1. FISHERIES SCHOLAR PROGRAM APPROVED
An innovative program for attracting top students with interest in aquaculture and fisheries health into the veterinary profession received final approval by the Admissions Committee for the College of Veterinary Medicine at NCSU last week. The first program of its kind, The Aquaculture and Fisheries Scholars Program will offer early acceptance to veterinary college to top NCSU undergraduate fisheries majors interested in fish health careers. The students who participate in the innovative program will benefit from special mentoring and summer experiences. They will be selected for early acceptance based on their academic performance, and their demonstrated focus on fisheries science issues. Fisheries Scholars are guaranteed acceptance into veterinary school upon successful completion of the Pre-Vet prerequisites and by maintaining their grades through their undergraduate fisheries careers. Once in the DVM program they will continue to be mentored by both CVM and FWS mentors and will have opportunities to pursue fisheries related experiences in their summers. The program is supported by the American Fisheries Society through their Fish Health Section.
2. WAAZM AWARDS PRESENTED
The coveted WAAZM Awards for Clinical Competence in Zoological Medicine were presented at this year’s annual CVM Awards Banquet by Dr. Ryan DeVoe. The outstanding students receiving awards were:
- Laura Foster – Avian Medicine
- Julie Cavin and Tyler Carmack - Aquatic Medicine
- Hope Valentine - Herptile Medicine
- Sally Davis - Invertebrate Medicine
- Stephanie Desmarais - Wildlife Medicine
- Carin VanderKlok - Zoo Medicine
3. LEWBART INVERTEBRATE MEDICINE TEXT WINS AWARD
Invertebrate Medicine, the recently published text edited by Dr. Greg Lewbart with contributions by numerous EMC faculty has been recognized for its impact with a 2007 "Texty" Textbook Excellence Award by the Text and Academic Authors Association (TAA). The book, Invertebrate Medicine, 1st ed., by Gregory A. Lewbart, published by Blackwell Publishing Professional won the in the College Life Sciences category. The award will be presented on Friday June 22 at the 2007 TAA Conference on Text and Academic Authoring in Buffalo, NY. Appropriately, Dr. Lewbart who conceived and brought the book into existence will accept the award on behalf of all of the contributors.
Other Texty award winners for 2007 are: Challenging Behavior in Young Children: Understanding, Preventing, and Responding Effectively, 2nd ed., by Barbara Kaiser and Judy Sklar Rasminsky, published by Allyn & Bacon (College Communication/Education/Performing Arts/Visual Arts category); - The Essentials of Computer Organization & Architecture, 2nd ed., by Linda Null and Julia M. LoBur, published by Jones & Bartlett Publishers (College Computer Science/Engineering category); - Data and Computer Communications, 8th ed., by William Stallings, published by Pearson/Prentice Hall (College Computer Science/Engineering category); - Finite Mathematics and Applied Calculus, 1st ed., by Frank C. Wilson, published by Houghton Mifflin (College Mathematics/Statistics category); - A History of Roman Art, by Fred S. Kleiner, published by Wadsworth/Thomson Higher Education (College Humanities/Social Sciences category); - Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Class: The Sociology of Group Conflict & Change, by Joseph F. Healey, published by Sage Publications, Pine Forge Press (Humanities/Social Sciences category). For more information about the TAA and its awards visit http://www.taaonline.net/index.html
4. DEGERNES PRESENTS IN ZURICH
Dr Laurel Degernes recently returned from Zurich, Switzerland where she presented a paper at the 12th Annual European Association of Avian Veterinarians Conference (March 28-31, 2007), co-authored with Drs. Ryan De Voe, Debbie Zombeck, Karen Wolf (Zool Res ’08), and Robert MacLean (Zool Res ’06). The paper entitled "Ventricular dysplasia in captive parakeet auklets (Aethia psittacula)" documents an important syndrome in small alcids.
