Learning through compassionate care: AVMF enhances student experience at SAVMA Symposium

AVMF donor support continues to foster real-world learning opportunities while promoting the health and wellbeing of both animals and their caregivers. On March 22, 2025, The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), along with Western Veterinary Partners and Merck Animal Health, proudly sponsored a unique street clinic during the 2025 SAVMA Symposium, providing veterinary students with real-world learning opportunities while making a tangible difference for pets and their people. 

Under the leadership of Dr. Hilary Wheeler, Medical Director of The Street Dog Coalition, 25 veterinary students from across the country volunteered alongside licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians from The Street Dog Coalition, Western Veterinary Partners, Merck Animal Health, and UC Davis. Together, they delivered essential care to the pets of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in a collaborative clinic. 

This hands-on clinic was part of the SAVMA Symposium—a major educational event hosted annually by veterinary schools across the U.S. to expose students to areas of veterinary medicine outside their regular curriculum. 

At the heart of the clinic was The Street Dog Coalition’s mission: providing free, compassionate care to pets of people experiencing homelessness, while supporting the health of both people and animals through a One Health perspective. For veterinary students, the experience offered not only clinical training but also the opportunity to witness the profound impact of empathy, dignity, and service in veterinary care. 

Volunteers from Hill’s Pet Nutrition generously donated pet food and treats and assisted with fitting pets for donated harnesses. Hope Cooperative, the local host site, provided clothing donations for pet parents. After the clinic, Western Veterinary Partners hosted a lunch and facilitated a discussion on the intersection of veterinary medicine and human social services—rounding out an inspiring day of learning, giving, and community connection. 

By the end of the clinic, the students, volunteers, and veterinary teams provided care for 23 dogs and 5 cats. Eleven of the pets were unaltered, and vouchers were issued for free spay/neuter surgeries as part of the SDC model of care, which emphasizes compassion, accessibility, and dignity. 

This experience was made possible in part thanks to the collective generosity of AVMF donors, enabling students to engage with the community, enhance their clinical skills, and deepen their understanding of compassionate service.