EPDC Grant at work at UC Davis

Editor's note: The SAVMA Education and Professional Development offers a grant every spring to a veterinary school looking to fund an extracurricular activity, such as a wet lab or a lecture.  Last year's winner was UC Davis. Please read on to hear their summary of the event, and if you would like to know more information about funding an event at your own school, email the committee at savma.epdc@gmail.com

UC Davis Students at the Veterinary Pathology Club lab sponsored by SAVMA's EPDC Committee

On May 11th, 2011 the Veteinary Pathology Club at UC Davis held its first cow necropsy lab. The lab started with a small talk about safety during necropsies, common findings during necropsies and incidental lesions found during necropsies. The latter portion of the lab involved students necropsying cows with guidance from residents and a facultly member. Each cadaver was assigned an organ system to be focused on. For UC Davis Students at the cow necropsy labexample, one cow had the reproductive tract removed and the students were debriefed on normal structure, possible abnormalities seen in these organs, and possible findings you are looking for in these organs. The Veterinary Pathology Club will be using the EPDC grant from SAVMA to cover food for the pre-laboratory discussion and lab related expenses for the cow necropsy lab in this May 2012. Thank you SAVMA for your support!

SAVMA's Gov't Affairs Committee speaks on loss of subsidized loans

Dear Veterinary Medical Students,

As some of you may know, in response to the current economic challenges, there have been some adjustments to Federal budgets. A significant change that has taken place is the loss of subsidized loans to graduate and professional students. The Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011 was signed into law on August 2nd, 2011. The signing of this act into law made two very important changes to the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program, which affects the majority of veterinary medical students utilizing loans to pay tuition and living expenses.
We would like to make you aware of the effort that the AVMA and your SAVMA representatives have put forth urging Congress to maintain the subsidized Federal Stafford loan for graduate and professional students.

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Meet your new SAVMA International Exchange Officer-elect

Steen Smith
Oregon State University

Description of duties: Support the IEO in the effort to facilitate exchanges, study abroad opportunities, and/or other international opportunities for members of SAVMA, as well as represent SAVMA at the two yearly International Veterinary Students' Assocation (IVSA) meetings.

In the next year my goals are to:

1. Create a comprehensive database of the policies of our member institutions in regards to international students participating in educational  opportunities.  

2. To better inform SAVMA members of the opportunities IVSA membership provides.  

3. To work closely with the IEO in support of her efforts to further develop international opportunities for our members.

 
Fun fact:
I am from Corvallis, Oregon and have worked in the veterinary field for the last 10 years, including the last 3 years as a Certified Veterinary Technician.  I enjoy fishing, hunting, camping, and other outdoor pursuits.  I worked as a construction site foreman for 7 years before pursuing my undergraduate education.

contact Steen at: SAVMAIEO [at] gmail [dot] com

Creative Corner

Shannon Orth
Iowa State University, '12

This is an oil painting Shannon made for her parents' anniversary gift in 2011, depicting their 11 parrots!

Meet your new SAVMA Treasurer

Erich Roush
University of Wisconsin

Description of duties: Making sure that SAVMA stays financially healthy, knows where its money goes, and that awards and grants are received in a timely manner.  


Goals for this term:

SAVMA invests in its members, more so now than ever before, making it a necessary challenge to ensure that those investments are made in an efficient and financially healthy manner.  

Incredible advances have been made in the way SAVMA keeps its books.  I plan to keep the momentum going.  


Fun Facts from the SAVMA Treasurer:

“The first practical typewriter was designed in Milwaukee in 1867” www.fun-facts.com (Not that anyone knows what a typewriter is anymore)

“Green Bay has long been known as the "toilet paper capital of the world" because the first splinter-free toilet paper was produced here” www.greenbay.com/media/trivia  (You’re welcome!)