Education
- Courses
- Advanced Degrees - Masters and PhD
- Research Credits
- Journal Club
- Externships/Internships
- Residency
- Aquatic Animal Health Certificate
- Additional Links
Courses
Advanced Fish Medicine (next class March 7-13, 2010) (Click on link for information about the last completed course) New information for the 2010 class will be available fall 2009. Note: The 2010 course will have a stronger focus on elasmobranchs than the previous course.
Diseases of Warmwater Fish (next class June 6-18, 2010) (Click on link for information about the last completed course) New information for the 2010 class will be available spring 2010.
SeaVet (next class Summer 2010) (Click on link for information about the last completed course) New information for the 2010 agenda and registration will be available in the spring 2010.
Topics in Aquatic Animal Health - VME 6938 (Fall and Spring semesters, 1 credit, max 4, letter grade) The class meets once a week and is in the format of presentation/discussion by students of selected articles relating to aquatic animal health, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. It also includes attendance to the monthly Aquatic Animal Health seminar series. For registration contact Dr. Larkin.
Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues *On-line distance ed.- VME 4906 & VME 6934 (Fall semester, 3 credits, letter grade, offered to both upper level undergraduate and graduate students) The course introduces students to some of the controversial issues surrounding the conservation of aquatic animal species ranging from invertebrates to marine mammals, with some emphasis on marine mammals, but including sea turtles, fisheries and marine ecosystems. Format includes heavy reading, discussion, a short pro/con review paper and presentations, review of a journal article, and for graduate students a grant proposal and review. This will be an asynchronous format with weekly modules and MediaSite lectures. For registration contact Dr. Larkin.
Additional courses offered by other institutions:
Advanced Degrees - Masters and PhD
For advanced degree information please contact:
Dr. Roger Reep
Program Graduate Coordinator
E-mail: reep@mbi.ufl.edu
Telephone: 352-392-2246 ext. 3859
For application information see:
http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/education/msphd/
Research Credits
Merck-Merial summer research program - for UF veterinary students
Information, including the original announcement, can be found on the external web page:
http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/research/?reqPage=merckmerial
Or on SharePoint which also includes the application forms (link only available on CVM computer):
http://our.vetmed.ufl.edu/rgs/SummerResearch/Forms/AllItems.aspx
The annual deadline is in March.
Contact Dr. Anderson regarding your intent to apply - kanders@mbi.ufl.edu
Journal Club
Topics in Aquatic Animal Health
Fall 2009; Journal Club meets on Wednesdays from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Research & Graduate Studies Conference Room.
VME 6938
This course covers presentation/discussion by students of selected articles relating to aquatic animal health, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. Students will be required to review two published articles within the subject area and present a written and oral review and critique of the paper or a written review of a seminar. Attendance to the monthly Aquatic Animal Health seminar series will be required.
Goals: Students will be introduced to literature within the field of Aquatic Animal Health, gain writing and oral presentation skills, and develop critical thinking skills.
Grades: Grades will be based on attendance, participation in discussions, and preparation of oral and written review of either a manuscript or seminar.
