STUDENT AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (SAVMA)
The Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) was created in 1969 as the national organization of students, which has enabled individual Student Chapters of the AVMA to function effectively as a single unit on the national level.
Currently, SAVMA is comprised of 36 student chapters at accredited veterinary medical schools/colleges and one student association organization in the Caribbean (SAVMA @ RUSVM). In total, we represent a total of over 16,000 veterinary student members and associate members.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A SAVMA MEMBERSHIP?
Automatic free membership to the AVMA for the first year following graduation from veterinary school
Reduced prices for subscriptions to the AVMA journals: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) and American Journal of Veterinary Research (AJVR)
Networking Opportunities: Legislative Fly-In, Veterinary Leadership Experience, Educational SAVMA Symposium and AVMA Convention; AVMA Mentoring System
Eligibility for Professional Development Funds (PDF) to travel to externships and conferences
Scholarships, Externship Stipends
Reduced rates for AVMA conventions
Free Liability Coverage provided by AVMA PLIT
Health Insurance Plans starting as low as $22/month provided by AVMA Life
ROSS VET STUDENT GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE BOARD
SAVMA @ RUSVM Officers
Victoria Young was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. She attended Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI where she received a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology and a Minor in American Sign Language. While attending Central Michigan, she was able to fulfill her dream of traveling to Europe by studying abroad in France, learning about the history of ASL. She was also able to share her love of ASL with two classrooms of second graders through teaching them the language. During her time between undergraduate studies and vet school, she worked as a veterinary assistant, which further solidified her goal of becoming a Veterinarian. In the future she plans to return to Michigan, preferably to a city north of Flint, and own a practice. She plans to work with small animals but is becoming increasingly interested in mixed animal practice.
Madison is from a rural town in Alabama, where she grew up on a small farm that ignited her passion for learning. She attended Auburn University, and earned both her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science in Animal Science and Ruminant Nutrition and Forage, respectively. Madison has worked in the veterinary field for almost 10 years in small and large animal clinics/hospitals. Here at Ross, Madison is not only SAVMA Vice President, but also a Student Ambassador for Ross, and a Student Representative for VetEvolve. Currently, her interests are in large animal surgery and neurology, among others.
Abigail is a current 4th semester student, originally from San Antonio, Texas. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science degree with minors in Biology and Chemistry from Texas Tech University, where she also participated in The Feral Cat Coalition and The Wildlife Society, and served as a teaching assistant and tutor. During this time, she also completed an internship with Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in San Antonio and volunteered with several animal shelters. She is passionate about small animal rescue and has participated in several community outreach events in St. Kitts, as well as fostered dozens of cats since she was in high school. In her free time, she enjoys nature watching, listening to historical podcasts, and spending time with her dog, Amber, and her island cat, Houdini. Since she was a little girl, Abigail’s dream has been to work with endangered species and contribute to conservation efforts through breeding program management and public education.
Elaine is from Houston, Texas. She attended Texas Tech University where she earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Psychology. While in Lubbock, Texas she researched the medicinal uses of bats as well as foster medically fragile cats/dogs. Through these experiences she developed a love to provide education about domesticated animals and wildlife. Outside of school, Elaine loves crafting especially embroidery and crochet.
Vivian was born and raised in the Bay Area, specifically San Jose, CA. She will be the first in her family to pursue a graduate degree. Grew up playing competitive basketball and supporting the Golden State Warriors. Vivian played collegiate basketball at San Jose City College before transferring to UCLA, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After graduating in 2018, she took 3 gap years working at a small animal general practice and specialty/emergency hospital. Worked in many specialties but spent most of the time in the neurology department. Vivian’s partner in crime, who is a 17-year-old Chihuahua mix named Suni, developed many health issues and had to see multiple specialists at her work. From those experiences, she was intrigued and hopes to pursue a small animal cardiology or oncology.
Geeta is from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, a small town outside of Philadelphia. In 2020, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a concentration in Gender and Sexuality Studies at Bryn Mawr College. Following her experience at her historically women’s college, she completed her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology in 2022 from Drexel University. Her veterinary experience is primarily in small animal general practice, though her animal care experience is varied: Geeta has worked at the National Zoo, horse barns, a cheetah reserve, and more. Her interests lie in epidemiology, zoonotic disease, and pathology.
Ann is from Kingston, Ontario, Canada and completed her undergraduate degree at Queen's University in Life Sciences with a minor in Animal Biology. After graduating, she worked in a small animal practice, in neuroscience research, and with a local non-for-profit rescue group that specialized in small animal exotics. Through this experience, Ann's hope after graduating is to service the rescue organizations in her area and see species that don't currently have accessible veterinarians in her region of rural Ontario. In her spare time, Ann loves playing sports, reading and filling her home with foster animals.
