Applications are open for Summer 2024
“Wildlife Veterinary Medicine Panama” was designed by Dr. Chloe Buiting, The Jungle Doctor, for students looking to gain clinical experience in wildlife medicine.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a sloth vet? Or treat some of the world’s most endangered wildlife? The Panama Pre-Vet Clinical Wildlife Medicine Program might be for you – now open for enrollment for Summer 2023!
This Panama Pre-Vet Clinical Wildlife Medicine program is based at a veterinary clinic serving wildlife, exotics, and small animals, and also takes you to a busy wildlife rehabilitation facility, which has an emphasis on the rehabilitation and release of sloths.
Join your instructor, experienced veterinarian Dr. Julio Reyes, in Panama to learn about the medicine and treatment of Panamanian wildlife. Dr. Reyes is the Medical Director of Centro Veterinario Panamá in Panama City, which sees and treats a range of animals – from companion pets to exotic animals and wildlife.
Dr. Reyes is also the consulting veterinarian for APPC Panama, the Pan-American Conservation Association, which is Panama’s leading wildlife rescue organization. Since 2005, the APPC has rescued, rehabilitated and released more than 5,000 wild animals – including kinkajous, jaguars, porcupines, margays, toucans, monkeys, anteaters, and sloths. With deforestation, over-development, poaching, and the illegal pet trade being some of the biggest threats to wildlife in Panama, the APPC is dedicated to saving the region’s most vulnerable species.
By joining us in this Panama Pre-Vet Clinical Wildlife Medicine program, you’ll get the chance to learn about the treatment of Central America wildlife – including clinical examinations, handling, restraint, common diseases, and medical therapies. You will also learn about the rehabilitation process and have the opportunity to shadow any surgeries, rescues, or releases during your time!
This Panama Pre-Vet Wildlife Veterinary Medicine a two-week program is based between Centro Veterinario Panamá and the APPC, both of which are located in Panama City. In addition to learning about the animals of Latin America and their conservation and care, you’ll also get a chance to explore some of the best of what Panama has to offer – including ziplining through the beautiful Gamboa rainforest, exploring tropical waterfalls, and relaxing on stunning and tropical San Blas Islands!
This Panama Pre-Vet Clinical Wildlife Medicine program is designed for university-aged students who are interested in working professionally with animals. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Most are 18 to 25, but we also accept full-time undergraduates over 25.
All undergraduate and pre-veterinary students are welcome. You do not need to be currently enrolled in school to attend. Individuals of any nationality may apply.
Each group will have a maximum of 12 students to ensure your ability to learn in the clinic. All programming is in English – no Spanish skills are required (but if you have them, you’ll definitely use them!)
*Private groups available! We can customize this program for your group of veterinarians, vet nurses, vet techs, university students, vet students, or high school students in either English or Spanish. Please contact us for more information.
In addition to your up-close observations and shadowing, you’ll get to:
You’ll be learning about key topics related to Central American wildlife, including:
bout and practice in the handling and restraint of small mammals, reptiles, and birds (including birds of prey)Explore the area and get to know Panama!
May 12- May 25, 2024
May 26- June 8, 2024
This program is a full adventure on its own, but it can easily be combined easily with sea turtles in Costa Rica, a wildlife rescue clinic in Costa Rica, or a large animal and marine program in Belize with minimal travel time and extra costs.
See all the programs you could link together!
The vet clinic where you’ll be working sees both companion animals and exotic animals, so you might see patients such as:
At the Sloth Sanctuary, it’s no surprise that you’ll mostly see sloths. You’ll be able to do a full physical exam on a sloth and learn how to care for them.
You might see other wildlife in the process of rescue and rehabilitation or who are long-term residents of APPC, including jaguars, ocelots, kinkajous, anteaters, otters, parrots, coatis, and crocodiles. You will have the opportunity to learn to perform clinical exams on some of these animals too
Hours and CreditParticipants will earn at least 60 veterinary and clinical hours. You will receive a certificate for 60 service hours upon program completion.
Students can calculate their own record of hours for their VMCAS or other applications – every vet school counts vet hours differently. You will also earn additional animal experience hours.
A transcript for 2 college credits for “Veterinary Clinical Practice and Skills” is available for this program (additional fee applies). This course is the academic component of your program. You may also be able to get credit directly from your college or university for this program. If you are seeking credit from your college or university, please contact us for any assistance needed.
