Want to build up your vet skills? Try volunteering

If you find yourself wanting to do more for underserved communities while in veterinary school, here are a few ways to make a big difference and also practice your skills to become a more proficient doctor!

Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS)

This is a non-profit veterinary outreach program that allows veterinary students to visit on their university scheduled breaks to underserved and isolated communities who struggle with access to care. It is a great opportunity to obtain more medicine and surgery experiences as well as to improve your client communication and education abilities.

Animal Rescue Team

This organization rescues animals from man-made and natural disasters. They work with local and government agencies in times of animal need to provide care and medical attention to animals when they need it most.

Pets for Life

Pets for Life works around the country to address the lack of access to veterinary care. The two main cities they work in are Phildelphia and Los Angeles, and they have partnerships with organizations in every major city across the US that is always looking for volunteers!

Veterinary Student Mentorship Program

This program is provided through the Human Society Veterinary Medical Association to connect interested students with veterinarians who are active in the animal welfare field. Any student who is interested can be paired with a mentor near them to talk about welfare, veterinary medicine, and anything in between.

Local Veterinary Medical Association

Contact your local veterinary medical association for opportunities to volunteer close to where you live! Every association holds events and outreach programs throughout the year that veterinary students are more than welcome to attend and assist the veterinarians that run the local programs. This is a great way to make an amazing impact in your own backyard!

Mission Rabies

Mission Rabies, the UK charity at the forefront of rabies elimination worldwide, is always seeking volunteers to join their projects. The team’s mission will be to vaccinate tens of thousands of dogs to protect the human population from this deadly, but entirely preventable, disease.

Whatever your future goals, always make time for giving back to the community that you grew up in, that you currently reside in, and underserved areas alike. Veterinarians have an amazingly valuable breadth of knowledge to improve so many pet’s lives as well as their owners.