Ruth Francis-Floyd, DVM, MS, DACZM

Ruth Francis-Floyd is a professor and extension specialist for aquatic medicine within the College of Veterinary Medicine. She holds a joint appointment in the Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation and is an Affiliate Extension Specialist with Florida Sea Grant. Her area of expertise is production aquaculture and clinical fish medicine, but her extension and out reach efforts also include some marine mammal activities. She served as the Director of the Aquatic Animal Health program from 2004-2013 before returning to her role as an extension specialist. She currently coordinates the Residency Training program in Aquatic Animal Health that is accredited by the American College of Zoological Medicine. She also currently serves as Chairman of the Education Committee of the American Association of Fish Veterinarians.

• Diplomate

  American College of Zoological Medicine

Dr. Francis-Floyd often collaborates with other researchers to work on broad problems. In recent years, she has coordinated a large group of researchers working on the health of the long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) in Florida, and recently was lead author on a diagnostic manual published for the species. She currently supports projects at the Florida Conservation Center in Apollo Beach Florida that are directed at culture of the species with the ultimate goal of stock enhancement in Florida waters. She currently serves as the principal investigator on a USDA-NIFA project that supports the training of private veterinarians in aquaculture practice. In recent years, she has also collaborated on projects that support improved understanding of the biology and habitat requirements of the African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) in West Africa, and on a series of projects to support improved understanding of Cold-Stress syndrome in the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Dr. Francis-Floyd frequently collaborates with scientists in the Florida Fish and Conservation Commission, appropriate federal agencies and other public entities.

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