Visiting Practitioner Program - Zoo Medicine

Faculty:
  • Ramiro Isaza, DVM, MS, DACZM (Service Chief)
  • Darryl Heard, BVMS, PhD, DACZM
  • Elliott Jacobson, DVM, PhD, DACZM
  • James Wellehan, DVM, MS, DACZM, DACVM
Residents/Interns:
  • Copper Aitken-Palmer, DVM, MS
  • Natalie Hall, DVM
  • Debbie Myers, DVM
  • Rolando Quesada, DMV

The Zoological Medicine Service (ZMS) at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center (UFVMC) offers the highest quality diagnostic and treatment care for nondomestic animals, including Florida indigenous wildlife and non-native exotic animals. Unique and comprehensive, the zoological medicine program at the College of Veterinary Medicine is one of only a handful of full-fledged nondomestic animals medicine services in operation at veterinary colleges nationwide.

Fish, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals make up the clientele seen regularly by faculty of ZMS at the UFVMC. Approximately 1,000 cases are seen within the UFVMC and an equal number are seen in the field at a variety of private and zoological collections. Field health care is provided at St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Lubee Bat Conservancy, and Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo. The ZMS also has programmatic ties with White Oak Plantation and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The ZMS is structured to give veterinary students a limited exposure to nondomestic animal medicine. An elective clerkship in Zoological and Wildlife Medicine is offered, with 3 to 6 students rotating through the service for a two week period. Additionally, the UFVMC has a residency training program in Zoological Medicine, with two residents rotating between clinic and field service and the 3rd year resident spending most of their time at White Oak Plantation.

Visiting practitioners are expected to be involved in all aspects of the service including the evaluation of outpatient cases and, depending of their skill, treatment (medical and surgical) of inpatient cases. Visiting practitioners will have opportunities to participate in field activities. Arrangements can be made for more specific experiences. There are a wide range of seminars and classroom lectures offered throughout the veterinary college and there will be time to attend those that are relevant and of interest. The visiting practitioner also is expected to participate in the Zoological Medicine Journal Club.