CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VCA Animal Hospitals has partnered with Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine (LMU-CVM) to launch a groundbreaking veterinary emergency medicine initiative that will help students enter careers in veterinary medicine.
The VCA ER Student Scholarship Program is a unique opportunity for five LMU veterinary medicine students to learn in an emergency and specialty care immersion program during their clinical year, as well as an opportunity to advance their veterinary career with VCA.
The competitive scholarship program offers up to $35,000 tuition assistance per student, and a choice of $5,000 for living expenses or a cash bonus. The application process involves an in-person interview with a team led by VCA professionals and preference will be given for students with previous emergency medicine and/or VCA hospital experience. The 4th year clinical rotations include 16 weeks at various VCA hospitals which must be completed immediately prior to graduation. Upon graduation, scholarship recipients must agree to accept an ER position at select VCA hospitals for a three-year commitment. Compensation will be on a production-salary plan.
“Collaborations with great veterinary industry partners such as VCA allow LMU-CVM students to obtain excellent clinical experiences and at the same time significantly decrease their student debt load,” said Jason Johnson, LMU-CVM Vice President and Dean.
“For the four student awardees, this will significantly decrease their debt and at the same time prepare them for their career journey at VCA and beyond. This partnership is in alignment with LMU-CVM’s goal to graduate competent, confident, career ready veterinarians.”
“At VCA, we have always been dedicated to advancing the veterinary profession and encouraging students to pursue studies in veterinary medicine,” said Anthony Guerino, DVM, Regional Medical Director for VCA Animal Hospitals. “It's a win-win opportunity for everyone. By seeking out and developing the best and brightest veterinary students, we can better serve our patients, while supporting and improving our profession."
Interested applicants should send an introductory letter and CV to Dr. Anthony Guerino at anthony.guerino@vca.com.
About Lincoln Memorial University
Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine is located on LMU’s main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee, with additional academic facilities in nearby Lee County, Virginia. LMU-CVM is an integral part of the University’s medical programs and provides real-world, community-based education in a collaborative learning environment. For more information about LMU-CVM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 7150 or visit us online at vetmed.LMUnet.edu.
About VCA Animal Hospitals
VCA Animal Hospitals operates over 1,000 small animal veterinary hospitals in the U.S., Canada and Japan. The hospitals are staffed by more than 4,500 fully qualified, dedicated and compassionate veterinarians to give pets the very best in medical care, of which over 600 are board certified specialists who are experts in areas such as oncology, cardiology, emergency and critical care, and surgery for animals. VCA Animal Hospitals provides a full range of general practice services to keep pets well and specialized treatments when pets are ill. As part of the Mars, Inc. family of brands, VCA is committed to its purpose—A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS®.
For more information, please visit VCAhospitals.com or follow on Twitter @vcapethealth and Facebook (facebook.com/VCAAnimalHospitals/).
