Donald G. Low/CVMA Clinical Veterinary Medical Academy

The Donald G. Low/CVMA Clinical Veterinary Medical Academy is a joint program of the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). The Academy provides California veterinarians with unique opportunities for clinical learning, professional development, and collaboration with UC Davis faculty, residents, and students.

The program is designed to meet the professional development needs of practicing veterinarians in ways that are not typically available through residencies or other continuing education programs.

The Academy is a 20-day program that may be completed consecutively over one month or spread throughout the year. The program must be completed within the designated program cycle.

2027–2028 Academy Cycle: August 2027–July 2028

Apply for the 2027-2028 Academy

Applications for the 2027 - 2028 Cycle are now open!

Application Deadline: 5:00 PM (PST), December 18, 2026

Apply for the 2027-2028 Academy

All applications must be submitted electronically. Incomplete or ineligible applications will not be considered.

Applications are reviewed by a selection committee composed of CVMA representatives and UC Davis VMTH faculties. Finalists will be notified following the review process.

What to Expect as an Academy Scholar

Selected Academy Scholars must commit to a minimum of 20 days in the program. Each Scholar will be matched with a VMTH faculty mentor in their area of interest. The Scholar and mentor will work together to refine a proposal outlining the Scholar’s goals and ensuring that those goals align with the educational opportunities available through the Academy.

Scholars may complete their 20 days consecutively in one month or distribute their time throughout the program cycle. Participation in individual services, centers, or laboratories is based on availability, caseload, faculty resources, and the capacity of each participating unit.

Upon successful completion of the program, Scholars are awarded up to 100 Continuing Education (CE) credits.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for the Academy, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

Be an active member of the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and maintain active membership throughout the duration of the program.
Have graduated from veterinary school at least five years prior to the date of application. Only applicants who are at least five years post-graduation are eligible for a Scholar position.
Currently reside in California.
Provide contact information for two professional references.

Reference Forms

It is the applicant’s responsibility to send the Don Low Academy Reference Form directly to their selected references and ensure that the completed forms are submitted by the deadline.

Reference Form Deadline: 5:00 PM (PST), January 8, 2027

We recommend using Google Chrome to complete the reference forms. Other browsers may not be fully compatible and could cause technical issues.

SVVMA Charitable Foundation

The SVVMA Charitable Foundation has partnered with the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital to guarantee an Academic Scholar position for an SVVMA member when applicable. SVVMA members who meet all other eligibility requirements will be given preference for this position.

SVVMA members selected as Scholars are asked to provide a 5–10 minute presentation about their Academy experience to SVVMA members at a meeting following completion of the program.

2027–2028 Academy Services

Academy Scholars may select from available services based on their area of interest and available capacity:

Questions?

For questions about the Don Low Academy or the application process, please contact the Center for Veterinary Postgraduate Education:

Phone: (530) 752-3905
Email: [email protected]