What is SCAVMA?
We are the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical
Association. We help finance special interest clubs in the PVM program, sponsor
speakers, provide learning opportunities, host social events, and participate
in public service projects.
SCAVMA is a local "chapter" of SAVMA, which is the Student Association of the AVMA.
SAVMA is composed of 28 SCAVMA chapters and represents us in the AVMA House of
Delegates. As if this were not confusing enough, here in Colorado we also have
a student chapter of the Colorado
Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), which is sometimes abbreviated as
SCCVMA.
On the National Level
Each student chapter (SCAVMA) is granted an official charter by
the AVMA. This provides an avenue for students to begin learning about
organized veterinary medicine. The Student AVMA (SAVMA) is the national
organization of veterinary students that unites the 32 SCAVMA chapters (30
schools, plus 2 additional associate schools) as a single unit by representing
us in the AVMA House of Delegates. There, SAVMA has a vote in the AVMA House of
Delegates and a voice on the AVMA Executive Board. They also foster the
exchange of information among the chapters by organizing the annual spring
SAVMA Symposium, encouraging participation at the AVMA convention, and
publishing a national newsletter called Intervet.
Each SCAVMA chapter has two SAVMA delegates that attend the SAVMA House of
Delegates meeting twice a year to represent the school's students. The SAVMA
delegates hold a two year term and have opportunities to serve on various AVMA
committees.
Here at CSU we are fortunate enough to have our very own SAVMA
Executive Board member, Bridget Heilsberg. Please feel free to contact senior delegate Nate Vos or
junior delegate Brittany McCauslin if you have any questions regarding SAVMA or
veterinary medicine legislation as a whole.