Groups will have a maximum of 12 students each, which will be divided into two for a time in the clinic to ensure the highest quality of learning is provided.
Program housing will be in a guesthouse or similar lodging in Panama City, where you will share a room with another Loop Abroad student of the same gender. Wifi is available. Meals may be prepared on-site or provided from local restaurants – all meals are included in tuition. You will have staff on-site 24/7.
Tuition is $4350.
Interest-free payment plans are available. Current college students may be able to use federal financial aid toward their tuition. Your space is not held until your $1,000 deposit (credited toward tuition) is paid.
Tuition is all-inclusive except for international airfare. Tuition does not include medical insurance (the policy we suggest is under $25), a passport, snacks, and souvenirs.
Airfare is not included. There is no group flight for this program. We will provide you with information on when to arrive and depart from Panama City so that you can book your flight. Your tuition includes transportation from the Panama City airport to your program location at the start of your program, and back to the Panama City airport at the end. All in-country transportation is provided.
For programs starting after August 20, 2023, COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended, but they will no longer be required.
All participants must follow the Loop Abroad COVID policies, which include testing negative 2 days before travel, reporting symptoms if they arise during the program, masking or testing if asked to by staff, and isolating if you test positive.
Link this Panama Pre-Vet Wildlife Veterinary Medicine program to another two-week program. Costa Rica programs are an excellent choice to combine with Panama, as air travel between the two locations is short and convenient. This Panama Wildlife Veterinary Medicine program can combine with:
Your program is split between two learning locations: a vet clinic and a sloth sanctuary. The majority of your learning time will be spent in the vet clinic, while two days will be based at APPC.
Centro Veterinario Panama is the clinic where you’ll be learning from your teaching vet. They serve both companion animals and exotics – you can see some recent patients here. This full-service clinic will be operating and taking patients while you are on-site, so your experience will vary depending on what medical care the patients need.
APPC Panama is the sloth sanctuary. The APPC has helped to care for the wildlife of Panama for fifteen years. Their work includes teaching and training about the rescue, transportation, and first aid of orphaned, disoriented, sick, or injured wild animals. They help to train park rangers in Panama about wildlife management as well.
The APPC has rescued, rehabilitated and released more than 5,000 wild animals over the course of its 15-year history. They provide specialist care and veterinary treatment to animals, with the main objective of returning them to the forest.
Your program is based in Panama City, which is the capital of Panama. You will fly into and out of Panama City, and Loop Abroad will arrange your transport from the airport to program housing and to your program each day. We will be able to explore the city together, visit the Panama Canal, and spend an evening in the old town of Casco Viejo.
When we’re not learning in the clinic or sanctuary, we will explore some of the most beautiful and well-known sights that Panama has to offer. This is included in your program tuition.
You will visit the Panama CanalPortobelo National Park, both top tourist attractions in Panama. But our favorites (except our classroom locations) are the spectacular Anton Valley – for hiking, waterfalls, and canopy ziplining – and the beautiful San Blas Islands.
Anton Valley is in the crater of an extinct volcano, surrounded by mountains and cloud forest. It is a wonderful area to explore and see some of the wildlife we’re working to conserve. The San Blas Islands, where we’ll spend a day relaxing, have brilliant white sand beaches and warm blue water. This is Panama’s tropical archipelago, and a great place for a much-needed break from your hard work!
The weekdays of your program will be full of learning veterinary medicine and wildlife rehabilitation and care with your teaching veterinarian. Generally, you’ll join clinical rounds each day in a busy hospital and have the opportunity to learn from your vet treating a range of exotic patients, including kinkajous, sloths, birds, anteaters, and big cats.
In general, your clinic days will be a combination of shadowing your teaching veterinarian on his rounds and a custom-designed lecture to help you understand the underlying information you need to better understand the treatments being provided and the animals being treated. Hands-on workshops include:
You will have four half-days and two full days of clinical rounds during your program. You will also have a day focused on radiography and imaging , where you will get a chance to learn about X-rays and other imaging techniques hands-on, and try your hand at using your new skills to diagnose interesting wildlife, exotics, and small animal cases.
You will spend two days of your program at one of Panama’s busiest wildlife hospitals and sanctuaries: APPC Panama. On your days touring and working at the APPC, learning from the staff there and helping them with the sloths in their care, you’ll also have the opportunity to visit the Panama Canal and to visit Colón, where you’ll visit an exotic animal farm and the beautiful Portobelo National Park.