Fall 2009
Aug 26th - Lauren Harshaw: "Apparent digestibility of eelgrass Zostera marina by captive dugongs Dugong dugon in relation to the nutritional content of eelgrass and dugong feeding parameters" PDF
Sep 2nd - Alexis Morris: "Nitrate-induced elevations in circulating sex steroid concentrations in female Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri) in commercial aquaculture" PDF
Sep 9th - Seminar - Heather Hamlin "Nitrate in Aquaculture"
Sep 16th - Seminar - James 'Buddy' Powell "Manatee Research and Conservation in Cuba"
Sep 23rd - Noel Takeuchi: "Whaling and its controversies: Examining the attitudes of Japan's youth" PDF
Sep 30th - Alexis Morris: "Disruption of the thyroid system by diethylstilbesterol and ioxynil in the sea bream (Sparus aurata)" PDF
Oct 7th - Lauren Harshaw: "Evaluation of acid-insoluble ash as an indicator for digestibility determination with Red Drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, and Hybrid Striped Bass, Morone chysops X M. saxatilis" PDF
Oct 14th - no class, Marine Mammal Conference
Oct 21st - Noel Takeuchi: "Immunological impact of metals in Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) of the North Sea" PDF
Oct 28th - Stephanie King: "Validation of a serum immunoassay to measure progesterone and diagnose pregnancy in the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)" PDF
Nov 4th - Seminar - Brian Stacy- "Trouble in the Land of the Bandit Queen: Investigation of gharial mortality in India" 4-5 Lecture Hall B, CVM
Nov 11th - no class, Veterans Day
Nov 18th - Alissa Deming: "Florida red tide and brevetoxins: Association and exposure in live resident bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, U.S.A." PDF & Stephanie King: "Risk factors associated with development of poxvirus lesions in hospitalized California sea lions" PDF
Nov 23rd - Seminar - Randy Wells - "Dolphin conservation research in Sarasota Bay, Fl: Lessons from four decades and five generations" 4-5 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Rm 112
Nov 25th - Alissa Deming: "A DNA vaccine against dolphin morbillivirus is immunogenic in bottlenose dolphins" PDF & Alex Costidis: "Morphology of the lymphoid organs of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus" PDF
Dec 2nd - Milton Levin - "Aquatic Immunotoxicology: What have we learned?" 4-5 Lecture Hall B, CVM
Dec 9th - Alex Costidis: "Gas bubbles in seals, dolphins, and porpoises entangled and drowned at depth in gillnets" PDF
Last semester:
Spring 2009
Jan 14th - Seminar - Scott Citino, DVM (White Oak Conservation Center/ Gilman International Conservation), Mark Davis, DVM and Paul Reillo, Ph.D. (both from Rare Species Conservatory Foundation) "Repatriation and recovery of Kenya's Mountain Bongo Antelope"
Jan 21st - Meghan Bills: "Behaviour Patterns in Captive Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) at Itamaracá Island, Brazil" PDF
Jan 28th - Alexis Morris: "Vitellogenin gene expression in the intertidal blenny Lipophrys pholis: A new sentinel species for estrogenic chemical pollution monitoring in the European Atlantic coast?" PDF
Feb 4th - Jennifer McGee: "Immunohistochemical investigation of the cross-reactivity of selected cell markers from various species for characterization of lymphatic tissues in the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)" PDF
Feb 11th - Alexis Morris: "PCB-related alteration of thyroid hormones and thyroid hormone receptor gene expression in free-ranging harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)" PDF
Feb 18th - Noel Takeuchi: "Concentrations of trace elements in blood and skin of Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)" PDF
Feb 25th - Noel Takeuchi: "Teeth as biomonitors of selenium concentrations in tissues of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas)" PDF
Mar 4th - Jennifer McGee: "Immunoglobulin classes in aquatic mammals" PDF
Mar 11th - Spring Break - No class
Mar 18th - Seminar - Laurie Gage, DVM "Medical insights from a USDA veterinarian: Pinnipeds, cats, and other exotic species" at 12:30pm in VS-20
2nd Seminar - Janet Whaley, DVM "Marine Mammal Rescue 911: An pverview of the NOAA Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program" at 4pm in Lecture Hall A
Mar 25th - No class
Apr 1st - Seminar - Don Behringer, PhD "The epidemiology and ecological relevancy of a novel disease in the Caribbean spiny lobster" at 12:30pm in VS-20
Apr 8th - Lauren Harshaw: " Nutrient and energy consumption of captive mature dugong (Dugong dugon) consuming eelgrass at the Toba Aquarium" PDF
Apr 15th - Meghan Bills: "Female goldfish signal spawning readiness by altering when and where they release a urinary pheromone" PDF
Apr 22nd - Kim Goldbach: "Involution and cystic transormation of the thymus in the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops trucatus" PDF
April 29th - Seminar - Chris Torno, DVM, MS "Cetacean Stranding Response in the Philippines" at 12:30pm in V3-170 (Path conference room on the 3rd floor of the VAB)
