Externships and stipends available through AVMA

Deadline to apply: Jan. 19

Veterinary students have until Jan. 19 to apply for two unique externship programs available through the AVMA.

Each year, we host a handful of students who serve non-clinical externships at AVMA headquarters near Chicago. We also offer $1,000 stipends to support students participating in externships elsewhere.

Both programs are open to all veterinary students who are members of SAVMA. Please help us spread the word about these valuable programs to the veterinary students in your personal and professional networks.

AVMA Headquarters Externship

The AVMA Headquarters Externship program enables students to explore different areas of interest within the veterinary profession while learning about the work of the AVMA and the role the AVMA plays in shaping the profession. Students spend three-four weeks at the AVMA's headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill., where they may choose to work entirely in one division of the association or divide their time among various divisions. Externships are available in the following divisions:

• Animal Welfare
• Marketing and Communications
• Convention and Meeting Planning
• Education and Research
• Membership and Field Services
• Animal and Public Health
• Veterinary Economics
• AVMF

Externs may work on a variety of projects, including assisting in document and letter writing, developing content for the AVMA website, participating in council and committee meetings, providing information to AVMA members, and performing research and collecting data on important issues facing the profession.

Up to 10 applicants are chosen each year to participate, and each receives a stipend of up to $2,000 to help offset the cost of the experience. The application and additional information can be found here.

Externship Stipend Program

The AVMA also offers a stipend program to support SAVMA members who are either planning to participate, or who have already participated over the past year, in non-clinical or food-supply externships. The stipend program encourages students to explore and gain experience in areas of veterinary medicine that are non-traditional or critically underserved. These experiences add breadth to students' perspectives and help make them better advocates for their patients and the profession. Students are eligible to apply for a stipend if their externship is performed in the 2017 or 2018 calendar year. Selected applicants will be awarded $1,000 to help alleviate expenses incurred during the externship. Learn more about externship stipends and download an application here.

Externship locator

Externships are a great way for students to explore different career opportunities and gain hands-on learning in areas that may not be covered in veterinary school. They also offer a unique venue to network with established professionals and build valuable relationships. The AVMA’s student externship locator can connect students with a wide range of externship opportunities, including listings sorted by state, special interest, and sponsoring school or organization.