In between our clinic work, we’ll have a chance to explore interesting locations nearby, such as the Panama Viejo (also known as the Panama Ruins), Causeway, and Casco Viejo.
Your program also includes opportunities to visit other animal conservation efforts in Panama, including a behind-the-scenes tour of a raptor rehab center. These visits will help you gain a deeper understanding of varied conservation efforts throughout Panama, and give you an opportunity to learn directly from those involved in this work
On one of our leisure days, we will have a day to visit Panama’s famous San Blas Islands, home to turquoise waters and beautiful white sand beaches, and the perfect place for a rest. You can have a wonderful day exploring, snorkeling, and relaxing on the beach.
We will also have a full-day trip to the Anton Valley, which is a perfect place to explore the rainforest. With a combination of hiking, waterfall visit, and canopy zip-lining, we’ll have a great adventure day exploring one of the most beautiful, wild areas of Panama.
This program will be a combination of shadowing and hands-on learning in the clinic and wildlife sanctuary, and will also allow you to explore some of the most beautiful and diverse natural areas of Panama with your group and guide.
There are lots of ways to help fund your online and travel programs with Loop Abroad, and we are here to help!
Scholarships are a terrific way to cover some or all of your tuition for a Loop Abroad program. When you look for scholarships for pre-vet programs, you need to look at all your options!
The Gilman Scholarship could fund $5000 of your tuition and the next deadline is March 9 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time!
The Gilman Scholarship was designed to help students of limited financial means have the opportunity to study abroad – online or in-person. Nearly a third of applicants are awarded the scholarship! This is a great opportunity to help cover your tuition.
Students can receive up to $5,000 for travel or virtual programs. The scholarship can be applied to any of our online programs, to our semester programs, or one of our 2-week programs.
Along with their application, students must submit two essays, the Statement of Purpose Essay, and the Community Impact Essay. Students must also upload their transcripts (unofficial or official). For more information on the application guidelines, please click here.
See the official website and read about Loop Abroad students who have received this scholarship. If you are a US citizen receiving a Pell Grant and currently enrolled in college or university, we encourage you to apply for this scholarship. The March 2023 Deadline application will open in mid-January 2023 for applicants whose in-person programs or internships start between May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024. This cycle encompasses Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Academic Year 2023-2024, and Spring 2024 programs or internships. The application deadline is Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 11:59pm Pacific Time, and the advisor certification deadline is Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Loop Abroad has committed $10,000 in annual funding to program participants joining us from a military background. If you are active duty military or are a veteran, and are considering a career in veterinary medicine, we hope you’ll consider applying to join a Loop Abroad program.
Scholarships of $500 – $1,000 are available for in-person programs. Scholarships of $1,000 – $3,000 are available for select self-paced virtual programs, which can cover the full cost of a virtual program.
Please find more details here.
Loop Abroad is offering one FULL TUITION scholarship to cover one travel program (up to 2 weeks) of your choice. Applications for 2023 are now CLOSED. Applications for 2024 will re-open in January 2024. We’re proud to add this to the list of scholarships for pre-vet programs.
Who can apply: This scholarship is open to all students age 18 and over. You do not have to be a US Citizen. You do not have to be currently in school.
You do not have to complete an application to Loop Abroad in order to be selected for the scholarship. The scholarship winner must be able to complete the Loop Abroad enrollment paperwork, requiring a doctor’s signature, and must meet all safety requirements of program enrollment.
Note: if you have already applied to Loop Abroad and been accepted, you can still apply for this scholarship. If you have made any payments toward tuition and later receive the scholarship, your payments will be refunded.
Criteria for selecting the scholarship recipient:
We will consider financial need, commitment to conservation and/or animal science, academic performance, and ability to be a positive team member as factors in our decision. We are not looking for the applicant with the highest grades or the most animal hours. We are not looking for the applicant with the saddest story. We are looking for a student who embodies Loop Abroad’s values of teamwork, commitment to a cause, and hard work, and for a student who would not be able to otherwise afford Loop Abroad tuition (whether because of household income or recent change in circumstances).
Scholarship details:
This scholarship covers tuition to one Loop Abroad program with a duration of 1 to 2 weeks in the summer of 2023. It is not transferable to other individuals or future semesters. It does not include airfare, travel or medical insurance, passport, college credit fees (optional), visa (if required), or any optional incidentals during your program. Please understand that a full tuition scholarship does not make travel completely free: passport, airfare, and other expenses depend on the program location.
