Pigs...In...Space! (Oops, I meant Nebraska!)

By: Ruth West

Class of 2011, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine

I am a junior at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine with an interest in swine medicine. UF does operate a small swine unit just off of campus, where I lived and worked for a year, yet I was very interested in seeing some large operation swine units and finding out for myself what working as a food animal veterinarian was all about.

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AVMA HQ Externship

Too many acronyms for you? Well, the American Veterinary Medical Association's Headquarters in Schaumburg, IL is looking for students to participate in their externship program to explore the opportunities in organized veterinary medicine. I've talked with a few students that have participated in the externship in the past, and all I've heard are great things! It's a wonderful opportunity for meeting the AVMA "big wigs" and finding out what you can do to make progress in our organization.

This externship is open to all students who are members of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA). The AVMA will provide five stipends up to $1,000 for externships lasting between 3-4 weeks (3 weeks $750; 4 weeks $1,000). You can spend the whole externship in one division or your experience may be spread among divisions depending on choice, time, and availability. Submit you complete application package to be RECEIVED at the AVMA HQ by March 15, 2010.  Award winners will be responsible for securing their own transportation and housing while on their externship at the AVMA Headquarters. Please note that the blackout dates are July 19th-August 6th due to the AVMA Annual Convention.

The AVMA Headquarters Student Externship application can be found on the Web site located at http://www.avma.org/savma/services.asp

If you require further information please e-mail tdecarli@avma.org or call 1-800-248-2862 ext 6693.

Sunset

By: Kimberly Lednum

Class of 2011, Mississippi State University

Photograph

International Exchange Hosts Needed!

Do you know a vet that would host an international student at their clinic? Do you know more than one? Do you like cash? Then keep on reading!

The International Veterinary Exchange Committee (IVEC) is holding a contest for recruiting the most IVSA exchange host veterinarians. The deadline is March 1, and the winning individual will receive $50 and the winning IVSA chapter receives $200! This is part of an effort by the IVEC to increase the number of veterinarians in the US that are willing to host international students at their practice for a 2-4 week exchange. If you have worked with any veterinarians that might be interested, please encourage them to become IVSA exchange hosts, even after the contest is over! IVSA exchange host forms are available on the SAVMA IVSA website (www.avma.org/savma/ieo/) and please send completed forms to Virginia Kiefer at SAVMAIEO@gmail.com

Heading to SAVMA Symposium?

If you're making the trip to Madison next month for SAVMA Symposium, please consider these opportunities for helping veterinary students around the world. The International Veterinary Student Association's Development Fund will be collecting donations of basic sciences veterinary textbooks and will also hold an auction.

The Development Fund is managed by the IVSA to aid disadvantaged veterinary faculties throughout the world. This year they are providing aid to Moldova, Mozambique, Colombia, and Ghana. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of the IVSA where real benefits can be seen for each project that not only help the students and faculty at the veterinary schools, but the animals they treat as well. You can help in two ways at SAVMA Symposium 2010:

1) The Development Fund Book Drive

IVSA will be collecting literature donations at the SAVMA Symposium this year to provide these faculties. They will be collected at the conference center and shipped to the IVSA headquarters to be distributed. Please bring any veterinary and basic science (physiology, pharmacology, etc) text books you are not using to donate to these developing schools.

I know I plan on unloading some of my textbooks from first year that are just collecting dust on the shelves (that's you, Immunology....start saying farewell to the others.)

2)  The Development Fund Auction

All kinds of items will be up for auction such as digital thermometers, surgical kit items, veterinary clothing (always popular!), stethoscopes, books, and a few other surprise items. You can also help with the auction by donating some (new) items of your own. The procedes go directly to the IVSA DF.

To find out more about SAVMA Symposium itself, just click the link to your right to go to their site.