Chewy Health Launches New Scholarship Program to Support Underserved Veterinary Students
The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has announced that Chewy Health, the dedicated healthcare arm of Chewy, will be providing $300,000 in scholarships to underserved veterinary students. The Chewy Veterinary Leaders Program will reward fifteen third-year students with a $20,000 scholarship paid directly to their educational institution via the AAVMC. The program looks to help increase representation within the veterinary profession by working with individuals from underserved groups and communities who might otherwise have limited access to these types of resources.
“We are passionate about fostering a healthy culture in veterinary medicine and our scholarship program uniquely focuses on the opportunity to support veterinarians as they are navigating the transition from being a student to a doctor,” said Mita Malhotra, President of Chewy Health. “Our goal is to enable our participants to develop a solid foundation as they are building their practices. We hope these new leaders will inspire even more caregivers to enter the profession.”
Through this innovative new program, the AAVMC and Chewy Health are creating opportunities for more people in veterinary medicine. In addition to financial assistance, participants will also receive resources to help them through their final years of veterinary school and into the next phase of their careers. This multifaceted program is one of few that combine financial assistance with professional development curriculum and coaching to support mental health and the transition from school to practice.
Recipients of Chewy Health’s $20,000 scholarship will be invited to take advantage of monthly cohort conversations facilitated by Chewy partner MentorVet, which will provide them with support and comradery as they navigate the second half of their veterinary education. During the course of the program, students will be invited to gather at a local Chewy hub for leadership training, networking and more. Post-graduation, participants will be sponsored to join MentorVet Leap, a six-month mentorship and professional development curriculum for early career veterinarians and can also join the Chewy Veterinary Leaders alumni network for ongoing networking opportunities.
“We are excited to offer this new scholarship opportunity in partnership with Chewy Health. This funding will be instrumental in helping us further education and representation that can meaningfully advance the veterinary profession,” said Dr. Andrew T. Maccabe, CEO of AAVMC.
Applications for the Chewy Veterinary Leaders Program opened beginning Nov. 1, 2023 and are available here.
Eligible participants must attend an AAVMC member institution, be interested in small animal medicine and be nominated by their institution. Submissions will be evaluated on each student’s demonstrated commitment to leadership development, academic achievement, broader community service record and established financial need. Institutions must submit all nominations to the AAVMC by Jan. 15, 2024.
The Chewy Veterinary Leaders program is part of Chewy Health’s commitment to supporting veterinarians by addressing the most critical issues facing the profession. Recent initiatives include Chewy Health’s ongoing sponsorship of full scholarships for members of partner veterinary medical associations to participate in MentorVet Leap and various other partnerships to support non-profits that include the Diversify Veterinary Medicine Coalition, Multicultural VMA, Pawsibilities Vet Med and the Veterinary Industry Giving Tree.