The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation will award two research graduates with the first-ever EQUUS Foundation Research Fellows, to be presented Nov. 20 during the 2011 AAEP Annual Convention, taking place in San Antonio, Texas.

Two AAEP-member researchers completing residency or graduate programs will each receive a $5,000 scholarship for their contributions to furthering equine research and discovery. Supported in partnership with The EQUUS Foundation, the fellows will continue to emphasize the importance of advancing equine veterinary knowledge through research. The program mirrors the annual AAEP Past Presidents’ Fellow, a program started by AAEP past presidents in 2006 that provides an annual fellowship to a graduate research student.

"The equine veterinary community continues to struggle to find those dedicated to careers in equine research, especially veterinarians seeking advanced degrees," said Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, AAEP Foundation Chairman. "We can’t thank the EQUUS Foundation enough for their dedication to education and responding to the important need of supporting those dedicating their careers to equine research."

"The health and safety of horses is core to the mission of The EQUUS Foundation," said Jenny Belknap Kees, chairman of the EQUUS Foundation board. "We strongly believe that equine research is critical to the continual improvement in the lives of horses. We are thrilled to partner with the AAEP Foundation to foster equine research by sponsorship two research fellowships