Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park (LMU-OPCVM) has announced Sage Surratt as the recipient of the Rick DuCharme Honorary Scholarship, established to recognize students committed to community-based veterinary medicine, animal welfare and expanding access to veterinary care for underserved populations.
The scholarship honors Rick DuCharme, founder of First Coast No More Homeless Pets, now known as Every Pet, and recognizes his lifelong dedication to improving access to veterinary services and advancing humane community programs.
Surratt, who is from Beardstown, a rural community in central Illinois, grew up on her family’s horse farm, where she developed a passion for animal care through working with and competing Missouri Fox Trotters. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences from the University of Missouri in May before beginning veterinary school at LMU-OPCVM in June.
Her personal experiences growing up in a low-income community have shaped her desire to pursue community-based veterinary medicine. Surratt saw firsthand how limited access to affordable veterinary care can affect both animals and the families who care for them. Her long-term goal is to return to her hometown area after graduation and establish a mixed-animal veterinary practice that serves both companion animals and livestock while making veterinary care more accessible to families who may otherwise go without.
Since beginning veterinary school, Surratt has already demonstrated a strong commitment to animal welfare and community-based care through her involvement with several local organizations and initiatives.
She has assisted with “Spay Day” at Every Pet and has served as a foster for Jax Humane, caring for bottle-baby kittens. She also recently fostered a dog involved in an animal cruelty case through Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) before adopting the dog herself.
In addition to her foster work, Surratt participates in Every Pet’s “Dog Day Out” program and serves as secretary of LMU-OPCVM’s newly established Shelter Medicine Club. She also plans to participate in an upcoming Street Dog Coalition event, where volunteers will provide free veterinary services to people who are experiencing or at risk for homelessness.
Surratt said her involvement in these programs has reinforced her desire to pursue a career focused on improving access to veterinary care and serving communities in need.
Her commitment to this work reflects the mission of the Rick DuCharme Honorary Scholarship, which was created to help aspiring veterinarians pursue careers that extend beyond traditional clinical practice and address the broader needs of animals and the people who care for them.
The Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park is dedicated to preparing practice-ready veterinarians through an innovative, community-focused educational model. With a commitment to addressing the shortage of veterinary professionals and increasing access to care, LMU-OPCVM emphasizes hands-on clinical experience, community partnerships, animal welfare and public health. The program has received a Letter of Reasonable Assurance from the AVMA Council on Education.
Learn more about LMU-OPCVM at OPVetMed.lmunet.edu.
About Every Pet
Founded by DuCharme in Jacksonville, Florida, Every Pet is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the euthanasia of adoptable pets through spay/neuter programs, public education, and community-based veterinary care. The organization’s work has transformed animal welfare in Northeast Florida and continues to serve as a model for humane initiatives nationwide.
