The Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris (VMD) degree is only awarded to veterinarians by the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. It is equivalent to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree awarded by all other US veterinary schools. The difference stems from the origin of the Penn School of Veterinary Medicine as the Veterinary Department of the Medical School. As the Medical School awarded the Medicinae Doctoris (MD) degree to graduate physicians, it was consistent to use a similar Latin format for the veterinary degree. With a similar origin, the Penn School of Dental Medicine awards the Dentariae Medicinae Doctoris (DMD) to dentists.
