(September 17, 2009 Stillwater, OK) – Kathryn Downie (’12) of Tulsa, Okla., and Jennifer Lu (’11) of Edmond, Okla., both students attending Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, represented OSU at the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) House of Delegates Meeting, which was held in Seattle, Wash., in conjunction with the AVMA’s Annual Convention.

Each of the 28 United States veterinary colleges has a student chapter (SCAVMA) that is granted an official charter by the AVMA. Each college chapter has two representatives that comprise the SAVMA House of Delegates, a national organization of veterinary students that meets twice a year. SAVMA provides an avenue for veterinary students to begin learning about organized veterinary medicine. The SAVMA delegates serve a two-year term and have opportunities to serve on various AVMA committees.

“The SAVMA House of Delegates meeting is a great opportunity for students to participate in making important decisions that will affect their veterinary education,” states Downie.

Downie serves as OSU’s junior delegate in her first year of a two-year term. Lu is the senior delegate as she is completing her two-year term in December 2009. Downie will move into the senior delegate slot in 2010 and a member of the Class of 2013 will step into the junior role. Lu, however, has accepted a position as secretary-elect of the SAVMA House of Delegates. This, too, is a two-year term, which means from 2010 through 2012, OSU will have three votes on matters that come before the SAVMA House of Delegates.

The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is one of 28 veterinary colleges in the United States and is fully accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The center’s Boren Veterinary Medial Teaching Hospital is open to the public and provides routine and specialized care for small and large animals. It also offers 24 hour emergency care and is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association. For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.

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