🐠 Tennessee Aquarium Launches $5 Million Veterinary Hospital and Training Program in Chattanooga

The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga has announced a major expansion of its animal health capacity, combining a new state-of-the-art facility with educational partnerships that could shape the next generation of aquatic veterinarians across the region and beyond.

📍 New Hospital and Expanded Care

Building on 34 years of expertise in aquatic animal health, the Aquarium unveiled a comprehensive veterinary program featuring construction of a new $5 million animal hospital within the River Journey building. The centralized facility will be staffed by an expanded veterinary team and designed to provide stress-free, on-site care for the Aquarium’s living collection. ✨

🎓 Training Tomorrow’s Veterinarians

The program represents a significant educational partnership with the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) in Knoxville and Chattanooga State Community College’s Veterinary Technology Program. The Aquarium has committed to offering recurring externships, fellowships, and internships to students from both institutions, giving future veterinarians and veterinary technicians hands-on experience with a diverse collection of aquatic species-many of which are rarely exhibited elsewhere. 🧑‍🎓

💡 Long-Term Impact on the Profession

According to Dr. Chris Keller, the Aquarium’s Director of Animal Health, the initiative could train 50 to 100 veterinarians over the next decade. “If they harken back to what they learned when they were here and develop it even more into their area of expertise, it’s going to advance the whole profession,” Dr. Keller said. Students will work with freshwater species and other aquatic life that fill a critical knowledge gap in veterinary training. 🌊

The expansion positions the Tennessee Aquarium as a regional hub for aquatic veterinary education and animal care innovation, with ripple effects that could benefit animal health professionals and institutions across the country.