The Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation (WROF) Inc. will provide $2,000 grants to support veterinary
students who complete an externship at a participating bovine practice in Wisconsin and intend to practice
in Wisconsin. The funds are intended to provide financial support to students while they complete an externship.
Grants are not designated for any specific use and may be used at the student’s discretion for any associated
expenses such as travel, lodging, or equipment. In addition, the funds may provide some income to replace lost
earnings while the student is participating in an externship in leu of employment. This grant is separate from the
AABP Foundation grant. Students can apply for and may receive both the WROF Inc. grant and AABP Foundation grants.
The WROF Inc. has committed to providing 5 annual grants.
Veterinary practices that wish to participate in this program will have their clinics listed on the application site
on the AABP website. Students must contact and discuss the externship with the practice and the practice
must state that the student has been accepted to complete an externship with them.
Applicants must be full time veterinary students from Wisconsin enrolled in a US, Canadian, or Caribbean veterinary college or school who demonstrate an interest in working in a Wisconsin practice after graduation.
The student must be a student AABP member before applying for the externship. Please note that it can take up to three business days to process your membership dues. At least one veterinarian in the practice must be an AABP member. The student should:
Complete the online WROF Inc. Externship Application Form. It is strongly suggested to complete your application in a Word document and copy/paste the information into the application. Applications can be viewed and edited until the deadline. No late applications are accepted.
Incomplete applications will not be considered or returned. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure letters from the practice and faculty member assessment are submitted by the deadline. If letters are not submitted, the application is incomplete and will not be evaluated. It is strongly recommended that students check the status of their application by going to the student menu of the AABP website and select scholarship/grant portal. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Funds will be disbursed in two installments, the first 50% upon approval of the grant, and the balance upon successful completion of the externship and submission of an externship report within 30 days of completion of the externship.
The student extern must sign a release electronically within the application, releasing WROF Inc., AABP and the AABP foundation from liability associated with the externship activities, prior to commencing any activities connected with the externship, including travel.
Insurance and liability information:
Professional liability: If
the student's supervising veterinarians are insured for professional liability
through the AVMA PLIT, preceptor coverage can be purchased for $10. This is
an endorsement to the veterinarian's policy and basically duplicates the policy
limits for the student. The student in question must be a SCAMVA member and
be attending an accredited veterinary college. Veterinarians with Canadian VMA
or other professional liability coverage should check with their insurance carrier.
It is strongly recommended that students have professional liability coverage in place.
AABP suggests that all practices and students contact their insurance carrier or workers compensation insurance carrier to decrease liability to the practice if a student is injured while working for the practice. The AVMA PLIT and some state VMA's provide resources to decrease your risk and your client's risk of liability. These can include a liability waiver for all students, appropriate oversight of students, discussion and training on safety when working with animals, and obtaining insurance through your insurance carrier.
Some veterinary colleges extend their insurance coverage for work-related injuries to students on externships. Students should verify coverage with their school's administration.
APPLICATION DEADLINES: Applications will be accepted from April 1 – April 30, 2024, 5 pm Eastern time. Grants will be awarded by May 31, 2024.
Applications will be scored by volunteers from the AABP Student Activities Committee. The scoring rubric will be as follows:
Score the quality of prior food animal experience (1-5)
Score the career goals and interest in bovine medicine (1-5)
Score the quality of the planned experience (1-5)
Score the commitment to practicing in Wisconsin (1-5)
Score the faculty assessment (1-5)
Total maximum points = 25
Questions and comments: Contact Dr. Jerry Gaska, WROF, Inc. Board Director and Chair, WROF, Inc. Veterinary Externship Program.
Email: drjerry@dairyhealthservices.com
Mobile: 920-210-2656
