Click here to apply through Dec. 2.
Scholarship recipients will be selected based on traditional scholarship selection criteria, such as academic excellence and financial need.
In addition, the scholarship will focus on meeting the ongoing needs of the veterinary profession: increasing diversity among practitioners in ethnic heritage, gender, socioeconomic background, professional aspirations, and improving the availability of veterinarians to serve in areas of the profession that have increased demand.
“Pfizer recognizes that entering into this rewarding and critical profession does not come at a low cost,” said Vanessa Mariani, director of academic and professional affairs – U.S. operations at Pfizer Animal Health.
“In fact, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, more than 2,500 students graduated from veterinary schools with an average debt load nearing $140,000 in 2011.”
In 2012, the program awarded 331 students with scholarships. The group included:
- 31 percent from diverse backgrounds
- 47 percent studying to practice food and mixed animal veterinary medicine
- 28 percent going into small animal practice
- 8 percent entering academia (research and clinical)
- Remaining students going into other areas of practice, such as public health, lab animal medicine and poultry
“In part because of the Pfizer-AVMF scholarship, I was able to begin research this summer on the challenges veterinary students face and how a variety of factors – including Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) and other vital programs for veterinary school curricula – impact their success after graduation,” said 2012 scholarship recipient Tammy J. Oseid, a University of Minnesota DVM/MPH class of 2014 student.
“The scholarship enabled me to take the time off of work this summer to begin investigating this area of great personal interest as well as potential benefit to the entire profession.” 
—From Pfizer Animal Health news release