Jayna was born in Nuneaton, England and moved to the U.S.A. when she was 5 years old. Since then she has lived in multiple cities and states across the U.S.A. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at University of Louisiana at Lafayette and then earned her Master of Science in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience at Florida State University. After graduating, Jayna spent some time working as a Wildlife Rehabber at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Sanibel, Florida. Jayna’s current aspirations include earning board certification in small animal surgery, as well as eventually operating her own ruminant sanctuary. Along with serving as your SAVMA COO, Jayna’s position includes active participation on the D.E.I. Committee and Steer Committee.
Kathryn was born and raised in southern Ontario, Canada. She attended the University of Guelph where she obtained her Bachelor of Science with a focus on epidemiology. Throughout her undergraduate career she worked at a large, small animal emergency and referral hospital and also volunteered at the local humane society. Through these experiences she developed a passion for the One Health concept and how that pertains to Shelter Medicine in particular. She has continued exploring these interests here at Ross, by not only being a part of SAVMA, but by also being Vice President of the Shelter Medicine Club. She has varied interests, but is leaning towards small animal medicine and plans to obtain a Masters of Public Health in the future. Outside of school she loves to spend her time outside exploring with her foster dogs or reading a book.
Brie was born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia. She attended Coastal Carolina University where she was a student athlete studying exercise and sport science. She has worked in a variety of different veterinary clinics. She worked at VCA in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during undergrad. During Covid she did an externship at CROW in Sanibel, Florida working with wildlife. After graduating, she moved back to Virginia where she worked at Blue Ridge Equine for 3.5 years. While she isn’t sure what she wants to do after graduation, she is excited to see where life takes her. She is excited and hoping to help improve wellness on campus for students.
Ashley Victoria (Tori) was born in Seattle, Washington and primarily grew up in the Pacific Northwest where she graduated from Oregon State University, receiving her bachelor's degree in biology. During her undergraduate journey, Tori obtained experience working a variety of positions at an emergency and specialty veterinary hospital for over 4 years, but primarily enjoyed being the surgery assistant. This is when she developed a passion for surgery and has since been pursuing her dream of becoming a board-certified veterinary surgeon. While earning income as a full-time assistant and being a full-time student, Tori volunteered as a Raptor Handler for the Raptor Education Program at Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Corvallis, Oregon. After this she gained valuable research experience as a volunteer at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon with the Nephrology Department and presented a project concerning renal side effects caused by proton pump inhibitors. Outside of academia, Tori has always had a curious mind and entertains many other passions such as herpetology, volcanology, scuba diving, and rock climbing.
Colin Dominick is from Fairfax Virginia, near Washington D.C. After graduating from Longwood University in 2019, he worked in small animal clinics both on the floor and in management. Those experiences led him to be a class representative for his semester before transitioning into his current role. When he is not "doing school", he enjoys cooking and being physically active; his newest time-suck is long distance running. Regarding veterinary medicine, his current interests lie in Small Animal Medicine and Pathology. However, he is enjoying exploring other opportunities through club activities on campus.
SAVMA @ RUSVM GENERAL BOARD
Your elected SAVMA class representatives and other additional liaisons make up the General Board and have office terms of one semester.
A 2018 graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences/Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Mary Ann McDougal is from Columbiana, Alabama, just south of Birmingham. While at Auburn, she was heavily involved in the Pre-Veterinary Medical Association, serving as both chapter president and then national president in 2019. Following graduation, Mary Ann's passion for animals was the driving force behind her more than 8,000 hours of experience in a variety of clinical settings including emergency medicine, shelter medicine, and holistic/Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. After relocating to St. Kitts and beginning her journey at Ross University in the fall of 2023, Mary Ann is grateful to be one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Upon completion of her DVM, she hopes to own and operate a mixed animal clinic that will serve the rural areas of her hometown, while also seeking additional certification to provide specialized services from acupuncture to spinal manipulation. Mary Ann is thrilled to be a part of such an esteemed organization and is honored to represent the Vet Prep Class of 2027.
Aubrey is from Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Ursinus College with a B.S. in Biology in 2017 and from Drexel University with a Masters in Lab Animal Science in 2022. Aubrey has been working in research as a vet tech and an in vivo scientist for the past 7 years. She has also worked weekends as a small practice vet tech. Aubrey is interested in becoming a laboratory animal vet and doing small practice exotics relief on the side. Although her primary experience is with rodents, she became the lead of the primate colony in her research institute and fell in love with primates, especially African Greens. She hopes to get involved with them again while here at Ross and in the future as a veterinarian.
