UC Davis Appoints Dr. Emily McCobb as Endowed Chair in Accessible Veterinary Care

DAVIS, CA – August 21 – The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine has appointed Dr. Emily McCobb, DVM, MS, DACVAA as the inaugural PetSmart Charities Endowed Chair in Accessible Veterinary Care. This appointment, funded by a record $6 million grant from PetSmart Charities, aims to address the growing crisis of affordable veterinary care.

The UC Davis Access to Care program has helped advance new models of care in the veterinary profession and the endowment gift from PetSmart Charities establishes a position from which McCobb can further develop those models and provide leadership nationally.

The need for such initiatives is highlighted by recent statistics:

• An estimated 50 million pets in the U.S. lack access to standard and preventive veterinary care annually.
• Veterinary service costs in urban areas rose by 7.9% from February 2023 to February 2024, outpacing inflation in other sectors.
• Nearly 30% of pet owners report that a veterinary bill of $499 or less would put them in debt.

Dr. McCobb brings a wealth of experience, especially with accessible veterinary care issues, to her new role at UC Davis. She received her DVM from Tufts University in 2000, followed by an internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital and a Masters of Animals and Public Policy from Tufts. Board-certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Dr. McCobb has been a key figure at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, recently serving as clinical associate professor of anesthesiology and director of the school’s shelter medicine program.

Throughout her career, Dr. McCobb has focused on making an impact on animal welfare. She played a crucial role in launching the surgical practice at Tufts VETS and assisted in opening the Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic in 2012. Her academic research has addressed various companion animal welfare topics, with recent focus on developing evidence-based approaches for a spectrum of care, including effective, low-cost treatment plans.

Dr. McCobb’s experiences with community programs have heightened her awareness of the challenges faced by pets and families when affordable care is out of reach. She proudly contributed to a culture at Tufts that embraces student-led efforts to deliver veterinary care to local communities, including in pet-friendly subsidized housing. This background has informed her commitment to ensuring students can advocate for a range of veterinary care options that consider pet owners’ financial constraints.

“I’m extremely honored to have been selected. UC Davis is the pinnacle of veterinary education and a school we all look up to,” Dr. McCobb said. “It’s time to reshape our profession and drive efforts like those in human medicine to ensure more pets get the care they need to thrive. That’s a lens I look forward to sharing at UC Davis – not all pet parents are privileged, but as veterinarians we took an oath to care for all animals.”

The endowed chair position represents a permanent investment in accessible veterinary care. Supported by earnings from the endowment donation, it ensures stable, long-term funding for research and innovation in this field. Dr. McCobb will focus on developing new care models, influencing change across the veterinary ecosystem, and incorporating these perspectives into veterinary education.

Dr. Mark Stetter, dean of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, praised the appointment: “Dr. McCobb was an ideal choice – her proven leadership and passion for accessible veterinary care is exactly what is needed in this role. She has helped to build a curriculum and explored research in this area so that others can learn about this increasingly important topic. In this new role, she now has the opportunity at UC Davis to elevate this work and make an even greater impact.”

This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure pets receive necessary health care, preventing situations where animals go without care or enter the shelter system due to financial constraints. With over 60% of American homes including pets, the impact of this work is far-reaching for both animal and human welfare. UC Davis and PetSmart Charities share a commitment to these efforts.

PetSmart Charities is the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $500 million since its inception in 1994. In 2023, PetSmart Charities committed $100 million over five years to improving veterinary care models for more equitable access. This endowment is a key part of that commitment, addressing barriers such as rising costs, practitioner shortages, regulatory challenges, and outdated payment models. PetSmart Charities Endowed Chair in Accessible Veterinary Care is the largest single grant in PetSmart Charities 30-year history. PetsMart Charities receives funding from leading pet retailer PetSmart LLC along with donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

Dr. Robyn Jaynes, director of veterinary affairs at PetSmart Charities, expressed enthusiasm: “We’re thrilled Dr. McCobb is taking on this incredible opportunity. We know she’ll bring expert leadership and representation to the academic and broader veterinary communities while also helping to mitigate barriers to care, advance research and innovation and gather stakeholders to address this increasingly pressing problem with creativity and resolve.”

The establishment of this endowed chair enhances the ongoing long-term focus on accessible veterinary care at UC Davis. “It’s exciting to know that this endowment means someone will always take on this role,” said Dr. McCobb. “I’m the first to hold the distinction and intend to create a strong program for the future.”