The Outreach Committee develops and implements outreach efforts to veterinary medical students and veterinarians outside the field of laboratory animal medicine in order to sustain the number of laboratory animal veterinarians in biomedical research and related endeavors. For additional information about any of the opportunities listed below, contact Vittoria Capria.

Veterinary Student Opportunities

Veterinary School Luncheon Series
The American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM)’s Outreach Committee is pleased to offer lectures or round tables for students at AVMA accredited veterinary schools. The committee will provide speakers and funding of up to $300 for lunch to schools selected via our competitive application process. Speakers will preferably be board certified ACLAM veterinarians. Speakers may discuss a variety of topics applicable to those interested in laboratory animal medicine and students new to learning about the field. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. If accepted for funding, the committee will reach out for further details and scheduling. Interested students or faculty can apply via the following form: Lunch and Learn Application

ACLAM-Sponsored Veterinary Externships
The ACLAM Outreach Committee supports veterinary students and practicing veterinarians seeking experience in laboratory animal medicine by providing funds of $500 to help defray costs associated with participating in laboratory animal medicine focused externships. The number of externship awards supported by ACLAM annually will be dependent on the number of qualified applications and the ACLAM Outreach Committee budget. Externships may vary from 2 to 12 weeks and are expected to expose veterinary students and practicing veterinarians to the profession of laboratory animal medicine. Please see the following bullets for more information:

  • Applications from interested externs should be filled out and submitted prior to the externship experience. Applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis for externships that are scheduled within the current calendar year. Deadlines to apply for each quarter are January 1 (Q1), April 1 (Q2), July 1 (Q3), and October 1 (Q4).
  • When applying for externships occurring in the following calendar year, applications will be reviewed no earlier than the last quarter of the current calendar year. We encourage applicants to apply as early as possible.
  • Selection criteria may include interest in the program and the field of laboratory animal medicine, educational opportunities offered to the extern by the externship, evaluation of need for the funds, and other criteria that pertain to the overall goals of the ACLAM Outreach Committee of encouraging more veterinary exposure to the field of laboratory animal medicine.
  • Externs must submit an evaluation of the externship experience before funding is released, and no later than 1 month after the last day of the externship.

Note: The Outreach Committee will begin accepting applications for externships taking place in 2026 in Q4 2025: Externship Application

ASLAP externships, veterinary student rotations, and preceptorships can be found on the Training Programs page. ASLAP also funds a travel award to the AALAS National Meeting.


Opportunities and Resources for Veterinarians

Training Programs
Laboratory animal training programs for graduate veterinarians are available. Please see the ACLAM Training Programs page.

Outreach Tools
Laboratory animal veterinarians interested in educating others about the field are welcome to use the resource information at the right in their outreach efforts.

Other Joint Initiatives
Merial NIH National Scholars Veterinary Symposium
SAVMA Symposium (Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association)