The Philippine Veterinary Medical Association Inc.–USA is hosting its first veterinary alumni reception Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Trafalgar Room on the third floor of the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.

The Philippines is home to at least 19 veterinary schools, according to the association's president, Dr. Meliton N. Novilla. Some 400 graduates of those institutions are in the United States, many of whom are in small animal practice, he said.

"Our organization has been working to integrate American and Filipino veterinarians with connections to Philippine veterinary schools into the PVMA Inc.–USA, and the first alumni reception at the New Orleans AVMA meeting is a step in this direction."

The PVMA Inc.–USA was created in 1993 to support veterinary education in the Philippines and continuing education opportunities for Philippine-trained veterinarians.