The fellowships provide each recipient with $60,000 annually for four years. The tuition and expense money comes from Denver-based Morris Animal Foundation, program co-sponsor Zoetis Inc. and the university where the students are enrolled. "Many practicing veterinarians may wish to become veterinary scientists but can’t continue their educational journey due to financial constraints, like high debt,” said David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D., the president and CEO of Morris Animal Foundation. "The Zoetis-Morris Animal Foundation Fellowships help these professionals pursue a new career path and help fill a critical need for more veterinary scientists.” The program’s first graduates are: Melissa Clark, DVM, who examined insulin resistance in diabetic cats as part of her Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois. Kevin Esch, DVM, who focused on leishmaniasis while earning a master’s degree in public health at Iowa State University. Allen Page, DVM, who studied Lawsonia intracellurlaris infections in horses while earning a Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky. Nichol Schultz, DVM, who investigated equine metabolic syndrome while enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota. Joshua A. Stern, DVM, who completed a Ph.D. while researching subvalvular aortic stenosis at Washington State University. Margaret Eilidh Wilson, BVMS, who looked into recurrent airway obstruction in horses as a Ph.D. student at Michigan State University. A dozen veterinarians have received fellowships since the program began in 2009 under Zoetis’ former name, Pfizer Animal Health. The two newest recipients are Sarah Schneider, DVM, and Sabrina D. Vobornik, DVM, both of whom are enrolled in Ph.D. programs at Texas A&M University. The nonprofit Morris Animal Foundation, established in 1948, funds veterinary research studies and student scholar programs. Animal health giant Zoetis is headquartered in Florham Park, N.J.
