things like VetMed finished 'just outside the top 25' in a ranking that only has 33 programs," expressed one person who is frustrated with the University's lack of accountability. "Stop saying things like 'pound for pound CVM is doing great.' Stop sending emails acting like everyone leaving us and departments closing down is some great opportunity to beef up the community practice.  Stop saying we are 'accelerating' to great things. Stop acting like everything is going right according to plan and everything is great here. It's not, it's a disaster here. Be honest about it, just be real about things."

CVM Independent has received tips that additional personnel are looking to leave CVM this year, but cannot independently verify the claims. However, prior claims from these sources have proven true.

"Every time we say it can't get worse, it does," said one remaining member of the staff.