More than $145,000 awarded in scholarships for veterinary students

NEW YORK – Pfizer Animal Health and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Foundation announced this week that 29 veterinary medical students received essential financial support that will help secure the future of large-animal veterinarians in the United States.

“We’re excited to partner with Pfizer Animal Health again this year to make this scholarship available,” said M. Gatz Riddell Jr., DVM, executive vice president, AABP. “The first year of veterinary practice can be very difficult for many graduating students, and having financial help through this scholarship can make things a bit easier.”

The AABP Foundation/Pfizer Animal Health Veterinary Scholarship is part of Pfizer Animal Health’s Commitment to Veterinarians, an initiative supporting veterinarians through training and education, research and development, and investment in the future of the veterinary profession. The scholarship is funded through a unique partnership with veterinarians, animal health suppliers and dealers, and is awarded to beef and dairy veterinary students to help offset the cost of veterinary school.

This year, the AABP Foundation and Pfizer Animal Health presented 29 students from across the nation with a $5,000 scholarship at the AABP Annual Meeting held Aug. 18-21 in Albuquerque, NM. Recipients’ costs of traveling to and staying at the AABP Annual Meeting also are included in the scholarship.

Funding for the scholarships is provided by the Pfizer Animal Health FFA/AABP support program. The program, which provides funding for local FFA chapters in addition to the AABP Foundation/Pfizer Animal Health Veterinary Student scholarships, offered a 1 percent rebate on Pfizer Animal Health cattle products from Jan. 1 through March 31, 2010. Participating partners were able to direct funds to any local FFA chapter(s) or the AABP Foundation/Pfizer Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program.

“We recognize the need to encourage and support students in pursuing large-animal veterinary medicine,” said Julian Garcia, marketing group director, Pfizer Animal Health. “We know how important large-animal veterinarians are to providing a safe and healthy food supply, and we are honored to partner with AABP to support these and other veterinary students interested in pursuing a career in large-animal veterinary medicine.”