Belen Cairo
Belen Cairo graduated from the University of California, Irvine where she received a B.S. in Earth System Science and a B.A. in Urban Studies. During her undergraduate education, Belen was interested in researching the dynamics between phytoplankton communities and anthropogenic pollution; however, she decided to change careers after volunteering in Costa Rica with VIDA. Since pursuing veterinary medicine, Belen has had the opportunity to discover wildlife, small/large animal, shelter, and rural medicine. From her participation with RAVS, Belen is eager to give back to underserved communities, such as Native American Reservations. She hopes to serve as a role model to other indigenous dreamers who will see that they too are capable at achieving success. When Belen is not keeping insane hours of studying, you can find her taking pictures of her dinosaur, Tina, at the beach. Belen looks forward to receiving her DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2027.
Brittany Pecoraro
Brittany was born in Minnesota and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina - a city right on the Atlantic Ocean. For her undergraduate education she attended Meredith College where she graduated in 2020 with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. Post college, Brittany worked in research at North Carolina State University’s vet school studying swine viruses and infectious diseases. It was at NCSU where she remained to complete her Master of Animal Science degree. As a competitive equestrian Brittany has a passion for horses, and she brings that passion with her to Ross vet school as she pursues interests in equine medicine, sports medicine, and beyond.
Chanice Morrison
Chanice was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Her undergraduate years were spent at Cornell University, where she pursued her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science and a minor in Education. Being from a city that never sleeps, Chanice has always been on the go and kept herself busy spending as much time as possible with animals. Having maternal grandparents who owned a small farm in Jamaica, West Indies, her passion for animals started there. Since then, she has volunteered at shelters and worked at animal clinics during her undergraduate years and after. At Ross, her current passion outside the classroom is pathology. When she is not busy with activities pertaining to animals, she spends her time sleeping, doing puzzles, and trying out new recipes! After working hard at Ross University, she plans on residing in any big city as a small animal general practitioner!
Reagan Zutell
Reagan was born in Jacksonville, Florida before moving up and down the east coast due to her father’s career in the United States Marine Corps. Once her father retired, her family settled back down in the Jacksonville area, and she graduated from Yulee High School before going on to study at the University of Florida. At UF, she minored in Classical Studies and majored in Pre-Professional Biology, where she shadowed with MDs, DMDs and DVMs before ultimately deciding to combine her lifelong passions of animals and medicine in the pursuit of becoming a veterinarian. After graduating from UF in December of 2019, she spent the next 3 years learning how to better manage her chronic illnesses and working as an unlicensed technician. In her limited free time, she enjoys reading, writing, dancing, listening to podcasts (history, true crime, and deep dives on literature mostly) and participating in club activities (FCP, Kennel Companion and ZEW club). In the future she is interested in mixed practice emergency care.
Kaelee Lang
Kaelee Lang is from a small town in Texas near College Station. She graduated from Texas A&M University with my Bachelor of Animal Science in December of 2021 (WHOOP!) She started working at a small animal practice where she started as a Kennel technician and quickly worked her way up to Technician. She has a two year old child that keeps her on her toes and before she had him, she left she job and stayed with him while finishing school. When he was six months old, she started working at a mixed animal practice that made her fall in love with working with large and small animals! Aside from being the 2nd semester’s class representative, she is one of the Hill’s student representatives! She is excited to represent her class this semester!
Harlee Rorro
Harlee is from San Diego, California and ventured up to Northern California where she obtained a B.S. in Biology from California State University Monterey Bay. She took 2 years between undergrad and vet school to work in a small animal clinic, volunteer at a local shelter, do research for Animal Planet, and intern as an Aquarist working with aquatic species. Her future plans include practicing small animal medicine with exotics and hopefully zoo medicine. She has a special interest in Dentistry.
Lillian LePage
Lillian LePage was born in Danbury, Connecticut and continued to live much of her life in Fredericksburg, TX and Blairstown, NJ. Her interest in veterinary medicine stemmed from growing up on a small ranch with horses and Texas longhorns. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2022, where she received her Bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Public Health. During her time at Texas A&M, Lillian found a love for wildlife and exotics while participating in a research study that examined pneumonia transmission between Aoudad and Bighorn Sheep. During a veterinary focused study abroad in South Africa, she was also able to work with African game animals. Lillian is grateful to be able to pursue her passion for veterinary medicine while continuing to discover all opportunities this career has to offer.
