The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA) has awarded $58,000 in grants to three Vermont food animal veterinarians: Dr Alison Cornwall of Middlesex, Dr Megan Foy of Danville, and Dr Jennifer Hull of Enosburg Falls. These grants were made possible through funding by the Vermont Legislature to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. The program is administered by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association.
This is the third round of awards for the Loan Repayment Program which began in fiscal year 2012. The veterinarians commit to a year of service in food animal practice in underserved areas of the state in return for the award which is used to pay off their student loans.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the average student loan debt veterinary school graduate is over $162,000. “The loan repayment program helps to ease the burden of student loans while ensuring that rural areas of Vermont have access to veterinary services to protect the health of the animals and the quality of the food they produce” said Dr. Millie Armstrong, VVMA President.
The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 340 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine.