FelineVMA, EveryCat name 2026 scholarship winners

By AI, Created 2:51 PM UTC, May 29, 2026, /AGP/ – The Feline Veterinary Medical Association and EveryCat Health Foundation have selected two veterinary students for 2026 scholarships tied to feline clinical practice and research. The awards go to Lainey Atwood of North Carolina State University and Lynna Li of Cornell University, underscoring the pipeline for future cat-focused veterinarians.

Why it matters: - The scholarships support veterinary students who want careers focused on cats, a field both organizations say needs more training and research capacity. - The awards are aimed at strengthening feline clinical care, including shelter medicine, integrative therapies and translational research. - The recognition also highlights the next generation of veterinarians who could shape cat-friendly standards of care.

What happened: - The Feline Veterinary Medical Association and EveryCat Health Foundation announced the 2026 scholarship recipients on June 2, 2026. - Lainey Atwood of North Carolina State University, Class of 2027, received the Clinical Practice Scholarship. - Lynna Li of Cornell University, Class of 2026, received the Clinical Research Scholarship.

The details: - Heather O’Steen, CEO of FelineVMA, said both students showed a deep passion for feline education and a strong commitment to advancing feline medicine. - Atwood is a fourth-year student at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. - Atwood volunteers with Operation Catnip and wants to practice small animal medicine with an emphasis on integrative care. - Atwood hopes to contribute to alternative treatment options that complement traditional medicine in feline patients. - Atwood also wants to work in a clinical setting that allows time for shelters and rescue organizations. - Atwood is especially interested in high-volume spay and neuter work and care for underserved feline populations. - Atwood wants integrative medicine to help alleviate chronic pain and improve quality of life for cats. - Li is a fourth-year veterinary student at Cornell University. - Li worked as a student technician on Cornell’s Internal Medicine service during veterinary school. - Li also conducted research in a tumor immunology lab that uses companion animals as models for human breast cancer. - Li plans to become a board-certified small animal internist and build a career in academia. - Li hopes to combine clinical practice with research. - Li is interested in feline models for human neoplasia and endocrine disease. - Li will complete a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City after graduation. - Jackie Ott Jaakola, president and CEO of EveryCat Health Foundation, said the recipients reflect academic excellence and a commitment to feline wellbeing.

Between the lines: - The awards point to two major paths in feline medicine: hands-on clinical care and research that can inform both veterinary and human health. - Atwood’s focus on shelters, rescue groups and integrative care signals demand for broader access to feline treatment options. - Li’s research interests show how cat health studies can support comparative medicine, especially in cancer and endocrine disease. - EveryCat positions itself as the world’s only nonprofit focused solely on funding feline health studies. - The foundation says cat health research remains underfunded compared with research for many other animals. - Since 1968, EveryCat says it has awarded more than $10 million in grants to over 30 partner institutions worldwide. - FelineVMA says it supports cat health through practice guidelines, continuing education, feline-specific resources and the Cat Friendly Practice and Cat Friendly Certificate programs.

What’s next: - The organizations are directing students and veterinarians to additional educational opportunities, student resources and feline-specific toolkits on their websites. - Li will begin her internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City after graduation. - Both scholarship recipients are expected to continue training toward careers that could expand feline medicine and cat-friendly care.

The bottom line: - The 2026 scholarships are a targeted investment in future feline clinicians and researchers at a time when cat health education and research funding remain limited.