HSVMA Affiliate Chapters

An HSVMA affiliate chapter is a recognized student club or chapter at a veterinary school that partners with the HSVMA to build awareness about animal welfare issues and volunteers in direct care programs on campus and in the community. Examples of common HSVMA affiliates include (but are not limited to) student chapters of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, feline medicine clubs, behavior clubs, and wildlife medicine clubs.

To become an HSVMA affiliate:

1 - Familiarize yourself with benefits offered to HSVMA Affiliate Chapters/Clubs:

  • $250 in annual grant money for affiliate chapter activities.
  • Priority scheduling for HSVMA Speakers Bureau presentations.
  • Exclusive access to HSVMA’s dry suture lab and Animal Cruelty Investigation dry lab.
  • Advice and assistance to any affiliate chapter member seeking alternatives or changes to a more humane veterinary curriculum.
  • Housing fee waived for members doing internships at the South Florida Wildlife Center.
  • Travel stipends to attend SAVMA Symposium.
  • HSVMA student members are eligible for consideration for the annual HSVMA Veterinary Student Advocacy Award to a student who makes a substantial contribution to humane veterinary training or other animal welfare advocacy initiative.

2 - Familiarize yourself with the programs and focus areas of HSVMA

3 - The HSVMA affiliate chapter/club must be an existing student chapter/club recognized by the veterinary school and registered with the office of student affairs.

4 - Find consensus among your student chapter/club that you’d like to become an HSVMA affiliate.

Affiliate Chapter Requirements:

Terms and Conditions

The HSVMA affiliate must agree to the terms and conditions for HSVMA affiliate student chapters/clubs. Sample here.

Membership

All members of the HSVMA affiliate chapter/club are encouraged to become members of HSVMA. Student membership in HSVMA is free and automatically upgrades to free Professional membership through the first year after graduation. For more information, visit hsvma.org/benefits.

Speakers Bureau

HSVMA affiliate chapters or clubs are expected to hold at least one HSVMA Speakers Bureau presentation each academic year. Affiliates must identify a lecture hall or other location for the presentation, and HSVMA will pay for the speaker’s travel and a vegetarian lunch. Contact Heather Schrader, Student Outreach Coordinator, for more information.

Meetings

HSVMA affiliate chapters or clubs are encouraged to hold at least one HSVMA orientation meeting, represent HSVMA at a campus event (e.g. freshman orientation, student activities fair), or sponsor another activity each academic year to reach out to other veterinary students who are not chapter members. See our list of suggested student chapter activities»


Contact Heather Schrader, Student Outreach Coordinator, with any questions and/or if your student club is interested in becoming an HSVMA Affiliate Chapter»