The University of California, Davis receives a $75 million gift for veterinary medicine.gettyThe University of California, Davis has been given $75 million by Kathy Chiao and Kenneth (Ken) Hao for its Weill School of Veterinary Medicine. The donation is the second largest gift in the vet school’s history, following a $120 million donation made earlier this year by former Citigroup CEO Sanford I. Weill and his wife Joan through their Weill Family Foundation.The new gift will be used for several purposes, including: construction of a new small animal hospital, scheduled to open in 2030, which when completed, will allow the school to care for up to 25,000 additional animals across an array of specialties such as oncology, orthopedic surgery, cardiology and neurology/neurosurgery. additional support for research in the field of translational medicine, increasing the potential for new health care discoveries for both animals and humans. funding for more scholarships and fellowships, helping UC Davis expand the veterinary workforce as it ramps up the number of students it accepts to its vet school over the next several years.assistance for individuals who face financial hardship in providing veterinary care for their pets. The gift will support UC Davis student-led clinics, compassionate care funds, and shelter medicine programs, all of which depend on philanthropic contributions for their operation.According to the university, the gift will be recognized in part by naming the new hospital after Chiao and Hao. Dean of the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine Mark D. Stetter highlighted the overall impact of the gift. “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.” “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,” said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May, in a statement. “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.”MORE FOR YOUKen Hao is chairman and managing partner of Silver Lake, a global technology investment firm in Silicon Valley. He previously worked as a managing director at Hambrecht & Quist. Forbes recently estimated his net worth at $2.5 billion.Hao 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. He and Chiao are longtime philanthropic supporters of several causes, including academic hospitals, health sciences and animal welfare.“This is a pivotal time to expand support for UC Davis and its extraordinary veterinarians — true everyday heroes,” said Chiao and Hao, in the university’s announcement of the gift. “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.”