Veterinary students, would you like to obtain experience in swine practice? The AASV Foundation can help! Students who complete an externship of at least two (2) weeks in a qualifying practice can receive up to $500 in expense reimbursement. Any AASV student member in veterinary school who fulfills the requirements is eligible. Access complete details and the application at aasv.org/students/externgrant.htm.

To help locate the perfect opportunity, check out the roster of practices and companies willing to mentor students at aasv.org/internships/index.php.

Does your practice host students? AASV members who would like their internship and externship opportunities included in AASV’s online listing are invited to contact Sydney Simmons, AASV alternate student delegate (aasvstudentdelegate@gmail.com) for more information.

Who decides how the money is spent?

In 1989, the AASV Foundation was established as a charitable nonprofit organization, with its leadership and mission (see sidebar) separate from that of AASV. Since its humble beginnings, generous donations and favorable investment returns have swelled the foundation’s financial resources to over $2.5 million, thanks to the oversight and guidance of the Investment Committee and the AASV Foundation Board.

At the beginning of 2021, the foundation held nearly $1.2 million in endowed member contributions, which have been invested at the direction of the foundation’s Investment Committee. The endowed investments alone have generated approximately $670,000 of income that is available to support the foundation’s programs, in addition to unrestricted donations and proceeds from the auction and golf outing fundraisers.

So, who decides which programs the foundation should support and how much to spend on each?

That is the job of the dedicated volunteers who make up the AASV Foundation Board of Directors. The board is structured to include the current AASV president and immediate past president, each of whom serve a 2-year term. They are joined by 6 AASV-member volunteers who serve up to two 3-year terms. The AASV Executive Director also participates on the foundation board as its Secretary-Treasurer.

The board meets once or twice each year to review the programs actively receiving funding and consider requests for new or additional support. The foundation’s mission and the amount of available funds guide the board’s decision making.

In addition to participating in the board meetings, board members often assume responsibility for specific foundation programs. For example, Dr Teddi Wolff has served as chair of the Scientific Research Review Committee for the past 3 years. She assembles and coordinates the committee that reviews the research proposals submitted for funding consideration.

Similarly, during her recent tenure as chair of the foundation board, Dr Lisa Tokach assembled and oversaw the committees that selected recipients of the Dr Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt-Relief Scholarships and the AASV Foundation – Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarships. She also established a rotating committee to consider applicants for the Hogg Scholarship.

Are you interested in serving on the AASV Foundation Board? Would you like to be considered for one of the reviewer teams that selects scholarship recipients or research for funding? Are you aware of a project that addresses the foundation’s mission that should be considered for support? Contact a member of the AASV Foundation Board to let them know – and while you’re at it, thank them for their service!

For more information about the AASV Foundation’s current giving programs and funded projects, see aasv.org/foundation.