Donald G. Low/CVMA Clinical Veterinary Medical Academy
The Donald G. Low/CVMA Clinical Veterinary Medical Academy, co-sponsored by the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital (VMTH), grew from an appreciation of the need for and advantages of ongoing interaction between California private practitioners and the school.
The Don Low Academy provides unique opportunities for practitioners to learn (1) in the clinical setting of the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (2) in other school programs, laboratories and centers such as the Veterinary Medical Teaching and Research Center (VMTRC) and (3) through interactions with faculty, residents, and students.
The Don Low Academy is designed to meet the needs of California practitioners in ways not available through residencies or other current programs.
The Don Low Academy is intended to provide intellectual stimulation, interaction, and discussion between the practitioner, faculty, and students within an area of interest to the practitioner. For example, the Don Low Academy could be designed to improve general knowledge of ophthalmology through interaction within the clinical teaching environment, rounds and patient care.
The Don Low Academy is not intended to provide specific training opportunities necessary to make the academy scholar proficient in a particular skill, such as cataract surgery. The development of specific task-oriented skills, such as mastering a surgical procedure, endoscopy, ultrasound, etc., are best met through residency training and continuing education programs, and are not the goal of this program.
Selected academy scholars are expected to spend a minimum 20 days in the program. Candidates select one of the services, centers, or laboratories (such as anesthesia, anatomic pathology, ophthalmology, integrative medicine, etc.) that have indicated sufficient case load and faculty resources to sustain an academic scholar in the coming year.
Because of the fluctuation in case load and faculty demands, all services, programs, and laboratories are invited annually to voluntarily participate in the following year's Don Low Academy based on their ability to meet the additional demands of such a program. The available Don Low Academy service areas are announced each year and listed on this site.
A committee of CVMA representatives and faculty members reviews applications and select finalists, who then develop an in-depth proposal in partnership with a faculty mentor in their area of interest. Academic scholars are awarded on the basis of competitive merit, with preference given to CVMA members. Applicants must be active members of the CVMA and maintain membership throughout the duration of the academy. Additionally, applicants must be at least 5 years post-graduation at the time of application and must reside in California to be considered for a Don Low Academic Scholar spot. Additionally, the SVVMA Charitable Foundation has worked with the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital to guarantee an academic scholar position for SVVMA members when applicable.
Endowment earnings provide the financial resources to support the Don Low Academy. Participating service units, programs, and laboratories receive support from the endowment at approximately the rate paid by veterinary students to offset additional costs associated with the academic scholar and to support the educational program of the unit.
No direct financial support for academic scholars is available. Academic scholars do not pay registration fees or tuition.
Upon completion of the program, academic scholars are awarded up to 100 Continuing Education credits.