The Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) is the official chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) at Michigan State University, providing students the opportunity to learn about and participate in organized veterinary medicine prior to graduation. Nationally, we unite with the other 36 chapters to give vet students a unified voice in the AVMA House of Delegates.

At MSU, we hold monthly talks with speakers from a varying range of subjects encompassing any aspect of veterinary medicine not typically covered in our standard curriculum. Our objective is to provide opportunities and support to veterinary students to gain professional knowledge, leadership skills, and wellbeing assistance, to promote veterinary medicine within the community, to protect the professional and personal interests of veterinary students, and to encourage camaraderie among students and faculty.

Please reach out to the current SAVMA President with any SAVMA-related questions and/or the current Senior Membership Chair for any membership-related questions.

Email cvm.studentsupport@cvm.msu.edu if you need the President's or the Sr. Membership Chair’s contact information.

​How do I pay SAVMA dues?
  • Group Pay Option: Pay $148 to cover all four years of membership. With this option, you do not need to remember to pay every year! There is an option to sign up for Group Pay at the beginning of every fall semester. Keep an eye out for email reminders about dues!
  • Pay yearly directly to the AVMA: $37 can be paid yearly directly to the AVMA via this link: https://ebusiness.avma.org/savma/savmaduesstep1.aspx
  • If you have any questions about becoming a SAVMA member, please reach out to the Senior Membership Chair.
Membership Benefits

Local:

  • $100 NAVLE Prep Reimbursement during your third/fourth year (PLUS $100 Reimbursement from the school)
  • Free suture kit (required by the Cutaneous course first semester) when you join both SAVMA and the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA)
  • Free lunch and dinner meetings with educational lectures
  • Free day trips
  • Travel grants
  • Externship grants
  • Your membership assists your other clubs in getting grants for labs and lectures
  • Chances to participate in community service, leadership, and professional development = resume builder!
  • If the first-year class has 100% SAVMA membership, SAVMA will donate $500 to their class account

National:
All SAVMA members are eligible for the following benefits:

  • Journal access
    • Free access to all issues of JAVMA and The Vet Gazette
  • Event and Conference Registration
    • Free advance registration to the AVMA Annual Convention
    • Invitation to the annual SAVMA Symposium hosted by a local student chapter – ONLY SAVMA members are able to register!
  • Job Opportunities and Externship locator
    • Access to My Veterinary Life a dedicated microsite for students and recent graduates.
    • Access to the AVMA Veterinary Career Center, which provides job listings that match your resume and allows interested employers to search your resume
  • Financial Health Resources
    • Student resources for helping manage your debt and financing your education
    • Help finding solutions to minimize your debt
  • Full Access to the Member-Only Areas of the AVMA Website
    • Policy area includes the AVMA professional policies, veterinary reference guides, Lit reviews, etc.
    • AVMA Member Edge → exclusive offers, discounts, and other rewards
    • Access to AVMA Axon, an online learning resource
  • SAVMA Awards and Scholarships
    • Apply to numerous monetary awards offered by SAVMA Committees to SAVMA members!
  • AUTOMATIC CONVERSION TO AVMA MEMBERSHIP UPON GRADUATION
    • This means no application to file and no dues to pay for the remainder of the year upon graduation
    • Two additional years of reduced recent graduate AVMA membership dues
    • One free registration to the AVMA Convention to be used within 5 years following graduation (over $500 value)
    • Access to range of recent grad resources
  • Access to AVMF student benefits
  • Student Insurance Benefits:
    • AVMA PLIT
      • Complimentary veterinary student professional liability
      • Auto, home, and renters insurance
    • AVMA LIFE
      • Complimentary student life insurance
      • AVMA VetSTEPP
      • Dental/vision insurance
      • Hospital indemnity insurance
      • Member long-term disability insurance

Please visit https://www.avma.org/membership/SAVMA/benefits-SAVMA-membership to learn more about these benefits!