What: In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine will host a 50th Anniversary preview tour for news media. Participants will be given an overview of research and clinical activities by Drs. John Pascoe, executive associate dean, and Bradford Smith, director of the school's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, and then will be offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of modern veterinary medicine in action. When: 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19 Where: UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Room 2240 Visuals: Procedures and treatments for large- and small-animal patients, including surgery, dental care, medical imaging and intensive care. Background: The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine opened in 1948 to its first class of 42 students, most of them young men pursuing careers related to livestock health and medicine. Since then, the school has graduated 3,888 veterinarians while expanding and diversifying dramatically as the only school of veterinary medicine serving California, and one of only four vet schools in the western United States. It is ranked No. 1 among the nation's 27 veterinary schools and has the largest veterinary research program in the country. Building on its reputation in animal health care, the school has extended its expertise into issues of food safety, diseases common to humans and animals, and environmental health. The general public is invited to campus Aug. 22 for a 50th Anniversary open house including tours, barbecue lunch (reservations required through the Cal Aggie Alumni Association) and wild-animal presentation by Joan Embery of the Zoological Society of San Diego. Directions and Parking: From Interstate 80, go north on Highway 113 toward Woodland. Take the Hutchison Drive exit and head east (right) toward campus. At the first stoplight, turn right onto La Rue Road, then right at the first opportunity onto Garrod Drive. Turn right onto Veterinary Medicine Drive, then left into the first parking lot. To park free, place a business card on the dashboard of your vehicle. Media representatives covering Saturday events should park in Lot 54, north of the Medical Sciences Complex. Maps and schedules will be available that day at the registration table.