Donald G. Low-CVMA Practitioner Fellowship

• The purpose of the fellowship is to allow a practitioner to learn (1) in the clinical setting of the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (2) in other school programs, laboratories and centers such as the Veterinary Medical Teaching and Research Center (VMTRC) and (3) through interactions with faculty, residents, and students.

• The fellowship program is designed to meet practitioner needs in ways not available within residencies or other current programs.

• The fellowship is intended to provide intellectual stimulation, interaction, and discussion between the practitioner, faculty, and students within an area of interest to the practitioner. For example, the fellowship could be designed to improve general knowledge of ophthalmology through interaction within the clinical teaching environment, rounds and patient care.

• The fellowship is not intended to provide specific training opportunities necessary to make the fellow proficient in a particular skill, such as cataract surgery. The development of specific task-oriented skills, such as mastering a surgical procedure, endoscopy, ultrasound, etc., are best met through residency training and continuing education programs, and are not the goal of this program.

• Because of the fluctuation in case load and faculty demands, all services, programs, and laboratories are invited annually to voluntarily participate in the following year's fellowship training program based on their ability to meet the additional demands of such a program. A list of the available fellowship areas is advertised each year.

• Selected practitioner fellows are expected to spend 20 days in the program. Candidates select one of the services, centers, and laboratories (such as anesthesiology, radiology, neurology, oncology, etc.) that have indicated sufficient case load and faculty resources to sustain a fellow in the coming year.

• Endowment earnings provide the financial resources to support the fellowship. Participating service units, programs, and laboratories receive support from the endowment at approximately the rate paid by veterinary students to offset additional costs associated with the fellow and to support the educational program of the unit.

• No direct financial support for fellows is available. Fellows do not pay registration fees or tuition.

• A committee of CVMA representatives and faculty members review applications and select finalists, who then develop an in-depth proposal in partnership with a faculty mentor in their area of interest.

• The evaluation committee reviews applications and proposals and awards fellowships based on competitive merit.

• The Donald G. Low-CVMA Practitioner Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for outstanding veterinarians in all areas of professional service to enhance their contributions to patients, society, and the veterinary profession.