Meet your New Editor

Vet Gazetters, lets wish a huge welcome to Nikki Dowgos. She is our new SAVMA Editor in Chief-elect. We are so thrilled to have join the SAVMA Executive board team and to have her take over The Vet Gazette.

She is a third-year veterinary student at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Hailing from a small town in Delaware, she is very much enjoying her time in Athens, GA and cannot wait to share the great city with other veterinary students when UGA CVM hosts SAVMA Symposium 2019! Currently tracking mixed animal, Nikki is undecided on what path she will choose upon graduation, but she has a keen interest in policy and internal medicine. When she isn’t studying or attending school, kickboxing and kayaking are some activities that keep her active and sane. She also likes to spend time with her classmates’ dogs and cats as she does not have a furry friend of her own. She does have a scaly companion—a leopard gecko named Mango—that has been with her since undergrad. Being elected SAVMA Editor in Chief-elect was one of the happiest days of her life and she cannot wait to highlight the stories of veterinary students from all over the world!

Calling for Submissions

Vet Gazette Submissions is Still Open A publication of SAVMA Send us your cute pet pics, your enlightening thoughts, your fun externship experiences, your interesting research projects, your beautiful photographs, and your amazing creations. Whatever your flavor, we have something for you. Take the time to share your awesomeness with the vet community. We want to hear from you!! Plus your submissions give you a chance to win some money! Remember the chapter university with the most submissions can win a cash prize to be used towards any SAVMA event hosted at your school! Check out the categories and submission instructions here. All Submissions for Volume 53, Issue 4 are due Sunday, September 16th .

Diversity and Communication Travel Grant

Diversity and Communication Travel Grant
SAVMA's Integrative Communication and Diversity Committee

We are now awarding up to five $200 grants to deserving individuals who have attended or wish to attend a meeting or event that promotes diversity and communication within the veterinary profession. Read more about these exciting grants and fill out the application! Don't miss out! Examples of conventions, symposiums or other approved meetings include: SAVMA Symposium, AVMA Convention, and Iverson Bell Symposium. Application event eligibility: April 30th- September 15th.

Please visit this link to find out more and apply! For questions email savma.icdc@gmail.com

Disaster Relief Grant

Disaster Relief Grant for Veterinary Students
American Veterinary Medical Foundation

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) Disaster Relief Grants for Veterinarians are for the purpose of assisting veterinarians and veterinary students who have experienced an emergency need for basic necessities due to a disaster. The grants would cover items such as clothing, temporary housing, transportation and meals that were needed immediately following a disaster.

Grant amount: Up to $2,000 may be issued per grantee for out-of-pocket expenses incurred immediately following the disaster. A disaster would include, but is not limited to, flooding, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires or oil spills in an area that has been declared a disaster area at the local, county, state or federal level.

The deadline to apply is within 9 months following a disaster. For more information visit the AVMF's website.

Symposium Experience

It is not too early to start thinking about SAVMA Symposium 2019. It will be held at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia March 9-11th. Click here for more details.

Avry Stolzman from Ross University shares her experience at SAVMA Symposium 2018 at UPenn. 

SAVMA Symposium has so much to offer for veterinary students today. Students from around the world are able to meet in a common place and establish networks that could last a lifetime. Students are exposed to many different topics of discussion that range from current research to helpful every day tips. Attendees also have multiple opportunities to experience hands on learning in different wet labs. Attending the 2018 SAVMA Symposium in Philadelphia this year not only supported my current knowledge base but encouraged and excited me for my future in veterinary medicine.  

While at the symposium, I attended many different seminars over various topics. I observed research on cancer therapy, antibiotic resistance, NAVLE study techniques, everyday bovine practice tips and techniques, and several other talks. The advances in cancer therapy continue to amaze me everyday. Veterinary medicine has come so far in not only therapy within animals but research for human cancers and diseases. As many are now aware, antibiotic resistance is not a joking matter. Veterinary medicine has unfortunately been the scapegoat for this rapidly progressing issue. We as doctors, and leaders in one health, need to be aware of what and how we are treating disease. I listened to tips from the developer of Zuku Review, on how to better prepare for the daunting NAVLE. He emphasized to stay calm, you know more than you realize! My favorite seminar was not the one with the biggest, most scientific words, it was one that was actually the exact opposite. I learned everyday tricks to make life easier in bovine practice. Things that are not taught in school but are practical for every day use. These are the things that can make or break a day. Outside of listening to different professionals in this field, I was able to participate in an equine ophthalmology wet lab. I was introduced to several different, commonly used techniques in repairing entropion and lacerations.

SAVMA Symposium allowed me to interact with veterinary students outside of my university. We as students get so caught up in our own little school/study world, that we forget there are others out there just like us, enduring the same grueling curriculum that we are. We are all here for the same purpose! Meeting these people was a nice reminder of that. I am grateful for my opportunity to attend the symposium before I graduate and the experiences I was able to take away from it!