Student: Nikole Mader c/o 2022 (mader039@umn.edu ) 

Attending the SAVMA symposium was a unique way to further ignite my passion in the veterinary field. Being able to attend lectures specifically designed for students, and choose topics that interested me, was an exciting way to begin to connect the dots from first year lectures to real veterinary medicine. I was able to participate in the bovine dystocia wet lab where I was coached by an internal medicine specialist on how to appropriately respond and troubleshoot these types of emergencies. Between information sessions and discussing opportunities with conference vendors, I was able to explore the University of Georgia campus and city of Athens with my closest friends, and make many more along the way. This conference encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and take advantage of other experiences outside of the classroom, and share my knowledge and skills with other students and organizations.

Student: Madison Baumgartner c/o 2024 (baumg204@umn.edu)

The Veterinary Leadership Conference was an amazing opportunity that I stumbled upon while in 3rd year. When I heard about the AVMA sponsoring one student’s trip to this conference, I knew I wanted to apply. I am so glad I did! I was chosen and it was one of the best networking opportunities I have been exposed to while in veterinary school. I connected with potential future employers, Minnesota alumni, and other mentors that have been instrumental in my future career in veterinary medicine. Additionally, I was able to network and connect with fellow students. Veterinary medicine is so much about who you know and I am grateful for the opportunities I have gotten since expanding my network at this conference. Overall, getting to explore Chicago with future colleagues and learn more about AVMA policy was one of my favorite highlights from veterinary school. I am hopeful that one day I will be able to return as a practicing clinician. I encourage anyone wanting an experience like this to keep an eye out for the AVMA scholarship in the early fall semester! I promise it will change the trajectory of your career in ways you can’t even imagine yet.

Student: Sabina Ponicki c/o 2023 (ponic003@umn.edu)

The fourth and final year of veterinary school was filled with plenty of stress and anxiety about the future, but it was also one of the best years of my life. Being able to travel to new places and experience how other parts of the country practice medicine was a huge benefit to my learning. A substantial part of these opportunities I had were due to the funding that SAVMA externship grants provided. The program awarded me funds to travel to California to experience large scale dairy operations last fall. While there, I even got to work with bees and learned more about almond tree farming! Not only did my California externship hone my palpation and sick cow identification skills, but I was also able to work with and learn from a group of UW-Madison students that were on externship with me. Without the SAVMA externship grant program, it would not have been financially feasible for me to make this trip. That being said, I am very grateful for the hard work SAVMA puts into making travel possible for students! It is an amazing program and I highly encourage new fourth years to apply!

Student: Emma Bak c/o 2021 (bakxx019@umn.edu) 

The AVMA Legislative Fly-In is a yearly event that brings veterinary students from U.S. Veterinary Schools and practicing veterinarians to Washington, D. C. to talk to their elected officials about issues affecting the veterinary profession. The Fly-In consists of a one-day workshop on the legislative process followed by one day of visiting with elected officials. 

During the course of the Fly-In, students have had the opportunity to network with AVMA staff members and visit the offices of the Minnesota Senators and Representatives. In past years, students met with the staff of Minnesota lawmakers to share how lowering borrowing caps, raising interest rates, and eliminating Public Service Loan Forgiveness will limit University of Minnesota veterinary students’ loan options, which not only could be detrimental to us as individuals, but could affect Minnesota's veterinarian availability, the welfare of our production and companion animals, and our economy.  

On Capitol Hill, legislators and their staff meet with countless lobbying groups to hear how legislation will affect various stakeholders, including veterinarians. The AVMA identifies legislation that affects veterinarians and makes sure our perspective is shared amongst the many voices. It's important to note that although the AVMA works tirelessly to advocate for us, it is vital that each of us are engaged and involved in this process at the national, state, and local levels.  Our senators and representatives are motivated by re-election, so it is essential that are voices are heard in numbers.

Student: Sydney Johnson c/o 2024 (joh17758@umn.edu)

Through the SAVMA externship travel grant, I was able to attend the AQUAVET 2 course in Bristol, Rhode Island after I had attended AQUAVET 1 on a SAVMA travel grant the year before! Through both of these courses, I was able to learn more about various aspects of aquatic animal medicine and pursue my dreams of being an aquatic veterinarian once I graduate. AQUAVET 2 focused specifically on aquatic pathology and gave me the opportunity to hone my anatomy, pathology, histology, and cytology skills using lectures, microscopy labs, and dissection labs taught by experts in our field. We learned about aquaculture, shellfish, aquarium medicine, wildlife, and more which gave me an excellent broad spectrum of knowledge and helped guide me in deducing what aspect of aquatic medicine I want to focus on in the future. 

I was also able to network with various professionals in the field who were both professors in the course and colleagues coming to the course to learn as the AQUAVET 2 course draws in aquatic professionals from around the world who want more experience and information for their careers. I was able to connect with these individuals, make friends that will last a lifetime, and set myself up well for an aquatic medicine career in the future! I’m so thankful for SAVMA’s support in helping me get the experience and knowledge I need to pursue a unique career outside of the traditional vet school curriculum.

Student: Bailey George c/o 2025 (georg882@umn.edu)

Once in lifetime experiences are rare, and even rarer are those that greatly shape your future. With the help of the SAVMA Gold Committee Travel Grant I found one of these moments during my time at AQUAVET I ®. 

This course took me to Bristol, Rhode Island for an introduction to a lesser taught topic, aquatic animal veterinary medicine. There experts lectured me on the importance of water quality, the role of aquaculture, and all about aquatic life from invertebrates to marine mammals. During lab sessions I studied anatomy and learned to take a variety of diagnostic samples such as gill scrapes and blood draws. Field trips gave me the opportunity to perform physical exams on penguins, see behind the scenes of aquariums, and care for research animals.

AQUAVET I ® exposed me to a new world of veterinary medicine, one I would like to be a part of someday.  I am incredibly grateful for the SAVMA Gold Committee Travel Grant which allowed me to have such an amazing experience.