The University of California, Davis, today announced the second-largest individual gift ever made to the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine: $75 million from Bay Area residents Kathy Chiao and Kenneth (Ken) Hao.
Their gift will name the school’s new small animal hospital, which will provide cutting-edge veterinary care, accommodate more patients annually, and increase space for student and specialty training. Their gift will also fund scholarships, animal-human translational medicine, and programs for those unable to afford veterinary care.
Chiao and Hao are longtime major supporters of academic hospitals, health sciences and animal welfare. Hao is chairman and managing partner of Silver Lake, a global technology investment firm. He serves as vice chair of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Board of Directors and as co-chair of the UCSF Health Executive Council.
“This is a pivotal time to expand support for UC Davis and its extraordinary veterinarians — true everyday heroes,” said Chiao and Hao. “We deeply value the advancement of healthcare for every type of animal. We also believe research in veterinary medicine and human life sciences will be increasingly interconnected and mutually reinforcing.”
Chancellor Gary S. May said the gift will create new pathways for veterinary health.
“Some of the brightest chapters in our university’s history have come when we partner with those who share our vision for a better world,” May said. “This generous gift from Kathy Chiao and Ken Hao will transform animal care and create new pathways to advance human health. I’m deeply grateful for their vision and philanthropy.”
A cornerstone of veterinary care
Scheduled to open in 2030, the new small animal hospital will stand among the largest and most advanced veterinary medical centers in the world. A cornerstone in the school’s $750M Veterinary Medical Complex expansion, the hospital will feature state-of-the-art equipment and expanded spaces for the school’s highly-skilled specialties, such as oncology, orthopedic surgery, cardiology and neurology/neurosurgery. It will also integrate the newest technologies, including artificial intelligence and precision medicine, to advance care for animals and humans alike.
When construction is complete, the new small animal hospital will allow the school to care for up to 25,000 additional animals across an array of specialties. The current William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital cares for 50,000 animals every year. Expanded spaces in the new hospital will accommodate the urgent need for veterinary clinicians, specialists and training spaces to address a critical veterinary workforce shortage.
Dr. Mark D. Stetter, dean of the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, noted the transformational impact of the gift.
“Every day, we see how veterinary care matters,” Stetter said. “Our school’s mission is to improve health for animals, people and our planet. Support such as this incredible gift from Kathy Chiao and Ken Hao goes a long way in helping the future of all species.”
Health for all
The gift from Chiao and Hao will continue to accelerate the innovative work being done at UC Davis in the field of translational medicine. Their gift fuels the potential for new discoveries for animals and humans, as clinicians and researchers from UC Davis, UCSF and other organizations collaborate to find the most effective treatments and research to advance health for all.
Recent discoveries include a lifesaving treatment for a kitten with feline hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain) that was performed using a novel pediatric neurosurgical method and stem cell techniques developed in bulldog puppies with spina bifida that enabled surgeons at UC Davis Health to treat the condition in utero, significantly improving lives for dogs and people. In another recent study, UCSF and UC Davis partnered to develop a clinical trial that benefitted cats with squamous cell carcinoma, opening potential new paths for treatment in humans.
Expanded veterinary workforce
For many students, the dream of becoming a veterinarian carries a daunting financial burden. According to the 2025 American Veterinary Medical Association’s report on the economic state of the veterinary profession, the average debt for all new veterinary school graduates, including those without debt, was $174,484 in 2025. The gift from Chiao and Hao also provides critical support for students at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine. The school has one of the largest veterinary student scholarship endowments in the world, providing funds that allow students to pursue the veterinary path with full focus and lessen the debt burden when they graduate and move into their veterinary career.
To address the state’s critical workforce shortage, the school plans to increase the number of veterinary students in each class over the next several years, from 600 to 800, and its residents/house officers from approximately 140 to 190. Student support through scholarships and fellowships accelerate their potential to graduate with less debt and select veterinary positions that will have an even greater impact on animals. Expansion of the school’s scholarship endowment is critical to supporting the larger student population — Chiao’s and Hao’s gift moves the needle towards more fully funding a student’s path to becoming a veterinarian.
Care at the moment it’s needed most
Chiao’s and Hao’s support also aids programs that assist those who face financial hardship in providing veterinary care for their beloved pets. The school’s leadership in creating access points to care spans several decades — and it is thanks to philanthropic partners that animals are able to receive the care they need, when they need it.
The UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine supports student-led clinics, compassionate care funds, and shelter medicine programs to help animals that may not otherwise receive veterinary care and treatment. The gift from Chiao and Hao provides vital support for these programs, which depend significantly on philanthropic contributions to help ensure that any companion animal can receive veterinary care when needed.
Revolutionizing veterinary health
Dean Stetter looks forward to the next few years as the new hospital is built and the number of students at the school begins to grow.
“This incredible gift from Kathy Chiao and Ken Hao enables our school to give the best care possible,” he said. “Thanks to them, our new hospital will serve even more animals and our students will graduate with the freedom of choice in their paths and go on to help our world. Thanks to them, our school will continue to do what it does best — making advancements in veterinary health that has potential to help us all.”