Grant Lorimer
Grant was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Grant attended Denison University in Ohio for undergrad where he sail-raced and frolicked through corn fields while receiving a BS in Biology with an engineering concentration. Grant worked in private equity immediately out of college, then decided to go back to school and received his MS in biomedical engineering. In his master’s program, he did research on, and developed, bone grafts and injectable orthobiologics at the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Grant went on to found a start-up company, which patented and licenses a freeze-drying process and produces drug delivery systems, and other products. He continues to work with his company remotely. In his free time, Grant is an avid skier, sailor and enjoys other sports and outdoor activities. From time to time you can find Grant on the basketball courts on campus, giving his friend Khiry a few lessons. Grant has an interest in pursuing small animal veterinary medicine and continues to hold an open mind to specialization.
Selina Franco
Selina is one of our two fourth semester Class Representatives. She is 24, and joined RUSVM’s Black Semester in Summer 2022. She is originally from Coconut Creek, Florida. Selina’s hobbies include playing Pokémon on her Switch, traveling, studying, and spending time with her friends and family. While she has a chunky chocolate Labrador named Nico at home, she also has an on-island black kitty named Meep! Selina’s short term goal is just to get through vet school, but her dream is to one day specialize in either Small Animal Oncology or Diagnostic Imaging.
Kristin Lindsey
Growing up in a small rural town in North Central Florida, Kristin was involved in many different leadership and team activities all throughout her studies in high school and during her undergraduate, which she feels shaped her ability to become an outgoing student and balance that work-life schedule. This is one reason she stepped up for the student representative position for her semester. “I want to make a difference.”
After completing her Bachelor’s in Animal Biology at the University of Florida, she applied to Ross and decided to leave her home for the first time and move abroad in hopes of achieving the one thing she has wanted ever since she was a kid; the title of DVM. She is interested in exotics and zoo medicine, but also fancies emergency and critical care as an idea of where to start after graduation. She’d love to continue her travels and work with other veterinarians on more challenging adventures and conservation efforts, whether under the water or on land.
Haylee Nutter
Haylee is from a small town in Southwestern Ontario. Haylee attended Laurier University where she received a Bachelor of Science; double major in Psychology and Biology. While attending Laurier, Haylee played on the varsity women's rugby team and was the hospital visit coordinator for the letterman club. She coordinated herself and 4 other fellow athletes to visit local hospitals and bring goodie bags/fun sports stories to all of the in and out children patients, in hopes of giving them some distraction from what brought them to the hospital. After Haylee graduated from Laurier she committed herself to a full time position as a veterinary technician/assistant at the clinic she had worked at since she was 14! Haylee has had a passion for animals ever since she could talk, whether it was to go on repeated visits to the zoo, stop at every pasture to stare at the farm animals or refusing to leave a store without bringing yet another stuffed animal home to add to her collection. As Haylee got older she knew that she wanted to help people, but more importantly she knew she wanted to care for animals! With the endless amount of love and support from her family, specifically her mother, the dream of becoming a veterinarian was never out of reach. Throughout her years of undergraduate studies, hands-on work in the medical field and stubborn determination, it has all contributed to getting her where she is today; pursuing her DVM here at Ross University School of Veterinary medicine.
Anastasia Psilos
Anastasia was born and raised in Middletown, Rhode Island. From a young age she had a passion for all animals and knew that she wanted to pursue a career in Veterinary Medicine. She attended the University of Rhode Island where she earned her Bachelor of Science. During her time in undergrad she was a member of the university’s Equestrian Team. In addition to her schooling and extracurricular activities she worked at a small animal emergency hospital, a small animal general practice, and a cattle ranch to gain a wide variety of experience. Now she is an active member in Ross’ community. She is an officer for two clubs and a class representative. She does not know what path her career will take but she is passionate for both emergency medicine and equine sports medicine. She is hoping that her experience here at Ross and at clinics will help her decide what path to take.
Jamie Barnhill
Jamie is from Bakersfield, California. She attended her local community college, Bakersfield College before graduating from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Minor in Communication. In the years leading up to her applying to Ross, she spent time gaining animal experience by working at a local animal hospital and volunteering at a therapeutic horse riding center. This is Jamie’s 5th time acting as a class representative, and she proudly represents the Blue Belugas. On campus, you can find her involved in SAVMA & VIDA, as well as working as a Teacher's Assistant for Clinical Pathology. Jamie hopes her upcoming clinical year will solidify what peaks her interests, but for now she has her eyes set on becoming an emergency veterinarian post-grad. When she’s not studying, you can find her enjoying the sun by the water or spending time with her coconut retriever, Nellie!
