This article was originally printed in the Sept/Oct 2026 issue of the California Veterinarian magazine.
The CVMA is excited to announce the three participants in the Donald G. Low/CVMA Clinical Veterinary Medicine Academy for the 2026–2027 academic year. Congratulations to the outstanding individuals for being chosen for this program! The fellows and their service assignments are as follows:
DR. ELYSE MATH | TRUCKEE
Service: Small Animal Internal Medicine
DR. IRENE NAKAOKA | SACRAMENTO
Service: Cardiology
DR. JOHN NICHOLS | SAN DIEGO
Service: Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care
The Donald G. Low/CVMA Clinical Veterinary Medicine Academy is a collaborative program offered by the CVMA and the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine. The academy honors the late Donald G. Low, former director of the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. In 1997, the CVMA spearheaded a campaign to fund this unique program and continues to partner with UC Davis to recruit and select academy fellows.
The fellowship is offered in a variety of specialty areas. Past specialty areas have included anesthesia, small animal internal medicine, small animal emergency and critical care, ophthalmology, nutrition, neurology and neurosurgery, behavior, medical oncology, and more.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE DONALD G. LOW/CVMA CLINICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE ACADEMY?
Benefits of the academy include:
Wherever you reside in California, the Donald G. Low/CVMA Clinical Veterinary Medicine Academy is for you! Apply now to bring your practical knowledge into the classroom and join in the learning experience with your future colleagues.
Applications for the 2027–2028 Donald G. Low/CVMA Clinical Veterinary Medicine Academy will open in September 2026. The deadline to apply is December 18, 2026, by 5 pm (PDT). Applicants must reside in California and be CVMA members. Applications that do not meet these requirements will be disqualified.
For more information, contact the UC Davis Center for Continuing Professional Education at 530.752.3905 or svmcontinuinged@ucdavis.edu. Additional details may be found online at ce.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/don-low-academy.
It’s Not About Politics….It’s About Your Profession. The CVMA-PAC is a bipartisan political action committee whose purpose is to educate state legislators and candidates on issues of importance to the veterinary profession