HSVMA Awards 2023 Compassionate Care Scholarships at $10,000 Level: Five Veterinary Students Recognized for Access to Care EffortsSeptember 28, 2023By Heather Schrader RVT, MCJ For the past eight years HSVMA has awarded scholarships to veterinary students who have demonstrated a dedication to animal welfare. This year HSVMA is excited to expand our veterinary student scholarships to five $10,000 awards. These scholarships recognize veterinary students who not only demonstrate an interest in animal welfare, but also represent a commitment to equitable access and inclusion in veterinary medicine via service or lived experience. HSVMA recognizes that we cannot advance animal welfare without deliberate and conscious attempts to include more people and more perspectives. This year's scholarship selection process was, therefore, deliberately designed to support efforts to expand access to veterinary care in underserved communities and to promote diverse representation within the veterinary profession itself. HSVMA would like to acknowledge and thank all of the many qualified applicants. They reinforce HSVMA's commitment to student outreach and reveal the remarkable activities that vet students achieve while in school. 2023 Compassionate Care Scholarship RecipientsAria Stewart, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, class of 2026 Emily Onyekwere, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2024 Esther Lam, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2025 Gloria Hooshmand, Western College of Veterinary Medicine University of Saskatchewan, class of 2025 Summer Lara, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2026
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, class of 2026
After graduation, she plans to complete a rotating internship and ultimately balance her clinical work with international projects. Aria states, “Being awarded this scholarship has not only lightened some of the financial burden I carry, but it also validates the hard work and passion I pour into veterinary medicine every day; especially the dedication I have to providing quality, life-changing care to underserved communities.”
University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2024
Emily plans to pursue a career in shelter medicine serving the pets and people of Georgia. She states, “Being a recipient of this prestigious scholarship means more than I can really put into words. Many people turn away from Shelter Medicine due to the reality of facing a mountain of debt with a comparatively lower salary. A scholarship of this size helps to make this career a reality. There aren't many specialties that are as emotionally demanding as working in communities where people love their pets so much, but it is the norm to have to give up their animals or make other difficult decisions strictly due to finances. Recognition of the effort we put in to help these often overlooked and underrepresented communities, owners, and pets, truly makes me want to do my absolute best to help those who may have few options left.”
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2025
Esther plans to pursue emergency medicine and hopes to return to Guam so she can serve her community in this role and as a public health officer, utilizing her dual DVM/MPH degrees. She states, "I am extremely humbled and honored to be a scholarship recipient and words cannot express how grateful I am to HSVMA for this amazing opportunity. This scholarship will not only help alleviate some of my financial burdens while I continue my veterinary medicine education, but also enable me to pursue and explore my passions through more experiences and opportunities, especially those outside of school."
Western College of Veterinary Medicine University of Saskatchewan, class of 2025
As a first-generation Canadian born to Baha'i Iranian refugees, Gloria’s sensitivity to the needs of marginalized and underserved communities made access of veterinary care her focus as she prepared her vet school application. Since 2015, Gloria has volunteered with the Canine Action Project to address the veterinary needs of First Nations communities’ dog populations through a One Health approach. Locally, she volunteers with Community Veterinary Outreach, a pop-up clinic offering human health services alongside veterinary care for pets of housing-insecure individuals and with CatSNIP, a student-run low-income spay and neuter program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gloria completed the One Health Masters program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her thesis addresses the impact of melting permafrost on the health and safety of the Yu'pik dog-sledding community of Akiak, AK. At the WCVM, Gloria serves as the first Student Representative for the HSVMA. She has already brought welfare concerns to her school’s administration and faculty from the vulnerable position of a second year vet student in an attempt to advocate for the most humane teaching methods. She is also advocating for an anonymous animal welfare reporting system that allows DVM students the opportunity to voice concerns in a structured and effective manner. She is an executive committee member of One Veterinary Outreach (OVO), a student club promoting socially responsible veterinary medicine. As for her plans after graduation, Gloria states, “I have a few possible paths in mind after graduation including registering as a mobile vet for increased practice autonomy, working as clinic associate somewhere with shared values, or committing myself to a dermatology residency! One thing is for certain- I plan on expanding my efforts to improve access of care to underserved communities and will continue supporting shelter medicine and wildlife rehab throughout my veterinary career.”
Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2026
She wrote in her statement of intent: “This scholarship would lessen my financial burden, which in turn would allow me to focus more of my time and effort on giving back to the community that has supported me – representing our traditional value of ituh’an or reciprocity.” After graduation, Summer plans to either pursue an internship or a position that provides mentorship. She’d like to eventually open a mixed animal practice in Sisseton, SD, which “incorporates affordable veterinary care but also cultural values and teachings through storytelling and Dakota language. Ideally, I’d love for it to be called Wamanica Awanwicayakapi Oti, or the Place Where They Care for Animals.”
Click here to read about last year's Compassionate Care Scholarship recipientsThe HSVMA Compassionate Care Scholarships application will be available next year. Contact [email protected] with any questions about the program.
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