Chewy Health Awards Nearly $1 Million in Veterinary Scholarships
The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), in partnership with Chewy Health, has announced the recipients of the 2026 Chewy Veterinary Leaders scholarships.
The program provides financial support and professional development opportunities for veterinary students from underserved backgrounds. With the 2026 cohort, total scholarship funding awarded through the program has reached $900,000.
According to AAVMC, the initiative is designed to support students as they progress through veterinary training and early career development. The program combines scholarship funding with structured mentorship, peer engagement, and leadership development activities.
The Chewy Veterinary Leaders Program awards $20,000 scholarships to 15 second-year veterinary students nominated by their institutions. In addition to financial assistance, participants take part in bi-monthly peer support sessions, leadership and networking activities at Chewy’s headquarters, and post-graduation enrollment in MentorVet LEAP’s six-month early-career mentorship program. Awardees also become part of the Chewy Veterinary Leaders alumni network.
“This partnership supports students who have demonstrated both academic achievement and leadership potential,” said Ted Y. Mashima, DVM, Interim Chief Executive Officer of AAVMC. “Programs like this can help reduce financial barriers and provide professional support during critical stages of veterinary training.”
Mita Malhotra, President of Chewy Health, noted that the program has expanded beyond scholarship funding to include leadership development and mentorship resources. With the 2026 cohort, Chewy Health reports that its total investment in the program has exceeded $1 million.
2026 Chewy Veterinary Leaders
The following students were selected based on institutional nomination and demonstrated leadership potential:
Vitaly Capitaine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jasmine Cobos, Midwestern University
Natasha George, University of Arizona
Carolina Gonzalez, University of Georgia
Dasia Harris, North Carolina State University
Esmeralda Lopez Hernandez, Cornell University
Zachary Inniss, The Ohio State University
Chauntelle Johnson, University of California, Davis
Christina Lim, University of Missouri
Crystal Mateo Mendez, Colorado State University
Marcus McCaskill, Iowa State University
Maria Rivera, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Nailah Smith, Purdue University
Nhi Tran, University of Minnesota
Joshua Waller, Kansas State University