Cardinal Hastings
Cardinal is one of the Blue Semester class reps and this will be her seventh consecutive semester representing her peers. She is from Orlando, Florida, and enjoys doing anything water related such as swimming and free-diving. She loves getting to know and serve as a resource for her classmates, being a part of SAVMA to help create change and growth, and staying involved on campus. She hopes to one day pursue the field of small animal emergency medicine.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Professional Development Fund is a program under the Student Government Association for current Ross Vet students that rewards performing activities affiliated with Ross Vet, using a points-based system, by providing funding towards professional development opportunities. Professional development opportunities can include, but are not limited to conferences, externships, foreign education programs, internships, symposiums, or anything deemed for professional or career development.
Students who have completed at least one semester at Ross Vet may apply for funding.
PDF Guidelines
ROSS VET STUDENT CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
With over 20 active Ross Vet school clubs and organizations representing a variety of interests, it’s easy to get involved at Ross Vet. Two SAVMA Activities Representatives coordinate the overall activities schedule for students and are responsible for determining the schedule for both activities and club fundraising.
OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED STUDENT CLUBS & STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) is the largest organization on campus, with approximately 250 members and growing! Here on campus, we offer a multitude of wet labs including calf handling, calf watch with our pregnant cows during our calving seasons, dehorning, palpation trips to local St. Kitts farms, body condition scoring, and breeding of our campus herd. Additionally, we provide the opportunity for our members to become AI (artificial insemination) certified through Select Sires. We promote excellence within this field of medicine and help our members to gain exceptional bovine handling skills.
The Ross Vet American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners provides veterinary students of all experience levels with the opportunity to participate in activities to gain exposure to working with small ruminants. We offer hands-on experiences including sheep and goat farm visits, sheep physical exams, sheep and goat ultrasounds, herd health checks, hoof trimming, blood draws, and FAMACHA certification. This Ross Vet school club provides members with an opportunity to increase knowledge in husbandry and veterinary care of small ruminants. We offer several wet labs each semester to gain your knowledge in small ruminant handling and ultrasound skills to get you ready for practice.
Contact us via Facebook or email us at rusvmsruminant@gmail.com.
The purpose of the RUSVM Swine Club is to bring together the students of Ross University who share common interests in swine medicine. We aim to provide learning experiences (wet labs, lectures) as well as off campus excursions to local farms. Which include: deworming, ear tagging, iron injections, use of ultrasound and general health checks. Additionally, we aim to build a relationship between Ross and the local community that will provide a foundation for the future.
The goal of the Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals shall be to inspire, support, and increase the voice and visibility of Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the veterinary profession and advocate for greater general diversity in the veterinary profession.
Contact us via Facebook, Instagram, or at our email at aavmpatross@gmail.com.
The Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) is a RUSVM school club for students interested in avian and exotic medicine. Our goal is to enrich the standard curriculum with a variety of lectures and wet labs to prepare our members for avian practice. Ross professors and other experts provide lectures on wildlife, pet birds, poultry, and more. In the past, we have done wet labs on avian anesthesia, avian orthopedics, avian diagnostic imaging, farm trips, and avian husbandry. These wet labs provide a starting point for students to get involved in research and wildlife rehabilitation.
The Student Chapter of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Club is a club that offers students the opportunity to explore the different specialties encompassed by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM).
ACVIM currently includes:
- Small Animal Internal Medicine
- Large Animal Internal Medicine
- Medical Oncology
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Nutrition
Student members will be able to explore these different veterinary specialties and grow their interest in them. They will get opportunities to attend lectures, conferences, wet labs, journal clubs, and meet with ACVIM diplomates. For students who wish to pursue a specialty, the club is a great resource to understand how to be a great candidate to apply for internship and residency.
Students can find updated contacts and information about activities on Facebook and more resources are also available on the ACVIM website.
The mission of the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP) is to advance laboratory animal medicine and welfare through member development and representation in the greater professional community. We achieve this through advocacy, education & collaboration. ASLAP and AVMA work together to support the practice of laboratory animal medicine.
Ross University's Christian Veterinary Fellowship is a chapter of CVM (Christian Veterinary Mission) and seeks to provide an environment for vet students to grow in their Christian faith and to learn about the intersections between veterinary medicine and Christianity. There is a focus on fellowship and community, with scattered outreach opportunities to serve the Ross University community, the local community, and the global community.
For more information follow us on Facebook or email us at cvfrusvm@gmail.com
RUSVM is home to the very first deaf and hard of hearing veterinary student club in the AVMA. We advocate for and enhance the understanding of students with any and all disabilities, especially those with hearing loss. This club was founded due to frustrations regarding the lack of inclusivity, accessibility, and accommodations in veterinary schools and clinics, and we recognize the importance of making necessary changes for future veterinarians with disabilities. DHHVS hosts an array of lectures, labs, and American Sign Language workshops. On top of this, we fight to improve both the captioning and accommodation systems at Ross while pushing for faculty and staff to have proper Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training to avoid unfortunate and unacceptable interactions with students. We stand up for a community that is heavily marginalized/stereotyped and break down communication barriers between the hearing and non-hearing worlds. We show current and prospective students that they can be anything they want to be with their unique abilities.
