Transition supports food-animal veterinary care in East Tennessee and expands training opportunities for future veterinarians
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Access to veterinary care in some rural areas of Tennessee has become increasingly difficult because of retirements, workforce changes, and the economic realities of food-animal practice. In response, the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) has been working with stakeholders to develop practical solutions to sustain food-animal veterinary services, support livestock producers, and expand opportunities for students to train for careers serving rural communities.
One such effort has taken shape in East Tennessee. UTCVM has purchased Coley Veterinary Services, a food animal-exclusive practice located adjacent to the college’s existing farm-animal service area. The practice will operate as the University of Tennessee Farm Animal Services-Coley Unit, continuing its longstanding service to producers in the region.
This move supports the veterinary college’s mission to serve Tennessee’s agricultural communities by preserving access to food-animal veterinary care, strengthening rural veterinary services, and expanding opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in food-animal medicine while increasing exposure to careers serving rural communities. By integrating the practice into UTCVM’s clinical operations, the college will help ensure that high-quality food-animal veterinary care remains available in East Tennessee.
“One of our responsibilities as a college of veterinary medicine is not only to provide excellent care today, but also to prepare veterinarians to meet the needs of tomorrow,” said Paul Plummer, dean of the veterinary college. “This transition strengthens food-animal veterinary services for producers in East Tennessee and expands real-world clinical training for students interested in rural practice. It also gives students who may be less familiar with rural veterinary medicine meaningful exposure to the important role food-animal veterinarians play in agricultural communities.”
Established in 1988, Coley Veterinary Services has served cattle, sheep, and goat producers across a nine-county area surrounding Jefferson County, Tennessee. The practice has built a strong reputation for dependable livestock care and for a mission centered on helping producers maintain healthier, more productive animals while stewarding the responsible use of animal health products and a safe food supply.
As a food animal-exclusive practice, Coley Veterinary Services has played an important role in supporting animal health, farm productivity, and the strength of rural communities. This opportunity allows UTCVM to build on that work and create additional hands-on learning opportunities for veterinary students interested in food-animal and rural practice.
The agreement also builds on veterinarian Bob Coley’s longstanding relationship with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) and the College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to his work as a large animal veterinarian, Coley has served Tennessee agriculture in numerous capacities over the years, including as a beef cattle producer, 4-H volunteer, and member of the Governor’s Council on Agriculture and Forestry. He has also served on the college’s advisory board, worked as an adjunct clinical instructor, provided externship opportunities for veterinary students through his practice, mentored students interested in food-animal medicine, and, for many years, served on the college’s admissions committee, reviewing applicant files and interviewing prospective students. He is chair of the East Regional Advisory Council and serves on UT System President Randy Boyd’s UT Commission on Agriculture. Coley has also served on the UT Beef and Forage Center Advisory Board and the UT Animal Science Advisory Board. In 2023, UTIA recognized his contributions with its Meritorious Service Award.
The transition is designed to be seamless for clients. As part of UTCVM, the practice will remain open at its current facility, and the phone number will remain the same. Clients will continue to see familiar faces; Coley will continue working part-time with the practice, while veterinarian and clinical assistant professor Margaret LaFlamme, an existing member of the Coley Veterinary Services team, remains full-time. UTCVM also retained the practice’s office staff to help ensure continuity of service.
“This is important to me because it helps protect the future of food-animal veterinary care in this region and continues the service our clients depend on,” said Coley. “I am grateful for the trust livestock producers have placed in our practice over the years, and am pleased that this next step supports our clients, strengthens rural veterinary care, and helps train future veterinarians who will serve agricultural communities.”
Plummer said the transition reflects a broader need to sustain veterinary care in rural areas while preparing veterinarians to serve the needs of food-animal producers and agricultural communities across Tennessee.
The UT College of Veterinary Medicine educates students in the art and science of veterinary medicine and related biomedical sciences, promotes scientific research and enhances human and animal well-being.
Through its mission of research, teaching and extension the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu