About SCAVMA

What is SCAVMA?

We are the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association. We help finance special interest clubs, sponsor speakers, provide learning opportunities, host social events, and participate in public service projects.

SCAVMA is the local "chapter" of SAVMA, which is the Student Association of the AVMA. SAVMA is composed of 28 SCAVMA chapters and represents us in the AVMA House of Delegates.

On the National Level

Each student chapter (SCAVMA) is granted an official charter by the AVMA. This provides an avenue for students to begin learning about organized veterinary medicine. The Student AVMA (SAVMA) is the national organization of veterinary students that unites the 28 SCAVMA chapters as a single unit by representing us in the AVMA House of Delegates. They also foster the exchange of information among the chapters by organizing the annual spring SAVMA Symposium, encouraging participation at the AVMA convention, and publishing a national newsletter called Intervet. Each SCAVMA chapter has two SAVMA delegates that attend the SAVMA House of Delegates meeting twice a year to represent the school's students. The SAVMA delegates hold a two year term and have opportunities to serve on various AVMA committees.

 How SAVMA Benefits Students…

A unified student voice is important in veterinary medicine and is provided by SAVMA on national issues such as government and education.  Each year, approximately 2000 veterinary students gather for three days at the SAVMA Symposium to meet fellow student colleagues, attend various lectures and wet labs, to network with practitioners and veterinary related corporations, and to compete academically and athletically. 

Our Purdue Student Chapter has an executive board on which all Club Presidents, Class Representatives, SAVMA Delegates, and SCAVMA Officers sit.  We meet twice a month to discuss issues or events that are upcoming and important to our student body.

In addition, the executive board is also the first line of approval for requests of funds earned through our Pet Food Sales Program.  This program provides our student body with about $90,000 of funding for use by all students for various events, conferences and speakers each year, as well as providing night technicians in both the large and small animal hospitals.

I hope that once you arrive on campus you will not hesitate to contact anyone you feel may be helpful to you.  Your “Big Sib” is a great resource, along with any of the club officers or SCAVMA officers. 

Please do come to all of the orientation events and enjoy having time with your new classmates before you are all into the throes of academics. You will never work so hard, learn so much, nor have so much fun in your life!

SCAVMA Officers

Past President: Lindsey Hedges

President: Justin Heinz

President Elect: Ben Olson

Vice President: Kimberly Anderson

Treasurer: Jona Kos

Secretary: Paul Rossman

SAVMA Senior Delegate: Serrin Rayne Johnson

SAVMA Junion Delegate: Nikki Kisling

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Tim Lescun & Dr. Jim Weisman

Document Revisions Chair: Katie Rohan

Philanthropy Chair: Helen Ingraham