Students can find more information on Facebook (RUSVM DHHVS) and Instagram (dhhvs_rusvm) or email us at DHHVSrusvm@gmail.com
The Diagnostic Imaging Club aims to provide exposure to the field of diagnostic imaging, from basic education to the latest research and techniques. This student organization will help promote diagnostic imaging within the DVM curriculum and interact with other student chapters of the ACVR throughout the United States. We are an active chapter that provides cutting edge diagnostic imaging-based lectures and hands on experience with different imaging techniques.
The purpose of this club is to promote and explore the interests of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Students and the on-campus herd of donkeys. A hands-on learning approach that further prepares students to handle and interact with donkeys in later semesters of their education and their future careers. Members have the opportunity to learn about the proper operant conditioning needed to train and handle animals by using the donkeys as a learning model, while also learning what makes donkeys unique when compared to other equid species.
Enriching both the lives of the RUSVM donkey herd and students, and the educational experience given to students through behavioral assessment, training, and husbandry while preparing veterinary students for proper handling techniques of donkeys in their future endeavors.
The Feral Cat Project (FCP) at Ross Vet is a nonprofit student organization that works to increase the welfare of the feral cats on St. Kitts. It is a trap-neuter-return program for the feral cat population, as well as finding forever homes to the cats/kittens that were trapped underweight or born under our care that are more suited for living indoors. FCP provides the student body with many opportunities for hands-on experience by participating in our four spay days a semester as well as informing the local communities about population control. Contact us on Facebook!
The mission of Student HBVC at RUSVM is to promote, support, and educate people about safe beekeeping practices, the benefits of apiaries, and the importance of bee welfare both in conservation and veterinary medicine. Honey bees are considered food animals in the USA and Canada, and as such require prescriptions or veterinary feed directives to treat common diseases. Our club wants to give members the opportunity to work with live bees before encountering a hive on a farm call. We are working to get Ross's first apiary, and club members get to attend hive trips. Hive trips give members hands-on experience working with live bees.
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Link Tree! You can also email us at rusvmhbvc@gmail.com.
Integrative Veterinary Medicine is becoming more and more popular in many regions of the U.S. and worldwide. This RUSVM school club aims to explore the many alternative and complementary therapies as well as the different modalities currently used in veterinary practices. Most therapies require further certification processes, not offered at most veterinary schools. IVMC offers Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) training through Chi University at a discounted rate. IVMC aims to encourage its members and to inform students about the practices and certification processes of acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal and phytomedicines, nutraceuticals, and many more. From time to time, guest veterinarians and other professionals who currently integrate complementary or alternative veterinary medicine into their practice or profession are welcomed to lecture or are flown in by the club to visit us at Ross.
Join our public Facebook group for club updates.
JVSNA was founded to be an inclusive and safe place for Jewish students or community members who wish to share in the culture and religion. We host Shabbats during the semester. Regardless of upbringing, we hope to cultivate an environment where our peers are supported, encouraged, and brought together through our shared appreciation of the Jewish culture.
The Latinx Veterinary Medical Association is a national organization that was created in 2020 in response to the lack of Latinx/Hispanic representation in the veterinary profession. Additionally, the national LVMA was founded with the goal of closing language and cultural barriers, which impact client education and patient care. LVMA strives to form a community of Latinx/Hispanic excellence in veterinary medicine. Our community welcomes veterinarians, veterinary professionals, students, and clients. We are also proud to welcome allies that are invested in furthering our mission.
The Ross Chapter of LVMA hopes to increase the visibility of current Latinx/Hispanic veterinary professionals and inspire more students to become veterinarians. We will also advocate on behalf of Latinx/Hispanic veterinary professionals and clients. RUSVM LVMA wants you to embrace your heritage and help you promote the valuable contribution that you bring to your community. We hope to help you become a leader in
Aiming to embody the core tenet of One Health - that human, animal, and environmental health are inexplicably linked and interdependent.
The club has three primary goals
- Publicize the role of veterinarians in contributing to human, animal, and environmental health through our strengths as systems thinkers
- Offer students opportunities get involved with projects aligning with our mission
- To give back to the RUSVM community and St. Kitts as a whole
We would like to provide our members with the resources to expand their knowledge and empower them to prioritize the One Health concept in general practice, emergency or specialty medicine, research, public health, epidemiology, disaster relief, and beyond.
