The wife of an alumnus has donated $1.45 million to Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine. The gift by Janet Swanson, who is married to John Swanson '61, B.M.E. '62, M.M.E. '63, includes $800,000 to endow a residency at Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell and $650,000 to fund the relocation of the college's Wildlife Health Clinic.

"Janet Swanson's relationship with the College of Veterinary Medicine began in October 2004, when she visited our hospital and teaching facilities while John was engaged in other activities on campus," said Donald F. Smith, the university's Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine, at a recognition ceremony July 26 at the college. "That was a seminal visit for Janet because she realized that our emerging priorities in shelter medicine for companion animals and in wildlife medicine coincided with her own personal priorities. Almost immediately, she committed in a very substantial way to helping us develop these two programs."

While in Ithaca, Swanson met with faculty and staff to discuss Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program, which offers instruction and shelter experience for veterinary students and veterinarians. She also visited the Tompkins County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a partner of Cornell's shelter program.

To celebrate the relocation of the Wildlife Health Clinic to a soon-to-be-renovated building on Hungerford Hill Road, the Swansons ceremoniously pried up one of the building's old floor tiles. The clinic, among other roles, provides in-hospital medical and surgical care to sick and injured native and exotic wild animals.