3 minute read
The Animal Care PA Scholarship Fund Needs Your Help
By Larry Gerson, VMD
Veterinary school was a challenge for me. I was accepted after 3 years at Penn State and found myself in a class of brilliant fellow students with good study habits and great time management. These were attributes and skills that I lacked. I was also struggling financially. Having earned enough money from summer jobs to attend undergraduate school, I was forced to borrow funds for Penn Vet.
My veterinary school transportation was an old VW beetle with a rusted door pillar. I had to lift the door just to get it latched. The deteriorated wheel wells took on water in heavy rain. The ignition did not work and I had to jump the starter with a screwdriver by laying in the street to reach the terminals. The other option was to push it and jump start the engine. Imagine my first date with my soon-to-be-wife, Barbara. I had to ask her to help me roll the car to pop the clutch to get it running. I remember fondly calling her from the New Bolton Center pay for phone. If we talked more than 3 minutes I had to reverse the charges. I did not have enough change for a long talk. Tuition jumped 50% in my junior year and I had no way to pay for the increase. During my last 5 months as a senior student, I lived out of my vehicle as I could not afford an apartment. I frequently stayed at the school doing night call in the wards for a place to sleep. When I graduated, total student debt compared to first- year earnings was about equal.
PVMA came to my rescue with financial aid that helped me through my senior year. In appreciation, I have been dedicated to the state association for my entire professional career.
I recall my speech as PVMA president in 2000 when I spoke about what my fellow veterinarians had taught me. I talked about how my first and only employer as a veterinarian, Dr. Tom Moore, insisted that it is important to give back to the profession and how it is critical to become active in the local and state veterinary associations. I recalled Dr. Borger who worked tirelessly all year making woodworking auction items for the foundation (now called Animal Care PA). He taught me it is the little things we do in life that really count. I was saddened to read the obituary of Dr. Don Herr. He and his wife, Dr. Patricia Thomson, showed me by example that to survive veterinary medicine, one has to have a life and interests outside of the profession. They would bring prize-winning plants for the scholarship auction. Twenty years later I still have a large daylily garden from them. Finally, my wife taught me that family is by far the most important part of life.
The scholarship committee has been a special part of my giving back. This year we had applications from 54 veterinary students and were overwhelmed with deserving veterinary technician students applying for our limited funds. With less than $10,000 to distribute, we struggled on how to help bridge the gap for their financial need. Current debt-to-first-year-earning ratio is at least 3 to 1 now. New graduates often pay $1000 a month for 30 years on their loans.
It is the responsibility of all veterinarians to support student scholarships. The demand is great and the profession needs everyone who can give to help our future colleagues. Please contribute to the Animal Care PA Scholarship Fund. The need is now.
About the Author: Larry Gerson, VMD, is a 1975 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet). He was a past president of the Western Pennsylvania VMA and served as a long-term trustee. He is president of the PVMA in 2000 and then chaired the foundation now called Animal Care PA. He was also a past president of the Veterinary Medical Alumni Society at Penn Vet and also served on the Dean’s Alumni Council. Additionally, he was the vice chair of the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. Larry retired in 2020. He and his wife Barbara have two children and four grandchildren. Larry can be reached at lgersonvmd@gmail.com.
