As part of the Vet2011 celebration the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) is funding externships for veterinary exchange students studying in both the United States and France. The Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Lyon, established in 1761, is the world’s oldest veterinary school. Vet2011 is a worldwide celebration of the veterinary profession, which has been working to improve both animal and human health for the past 250 years. As part of this celebration a student exchange program was established by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) with funding provided by the AVMF.

Three veterinary students from Lyon will serve externships in the United States. Two French students have already completed their externships at North Carolina State Veterinary College. Their education included work at the North Carolina Zoo as well as the specialties of Neurology and Internal Medicine.  An additional student from Lyon will participate during the summer, traveling to the AVMA’s Annual Convention in St. Louis and to AVMA offices in Schaumburg and Washington D.C.  Two American students will serve similar externships at the veterinary college in Lyon in the fall of 2011. 

AVMF is providing $15,000 for travel expenses for veterinary students participating in the program.  Each of the five students will receive up to $3,000 for travel expenses between the United States and France.

The veterinary student exchange program provides the profession with the opportunity to join the past with the present. Students participating in the exchange program have the opportunity to share the history of the profession in their home country (United States and France) as well as to compare the current curriculums in the education at veterinary schools across the globe.

It is expected that the participating students will share their experiences with fellow students as well as their respective school’s faculty and staff.  Sharing the similarities and differences in veterinary education between the two countries draws attention to VET2011 as well as tying the bonds between 1761 and 2011. For more information about this program contact ckowal@avma.org. To support these efforts go www.avmf.org/donate and select student enhancement