Meet your new SAVMA International Exchange Officer-elect

Steen Smith
Oregon State University

Description of duties: Support the IEO in the effort to facilitate exchanges, study abroad opportunities, and/or other international opportunities for members of SAVMA, as well as represent SAVMA at the two yearly International Veterinary Students' Assocation (IVSA) meetings.

In the next year my goals are to:

1. Create a comprehensive database of the policies of our member institutions in regards to international students participating in educational  opportunities.  

2. To better inform SAVMA members of the opportunities IVSA membership provides.  

3. To work closely with the IEO in support of her efforts to further develop international opportunities for our members.

 
Fun fact:
I am from Corvallis, Oregon and have worked in the veterinary field for the last 10 years, including the last 3 years as a Certified Veterinary Technician.  I enjoy fishing, hunting, camping, and other outdoor pursuits.  I worked as a construction site foreman for 7 years before pursuing my undergraduate education.

contact Steen at: SAVMAIEO [at] gmail [dot] com

Challenges from the International Arena: Running a Clinic in Nicaragua

By: Laura Niman

Oregon State University, Class of 2014

Four years ago the Oregon State University’s IVSA chapter was invited by community leaders to the Nicaraguan community of Merida to develop an annual veterinary service trip. Merida is located on the island of Ometepe, which is home to an estimated 10,000 families and countless dogs, cats, pigs, cows, horses and chickens.  As the people of Ometepe rely on their animals for food, transportation, and work, the suboptimal condition of these animals directly impacts the people and their livelihood.  Companion animals also suffer from malnourishment and diseases, many of which are transmissible to their human families.  From a single veterinarian and 8 students who participated in the first clinic in 2007, the project has grown substantially to include 8 veterinarians, 24 veterinary students, and 2 pre-veterinary students in 2010.

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