48: The Passion of a Veterinary Student for Organized Medicine and Veterinary Legislation

Legend Thurman is a third-year DVM Candidate at the Royal Veterinary College in London, England. Catholic University of America graduate, originally from Washington, PA and Washington, DC. Thurman aspires to be a full-time governmental veterinarian after graduation, advocating for change in veterinary medicine in legislation, public policy, and advocacy. Over the past three years she has served as the Junior and Senior Delegate for RVC on National SAVMA’s House of Delegates, National SAVMA’s Governmental Affairs Committee Chair and now, advisor, and is currently the RVC SAVMA Chapter President. During this time, she formed a COVID-19 Hardship Grant for students and helped write new legislation alongside other students for the National SAVMA By-Laws to alter membership guidelines for student chapters who have been affected by various disasters. Currently, she is focusing on advancing exposure to students on issues such as well-being, DEI, organized medicine, one health, and relationships in the field along with a charity drive for the Veterinary School in Afghanistan.