We are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actively seek out opportunities to support and uplift affiliate clubs. Any issue can be a One Health issue, and we’d like to work with you to solve it.
Follow our Facebook page for club updates!
Pride’s goals are to increase awareness, respect, acceptance, and sensitivity to differences among all individuals and communities in the field of veterinary medicine and beyond, to celebrate diversity within the veterinary community and the RUSVM community, to provide an embracing environment that promotes the success of all students, to promote the veterinary profession, provide leadership, and mentorship to any youth, particularly to underrepresented youth and/or those who identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, interested in careers in veterinary medicine.
We actively strive to counter episodes of bigotry and marginalization with positive messages of diversity and inclusion. We have healthy, supportive, and encouraging relationships with pre-veterinary, veterinary, and graduate students, faculty, staff, and administrators. We are known for advocating for the respect and equality of seen and unseen LGBTQ+ members in the academic veterinary community and beyond. We contribute to the development of safe and welcoming veterinary school environments for current veterinary students. Pride SVMC hopes to make veterinary schools more inclusive for all students, especially LGBTQ+ students. We accomplish this by starting important and courageous conversations about LGBTQ+ inclusion, in addition to maintaining much-needed support for LGBTQ+ students in veterinary medicine. Learn more about us and how to join at this link here.
Did you know that 30+ dogs live on campus? They come to labs with our students and help us learn non-invasive procedures! These pups are island dogs (owner relinquished or previous street dogs that weren’t doing well on their own). They help our students learn for 6 semesters or less and then we find them a permanent loving home. As a kennel companion you’ll have a dog assigned to you, your very own Companion! You can stop by and visit with them between classes, study with them, play with them, take them for walks, and so much more! Our goal as Kennel Companions is to take care and provide our RUSVM Colony Teaching dogs with social and play enrichments, along with providing them the love and attention they need to thrive! Want to join?? Email: kennelcompanioncoordinators@gmail.com for more information and the steps on how to join!
American College of Veterinary Pathology (ACVP), incorporated in 1949, is the oldest veterinary specialty organization recognized by the AVMA. The RUSVM Student Chapter of the ACVP, also known as the Pathology Club, was established in 2008 and recognized as an official student chapter of the ACVP even before RUSVM became accredited.
The chapter is committed to promoting veterinary student involvement in veterinary pathology and providing members with opportunities to gain professional knowledge and experience in this field. Through regular educational talks by internal and external speakers, members can engage with diplomates of the college, residents/interns in anatomic and clinical pathology, and researchers in various fields. Additionally, members can participate in autopsy wet labs, cytology/histology slide review sessions, case rounds, research and so much more.
For students who wish to pursue further training in pathology after obtaining their DVM degrees, the Pathology Club provides opportunities to attend conferences and gain valuable insights on how to prepare to become a competitive candidate for a pathology residency. Joining the Pathology Club is an excellent opportunity for veterinary students to explore the diverse and rewarding field of veterinary pathology and connect with like-minded individuals who share their passion for this fascinating area of veterinary medicine.
Students can find updated information about activities and follow or contact us on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Additional resources can be found on the ACVP website and under RUSVM Pathology training website.
The Shelter Medicine club operates as a 501c3 rescue dedicated to helping the animals on St. Kitts. We respond to emergency calls around the island, run a foster and adoption program, and organize outreaches. Our community outreaches are a great way for students to get involved in the community and work closely with doctors and professors at Ross. Each semester we are able to vaccinate, test for tick born and heartworm disease, and provide prevention and food for over 200 animals in the community. Follow us here on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with our adoptable animals and latest rescues!
The Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Dentistry Society (SCAVDS) is committed to supplementing your veterinary education in dentistry, with the primary focus being on hands-on skills necessary for any practicing veterinarian, which is not currently provided as part of the curriculum. SCAVDS strives to encompass all species through our wet labs and lectures.
The Student National Association for Black Veterinarians (SNABV) is an initiative of The Institute for Healthcare Education and Leadership non-profit. The mission of SNABV, through its leadership and members, is to build a network of individuals and organizations that advocate for Blacks in veterinary medicine at every level and profession. SNABV seeks to provide mentorship, professional development, and career planning advice to its members. SNABV offers interactive labs, engaging speakers, community service opportunities and a supportive community to its members.
The main purposes of the RUSVM Surgery Club are to further the student’s knowledge in the area of veterinary surgery with a major emphasis on small animal surgery as well as large animal and equine surgery, to provide information about specializing in the field of surgery within the veterinary profession, and when possible, organize hands-on opportunities for the members of the club.
