In 2012, a journey began for Kurt Dunckel and his wife Debbie.
What started with a cash gift of $250,000 to MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine has resulted in the opening of a state-of-the-art critical care facility that will serve 5,000+ patients per year.
Kurt (’78, Natural Science; ’82, DVM, Veterinary Medicine) and Debbie attended a recent ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the college, and as they stood in the sunshine beaming through the skylights overhead, they couldn’t help but feel happy and proud.
“This is awesome,” Kurt said. “I would never have dreamt it would have come around this quickly, it’s just…amazing.”
Every journey begins with one step
A similar quest began—albeit a little sooner—for Associate Professor and Director of Emergency & Critical Care Medicine (ECCM) Dr. Matthew Beal. Starting in the early 2000s, Beal dreamt of a facility where technicians could offer the best, most high-quality emergency and critical care for their four-legged patients.
“Our donors played a tremendous part in making this project happen,” Beal said. “Our goal is to empower our students and allow them to walk out of here confidently, having greater comfort in dealing with patients on an emergency basis.”
Hospital Director Chris Gray echoes Beal’s sentiments.
“Without the help of the CVM Office of Advancement and the amazing support of donors the remodel would still be waiting to happen,” Grey said. “The funds given have enabled us to build one of the country’s leading small animal ICU units, equipped with cutting-edge equipment, enabling us to deliver excellent care to our patients.”
Beal adds that many of the college’s former interns are now faculty members at leading universities, where they are heading up emergency and critical care services.
Coming full circle
As for Kurt, who is now a practicing veterinarian and third-generation Spartan, he is like many of MSU’s donors: passionate about giving back.
The dreams of the college, the Dunckel family and Drs. Gray and Beal came to fruition as the facility has opened its doors. And now, anyone who walks into the hospital can immediately tell—it’s a simply extraordinary place.
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Author: Sarah Wardell