Jim Rogers (202) 690-4755
Jim Brownlee (202) 720-4623
USDA OPENS THE DOOR FOR OUTSTANDING VETERINARY STUDENTS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2006--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is currently accepting nominations for its spring 2007 Smith-Kilborne training program on foreign animal diseases.
The Smith-Kilborne program takes its name from two former USDA employees, Theobald Smith (1859-1934) and Fred Kilborne (1858-1936), who together discovered the method of transmission for Texas cattle fever. The program that honors them is designed to acquaint second-year veterinary students with various foreign animal diseases that could potentially threaten the U.S. domestic animal population. It combines classroom presentations on diseases and their implications along with laboratory experiences. In addition to benefiting selected students, the Smith-Kilborne program supports U.S. agriculture by ensuring that future veterinarians are prepared to prevent, detect and eradicate foreign animal diseases.
This year’s Smith-Kilborne program, the 11th since it began in 1990, will be conducted at Cornell University and the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. Classes on foreign animal diseases, risk analysis and emergency management will take place in New York at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine from Wednesday, May 30 through Friday, June 1. On Monday and Tuesday, June 4 and 5, the students will travel to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center off of Long Island, N.Y. At the Center, the students will receive updates on research and diagnostic aspects of the most significant foreign animal diseases and participate in laboratory sessions for hands-on experience in recognizing foreign animal diseases.
Interested second-year veterinary students must be nominated by their respective veterinary schools. While the application process is different for each school, APHIS looks for traits such as motivation, academic success, interest in large animal or population medicine, interest in foreign animal diseases and the ability to communicate. For information on a veterinary school’s selection process, contact the dean’s office at that school.
Participants in the program are required to share their knowledge with fellow students and faculty by making at least two formal presentations: one to a small group, such as a class or club and the other to the entire veterinary school. The presentations must incorporate information on foreign animal diseases, their impacts on American agriculture and the student’s experiences during the Smith-Kilborne program. These presentations constitute the last phase of their training.
APHIS covers all associated costs for students accepted into the program. For more information please contact: Dr. Jason Baldwin at Jason.L.Baldwin@aphis.usda.gov or visit the Smith-Kilborne program Web page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/training/smith-kilborne/smith-kilborne.html.
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