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Connecticut vets and UConn back revival of Kirkland‑M. Kerr program to boost state veterinary pipeline
Summary
Veterinarians, UConn faculty and the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association urged lawmakers to reestablish the Kirkland‑M. Kerr program to reserve out‑of‑state veterinary seats and reduce tuition differentials, estimating annual costs of about $1.4–$1.6 million and proposing return‑to‑state practice requirements or loan‑forgiveness to keep graduates in Connecticut.
Veterinarians and University of Connecticut representatives urged the committee to revive the Kirkland‑M. Kerr program, a tuition‑support partnership that previously reserved seats for Connecticut residents at out‑of‑state veterinary schools and provided in‑state tuition equivalence.
Dr. Andrea Dennis, a licensed veterinarian and UConn trustee, told the committee Connecticut faces a critical shortage of veterinarians and that the high cost of veterinary education—where debt can exceed $300,000—deters residents from returning to practice in the state. She described feasibility…
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