Emergency and Critical Care club is a great way for students of all experience levels to get involved in emergency medicine! Throughout the semester we host multiple lunch lectures with other clubs as well as guest speakers. We also host wet labs throughout the semester ranging from fluid therapy cases, resection and anastomosis, bandaging, ultrasound and more! Our members also have the opportunity to work in the clinic and gain extra experience during the semester. We also provide in-person CPR training for our upper semester members, so they can take this new and helpful skill to clinics!
The Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) is one of the largest student-run organizations in the United States, dedicated to fulfilling the need for a business education to enhance success in a student's professional career. The organization offers scholarships, networking opportunities, internships, jobs, and other unique members-only opportunities. Students can choose to opt-in to the Business Certificate Program, where they can be formally recognized for their commitment to business learning in areas such as personal and business finance, employee and practice management, and career preparation and planning. Check out www.vbma.biz for more information.
The Ross Vet's WAVMA student chapter stands as a vital resource for aspiring veterinarians passionate about aquatic animals. Through dynamic lectures and interactive wet labs, the chapter delves into a wide array of topics in aquatic medicine, catering to both beginners and advanced learners. Aquatic veterinary medicine, a specialized field, focuses on the health and well-being of marine and freshwater animals. It involves addressing unique health challenges in various species, significantly contributing to conservation efforts. To join the Ross Vet WAVMA chapter, individuals only need to cover semester club dues. Although not mandatory, they are welcome to pay for WAVMA national dues at www.wavma.org, opening doors to a wealth of knowledge and opportunities in the captivating realm of aquatic veterinary medicine.
The Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife Medicine Club (ZEW) offers Ross University vet students the opportunity to learn more about the side of medicine we do not get to focus on in class, while also gaining hands-on experience and networking opportunities to help further our careers in the field of exotic medicine. We offer lectures, on average about once a week, on a variety of topics in the realm of zoo, exotic and wildlife medicine from professionals in their respective fields. Throughout the semester we will also host numerous wet labs, including but not limited to, rabbit handling, reptile handling, blow dart practice and more! Once a semester we also have the opportunity for upper semester students who have been involved with the club previously to apply for a dolphin care lecture and wet lab series with a vet at Dolphin Discovery on the island! Our international coordinators will also arrange international externship opportunities for our members that perfectly fit in our short breaks in locations such as South Africa, Guatemala, Australia and more! Whether you are a devoted and passionate wildlife enthusiast, or even just interested in learning more about this side of medicine, ZEW club offers a great way to become involved on campus and gain more valuable experiences.
SGA (Non-SAVMA) RECOGNIZED CLUBS AT ROSS VET
Hey y’all! Welcome to the Country and Western club. This club will have a large focus in creating a space for anyone who loves country music, dancing (twos-step, swing, line, etc.), and anyone who wants to learn! We have Western Nights every Wednesday (dancing, table games, cornhole, washers) and we also facilitate other activities such as the Rossie Rodeo, Country-maran, cornhole tournaments, bonfires, and more!
Ultimately, if you enjoy country music, this is the club for you!
For more information join our Facebook page.
The RUSVM Dungeons & Dragons Club (RUSVM D&D) offers a community for lovers of DND, tabletop gaming, and role playing. Created to provide easy access to fellow adventurers to recruit for your party, the RUSVM D&D club invites both new and experienced players to take a study break to enjoy a grand adventure. We invite all individuals of our Ross Community (Students, VIPs, Faculty, etc) to join in our one shots or long campaigns. As of 2022, we also offer events outside of DND sessions, including miniature painting, board game nights, movies, and Nerd Trivia nights! Our goal is to offer a creative, fun, and supportive community to help with the stress of the veterinary curriculum.
CLUB FUNDS REQUEST
Twice a semester, in weeks 5 and 9 at the weekly SAVMA meetings, student organizations/clubs can request funds from the Student Government Association (SGA). Meetings in weeks 5 and 9 are designated as Budget Meetings for this purpose. As such, each club requesting funds must follow the guidelines, which are available for download below, and complete the budget proposal forms, as well as, any supplementing documentation necessary before the Budget Meeting begins.
Ross University Vet School Clubs/Organizations may request funds for general assistance or to bring speakers to the University. Requests will be taken into consideration, deliberated upon within the SGA, and a decision reached. The organization/club will be notified of the decision via email.
Budget Meeting Guidelines (PDF)
Budget Proposal Form (EXCEL)
Downloads
RUSVM SAVMA Constitution and Bylaws (PDF)
RUSVM SGA/SAVMA Handbook (PDF)
