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Spanish[Wyckoff, NJ; Bridgewater, NJ; May 28, 2020] The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the Winn Feline Foundation are excited to announce the recipients of the 2020 joint scholarships for feline clinical practice and feline clinical research scientist. The scholarships are awarded to veterinary students that show a passion for feline health and welfare and believe the advancement of feline medicine is crucial across all veterinary practices.
Ms. Emily King, a junior at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded the clinical research scientist scholarship due to her exceptional promise in feline medicine. “Bit by the research bug,” early on in her education, Ms. King was drawn to investigation into feline-specific research. This led her to explore the role anatomic pathologists play and how the research integrated into feline medicine. “With the knowledge and experience I hope to gain from this next step, I’d eventually love to apply this to feline-specific research (such as FCoV or FIV).”
The feline clinical practice scholarship was awarded to Ms. Jessica Tondo who currently is a third-year veterinary student at Western University of Health Sciences. Ms. Tondo always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian and after receiving her B.S. in Physiology from the University of Washington in Seattle, she decided to focus on her passion and start her journey to becoming a veterinarian. “I hope to advocate for feline health and wellness. I have grown up with cats my whole life, and am forever grateful for the love and compassion they provide.”
The AAFP and Winn support veterinary students on their journey to elevate feline medicine and welfare. The two joint $2,500 scholarships offered by these organizations provide students with a helpful resource to further their education and passion. “Supporting students with interest in feline health research is very important in the continuation of Winn Feline Foundation’s mission,” said Julie Legred, Executive Director of Winn. Heather O’Steen, CAE and CEO of the AAFP, adds, “Their passion for clinical research and clinical practice, respectively, has already led to phenomenal success. We’re excited about what they will bring to the future of feline medicine and research.”
To find more information about educational opportunities, resources available to students, and various feline-specific toolkits, please visit the AAFP and Winn websites.
About Winn Feline Foundation
Winn Feline Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1968 that supports studies to improve cat health. Since 1968, Winn Feline Foundation has funded over $7 million in health research for cats at more than 30 partner institutions worldwide. This funding is made possible through the support of dedicated donors and partners. Research supported by Winn Feline Foundation helps veterinarians by providing educational resources that improve treatment of common feline health problems and prevent many diseases. Grants are awarded at least twice yearly with the help of the foundation’s expert review panel. For further information, go to www.winnfelinefoundation.org.
About the American Association of Feline Practitioners
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) supports its members in improving the health and welfare of cats through high standards of practice, continuing education, and evidence-based medicine. As a trusted leader in the veterinary community, the AAFP has a long-standing reputation and track record for facilitating high standards of practice and providing educational resources to veterinary teams, including guidelines for practice excellence and an annual conference. Over the years, the AAFP has encouraged veterinary professionals to continuously re-evaluate preconceived notions of practice strategies in an effort to advance the quality of feline medicine. Launched in 2012, the Cat Friendly Practice® (CFP) program (catvets.com/cfp/veterinary-professionals) was created to improve the treatment, handling, and overall healthcare provided to cats. Its purpose is to reduce the stress of the veterinary visit for cats, caregivers, and the veterinary team and provide veterinary practices with the tools and resources to elevate the standard of care provided to cats. With the belief that cat caregivers are instrumental to feline health and welfare, the AAFP launched catfriendly.com, a consumer-focused, reliable educational resource powered by feline veterinarians branded Cat Friendly Homes. This educational resource is tailored to the needs of cat caregivers who want to provide the very best care for their cat and is accompanied by a monthly newsletter, The Cat Column, as well as educational content on Facebook and Instagram.