Fall 2008
Aug 26th - Jen McGee: "A Retrospective study of pathologic findings in the Amazon and Orinoco River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) in captivity" PDF
Sep 2nd - Heather Daniel: "Sex, seasonal, and stress-related variations in elasmobranch
corticosterone concentrations" PDF
Sep 9th – Seminar - AAH faculty "An overview of the Aquatic Animal Health Program" at 12:30pm in VS-20 (Note: There is not an evening seminar)
Sep 16th – Jen McGee: "Immunohistochemical evidence for multiple photosystems
in box jellyfish" PDF
Sep 23rd – Carla Phillips: "Relationship between plasma iron concentration
and gastric pH in captive adult bottlenose
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)" PDF
Sep 30th - Meghan Bills: "The contribution of amino acids to the odour of a prey species in the
Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)" PDF
Oct 7th – Seminar - Dr. Ramiro Isaza "Elephants: A new aquatic species?" at 12:30pm in VS-20. (Note: There is not an evening seminar)
Oct 14th – Carla Phillips: "Effects of a red-tide toxin on fish hearing" PDF
Oct 21st – Alex Costidis: "Oxygen stores and aerobic dive limit of ringed seals (Phoca hispida)" PDF
Oct 28th – Meghan Bills: "A Sensory System at the Interface
between Urban Stormwater Runoff
and Salmon Survival" PDF
Nov 4th – Seminar - Ray Davis "A lifetime of innovation in the aquarium industry" at 12:30pm in VS-7. (Note: There is not an evening seminar)
Nov 11th – Holiday, no class
Nov 18th – Kim Goldbach: "Histological, Immunohistochemical and
Pathological Features of the Pituitary Gland
of Odontocete Cetaceans from the Western
Gulf of Mexico" PDF
Nov 25th – Alex Costidis: "Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) head tissues: physical properties and CT imaging" PDF
Dec 2nd – Seminar - Andy Kane "
Environmental Mycobacteria: Fish tell part of the story" at 12:30pm in VS-20 (Note: There is not an evening seminar)
Dec 9th - Heather Daniel: "Genomic Variation of the Fibropapilloma-Associated Marine Turtle
Herpesvirus across Seven Geographic Areas and Three Host Species" PDF
Note to Graduate Students:
Sign up for VME 6938 and receive one credit
Externships/Internships
Clinical externships
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Externship List
When you search under Category = 'Aquatic Animal' at the above link, you will find several two - six week externships offered through various zoological and aquarium facilities. Follow the links to facilities of interest.
Funding from the Marine Mammal Health Program is available on a competitive basis to support student externships. University of Florida students can apply for funding to any externship in the field of aquatic animal health. Non-UF students can apply for funding to any externship in the field of aquatic animal health as long as it is in the state of Florida. For more details, you can access our application (PDF). Application due dates are either Nov 20th or Apr 20th.
Other Officially Recognized Internships and Externships
AAZV - Click on Education Center and go to Educational Opportunities, which links to Internship and Externship opportunities listed within or outside of the U.S.
Mote Marine Laboratory - Internships
Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP)
Residency in Aquatic Animal Health
The residency in aquatic animal health is accredited by the American College of Zoological Medicine. The program is a 3 year post-DVM training program in clinical medicine. The applications are handled through the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP). Currently we take one resident every 3 years and the next anticipated opening will be in 2010.
Aquatic Animal Health Certificate
The aquatic animal health certificate program described here is a broad 15 credit, educational program that gives veterinary students a unique opportunity to nurture their interest in this exciting and diverse field. Students who successfully complete this program will receive a certificate that documents their concentrated training in aquatic animal health during their DVM curriculum at the University of Florida.
Certificate Details (PDF)
The future direction of the certificate is to also be able to include veterinary students, veterinarians, and graduate students. Thus we are currently working to develop a format for broadening our participant base.
Additional Links
If you are potentially interested in a career in aquatic animal health, there are a couple of sites that you should visit:
International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine
Careers in aquatics (PDF)
For further educational information please contact:
Dr. Iske Larkin
Education Coordinator
Aquatic Animal Health Program
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Florida
PO Box 100136
2015 SW 16th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32610-0136
Telephone: 352-392-2212 ext. 5168
Fax: 352-846-1171
Email: larkini@vetmed.ufl.edu