WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – David Brunner describes his work as a veterinarian as “the most pleasant job in the world”. I go to work and play with puppies and kittens. “He credits his time as a student at Purdue University, limited by earning a 1979 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine to fuel his passion.
Now, the new Purdue Veterinary Hospital is named the David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex in recognition of a $ 10 million leadership commitment from David and Bonnie Brunner.
Purdue trustees approved the nomination on Friday, February 5th.
The 162,500 square foot complex will include three facilities located east of the existing Lynn Hall of Veterinary Medicine:
David and Bonnie Brunner (photo provided)
* David and Bonnie Brunner’s Small Animal Hospital, which will add 65,000 square feet to the existing Lynn Hall Small Animal Clinic facility, which is approximately 40,000 square feet.
* The David and Bonnie Brunner Equine Hospital offers 73,000 square feet of new space.
* David and Bonnie Brunner’s farm animal clinic, covering an area of 24,000 square meters, replaces the facilities in the existing large animal clinic.
“As the pandemic has highlighted, a state-of-the-art veterinary program not only benefits our animal populations, but is also an essential part of protecting human health,” said Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue. “Now, thanks to David and Bonnie, Indiana and the nation will have such an invaluable asset.”
David Brunner is the owner of Broad Ripple Animal Clinic (BRAC), a company he founded in 1981 with an employee on the north side of Indianapolis. BRAC now has nine full-time veterinarians and is one of the 15% of hospitals in the US that has been accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. Brunner retired as a practicing clinical veterinarian in 2012, but continues to be involved in the clinic as a visionary and staff cheerleader.
Brunner was a member of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association. He is a past president of the Indianapolis Humane Society who previously served on the board for 10 years. In addition, Brunner has authored two books, “The Dog Owner’s Manual” and “The Cat Owner’s Manual”, which are currently published in 12 languages worldwide.
Bonnie (MacLeod) Brunner holds degrees in Economics and Comparative Politics and an MBA in Finance from UCLA. She retired from trading with Morgan Stanley and owns Lupo Design & Build, a luxury contemporary home housing company in Hermosa Beach, California. She balances that business with her role as the chief financial officer of the veterinary practice and managing the couple’s personal and commercial properties. Bonnie was actively involved in animal rescue organizations in Los Angeles before meeting David.
The Brunners divided their time between Indianapolis; Southern California; and St. Barths, French West Indies.
“My years at Purdue have been life changing,” said David Brunner. “It took me a while to appreciate the incredible education I received from Purdue’s veterinary school. To this day, I sincerely reflect on the many professors and clinical instructors who have made me the veterinarian I have become.
“Bonnie and I had an exceptional opportunity to help build the new veterinary complex. We hope this post will help and inspire veterinary students now and for years to come. I am passionate about pet practice and have a particular interest in promoting entrepreneurship in veterinary students and teaching them the art of veterinary practice and the business of veterinary medicine. “
The couple is excited to play an active role in the Purdue Alumni Association and finally to play some Boilermaker soccer games while joking: “We didn’t have time to do things like this when we were in school because we always do learned. ”
The design of the new complex optimizes practical learning for students and creates a special space for opportunities for community involvement. In addition, the increased footprint and upgraded equipment of the complex will improve clinical research and allow faculty researchers to respond to more clinical trial opportunities, expanding the College of Veterinary Medicine’s reputation as a world-renowned research institute.
“Thanks to the generosity of David and Bonnie Brunner, our vision of creating a state-of-the-art hospital is becoming a reality,” said Willie M. Reed, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “The new hospital provides a wonderful learning environment for our students, enables our faculty to advance their clinical research programs, which include clinical trials, and greatly improve our ability to provide the best possible care to our animal patients. I am especially grateful that a graduate of the college and his wife are such an important contributor to the future success of the college. “
The new complex is expected to be completed by December and opened by spring 2022. It will meet the different needs of customers while maximizing efficiency. For the first time, horses will have their own equine hospital instead of being treated in the same facility as farm animals such as cows, pigs and sheep, who are cared for in the new farm animal clinic. The efficiency of the existing hospital facility will be incorporated into the new structures. For example, the expensive imaging technology will be centrally located so that it can be accessed from both the small animal and equine clinics, reflecting current practice in the existing facilities. Some small animal services will remain in the current small animal clinic.
In addition to treating animals, the hospital complex will serve as a catalyst for interdisciplinary research, including the discovery of cancer drugs and the development of treatments for paralysis.
The total cost of the project is $ 108 million. Purdue has raised $ 35 million, including ongoing fundraisers through the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the state of Indiana approved a $ 73 million grant.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a leading public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Purdue has been ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative Universities in the United States by US News & World Report, delivering modified research and discoveries worldwide that are out of this world. Purdue is committed to hands-on and online learning in the real world, providing transformative education to all. Purdue is committed to affordability and accessibility and has frozen tuition and most fees for the 2012-2013 period, allowing more students than ever to graduate debt-free. Watch as Purdue never stops chasing the next big leap on purdue.edu.
Writer: Tom Schott, 765-427-1721, tschott@purdue.edu
Sources: Mitch Daniels, President@purdue.edu
Willie M. Reed, wreed@purdue.edu
David and Bonnie Brunner
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