VERMONT — The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA) has awarded nearly $30,000 in grants to three Vermont food animal veterinarians, including Dr. Anne Murphy of Weybridge. The veterinarians commit to a year of service in food animal practice in underserved areas of the state in return for the award, which is used to pay off their student loans. 
These grants were made possible through funding by the Vermont Legislature to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. The program is administered by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association. Since 2012, nearly $220,000 has been distributed to grant recipients. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the average student loan debt of a 2016 veterinary school graduate is $167,535 with some students entering the work force with over $300,000 in debt.