Once a scholarship winner is chosen, the winner will need to complete full application paperwork for Loop Abroad. The winner must then also complete the enrollment paperwork, which includes waiver forms and a medical form signed by a doctor indicating that you are able to safely participate in a travel program.
The scholarship winner agrees that Loop Abroad may publicize the awarding of the scholarship, including the recipient’s information such as name and current university. The scholarship winner will be subject to all regular rules of participating in a Loop Abroad program.
How to apply:
To apply, you must complete the following three steps:
Why is it called the Erica Ward Scholarship? Dr. Erica Ward is our Academic Director. We believe that she embodies the values we are seeking in our scholarship applicants: she is passionate, dedicated, hard-working, and driven to make the world a better place. Dr. Ward consistently strives to find ways that Loop Abroad can support projects in need and help its students and alumni have fulfilling academic opportunities. We have decided to name this scholarship after her to honor her continued commitment to her values and purpose. (PS – She isn’t dead. Please don’t write your essay about honoring her legacy. She is very much alive and still working here. If you are a finalist for the scholarship, she will read your essay.)
Details:
The scholarship will be credited toward tuition for the winning student toward the Loop Abroad program of their choice.
The scholarship is non-transferable. If the student cannot attend, the scholarship will be void – it is not a cash prize and cannot be paid as such. Applicants must be over the age of 18. Citizens and residents of any country may apply.
ALL PARTICIPANTS IN LOOP ABROAD TRAVEL PROGRAMS MUST BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19. All participants are subject to other COVID requirements, such as providing a negative COVID test taken within the 2 days prior to travel. If you are unable to meet these requirements, you may use your scholarship toward a Loop Abroad online program of your choice within the 2023 calendar year.
Loop Abroad reserves the right not to grant a travel scholarship for the 2023 year if there are no qualified applicants who have applied by the deadline.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain from Arizona.
This scholarship is open to US citizen undergraduate students who are child dependents of active duty service members and receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid. Students can receive awards of up to $5,000 for 2+ weeks of international travel or online programs. The scholarship can be applied to any of our online programs, semester programs, or 2-week travel programs.
The deadline for this scholarship is March 9, 2023.
The Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. This scholarship is open to both US citizens and permanent residents who are undergraduate students at a two-year or four-year college or university.
Recipients can receive up to $3,000 in awards for summer programs. This scholarship can be applied to our Thailand programs for 2+ weeks.
In order to apply, students must fill out an online application. Read the scholarship instructions here and the eligibility requirements here.
All student applications for Academic Year 2023-2024, including the following terms: Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Academic Year 2023-2024, Spring 2024, and Calendar Year 2024, are expected to open in February 2023.
The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) invests in promising students with financial needs who wish to study abroad. Potential applicants who meet our eligibility requirements may participate in any international education program that meets their academic objectives.
This scholarship is open to US citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the US. Scholarships range from $1,250 – $10,000.
Along with their application, students must submit a financial aid form (filled out by the financial aid office at their school), one recommendation letter, and a copy of their unofficial transcript.
Applications for Spring 2023 (programs from January- May) are due by September 15, 2022 at 12pm (noon) EST. Students may review the scholarship and application instructions here.
Scholarships of note that you can apply for through the Fund for Education Abroad include:
SeniorCare.com continues to bring more awareness to the key issues we face as an aging population. For the 8th consecutive year, we will be awarding an annual college scholarship to an individual that best demonstrates to us why “Aging Matters” to them. A $1500 scholarship will be given annually to a selected college student that currently cares for an aging loved one, works within the senior community, or intends to pursue a career that will have an impact on the elder population. Any existing student (or incoming freshman), in good academic standing, at a 2 or 4-year accredited college can apply for this scholarship. The recipient will demonstrate a unique and admirable understanding and desire to show us that “Aging Matters” to them.
All applicants can get more information and apply online here. Applications are due May 15, 2023.
FirstTrip.org offers scholarships for students who are studying abroad for the first time. At the time of writing, Thailand, Costa Rica, and Belize programs would be eligible for these $1,500 scholarships. Find out more and apply at FirstTrip.org. Applications are rolling and suggested to be submitted at least 3 months before your program. They also have funding available for passports ($130) as well as some other supplemental awards.
