“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” Franklin D. Roosevelt 

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by two student AABP members who received externship grants and went to western U.S. dairy practices for their experiences. Phusita Nakphairat Davidovich, a 3rd year student at The Ohio State University, and Gabrielle Brewster, a 4th year student at Cornell University, discuss the importance of this funding for student externships. The AABP Foundation provides $40,000 per year for student externship grants to offset the financial barriers of participating in externships. Both Phusita and Gabrielle discuss where they went on their dairy externships and what they learned while they were at those practices. They also offer tips to students who want to go on externships such as applying for funding through the AABP Foundation, make a list of goals to share with the practice, looking for something different than you experience at your veterinary school, being open minded and willing to learn, and appreciating the time practices spend in mentoring students during their externship. Phusita and Gabrielle also provide suggestions for veterinarians to improve the student’s externship experience which include asking the student what they want to accomplish and experience, providing a schedule so they can see what they will see and do, giving them options based on what they are interested in learning, providing as much hands-on activity as possible, and providing meaningful discussion during “windshield time” in the truck.  

AABP student members can apply for externships at this link under the Student Menu of the AABP website. AABP encourages members to list their externship opportunities on the AABP website so that students can find opportunities by going to this page.  

Please support the AABP Foundation which provides externship and education grants as well as clinically relevant cattle research and welfare grants. If you would like to restrict your donation to externship grants, please contact [email protected] for information. You can donate to the AABP Foundation at this link.  

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