5. HARMS SEMINAR in CMAST SERIES
This past Friday Dr. Craig Harms, Director of Marine Health Program for the EMC presented an update of the work he is conducting in collaboration with other EMC faculty on Marine Bartonellosis. as part of the CMAST Seminar Series. The noon seminar series seeks to highlight NCSU scientists and their contributions to our understanding of the marine ecosystems.
6. Advanced Topics in Zoological Medicine II, CBS 818
The Advanced Topics in Zoological Medicine Course (CBS 817 and 818) has finished its run for the spring semester. The next session will be at the beginning of fall semester 2007. Watch the EMC News for the topics and schedule or go to http://emc.ncsu.edu
EMC WEBSITE http://emc.ncsu.eduRECENT FUNDING AND PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Degernes LA. 2007. Veterinary contributions to wildlife biology: participation in avian field studies in Alaska. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 21(1):63-68. (Download the PDF)
Birkenheuer AJ, Harms CA, Neel J, Marr HS, Tucker MD, Acton A, Tuttle AD, Stoskopf MK. The identification of a genetically unique Piroplasma in North American river otters (Lontra canadensis). Parasitology 134: 631-635. (Download the PDF)
Royal LW, Grafinger MS, Lascelles BDX, Lewbart GA, Christian LS. 2007. Internal fixation of a femur fracture in an American bullfrog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 230: 1201-1204. (Download the PDF)
Presentations
L. Degernes, R. DeVoe, D. Zombeck, K. Wolf, R. MacLean 2007. Ventricular dysplasia in captive parakeet auklets (Aethia psittacula). 12th Annual European Association of Avian Veterinarians Conference, March 28-31, 2007, Zurich, Switzerland.
Harms CA. 2007. Fish Anesthesia and Surgery. Special Species Symposium, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 20 – 22 April, Ithaca, NY.
Harms CA. 2007. Sea Turtle Biology and Medicine. Special Species Symposium, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 20 – 22 April, Ithaca, NY.
Harms CA. 2007. Sea Turtle Comparative Anatomy and Necropsy Wet Lab. Special Species Symposium, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 20 – 22 April, Ithaca, NY.
Harms CA. 2007. Marine Bartonellosis. CMAST Seminar Series, 27 April, Morehead City, NC. Submit your publications and grant awards to Dr. Stoskopf so they can be included in the EMC NEWS
Submit your publications and grant awards to Dr. Stoskopf so they can be included in the EMC NEWS
Opportunities
Opportunities for jobs have become so numerous that it is difficult to keep the listings current. To help with that, the following links take you to listings of job opportunities that might be of interest to EMC'ers. Positions not appearing on these lists are noted individually below.
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians
National Wildlife Health Center
National Wildlife Research Center
International Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
American Zoo and Aquarium Association
More Opportunities
Project Manager, Democratic Republic of Congo programme
Conservation Programmes, ZSL (Zoological Society of London )
ZSL has been working in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2001, with funding from the ’s Darwin Initiative, UNESCO, USFWS and currently the EU. Since October 2004 ZSL’s activities in DRC have been focused on Virunga National Park in North Kivu . Virunga is Africa ’s oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but has suffered dramatic wildlife declines and now suffers from lack of management capacity following years of civil conflict. ZSL’s activities in Virunga include ranger training, rehabilitation of park infrastructure and supporting ranger patrols. This work is conducted in close collaboration with the Institute Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and alongside various conservation, development and humanitarian NGO partners. The current 1.5 million euro EU-funded project, previously scheduled to finish in May 2007, has now been extended to December 2008, and during this extension period will likely also run alongside a sub-contract from the EU awarded to ZSL through partners WWF. An experienced candidate is sought to manage ZSL’s programme in DRC, to replace the outgoing manager. Main responsibilities include project management (staff supervision, budgeting, accounting, reporting, recruitment and strategic planning), capacity building (planning, supporting and where necessary executing the training of ICCN and ZSL staff and Congolese/international students), liaison and collaboration with partners and donors, fundraising (including proposal development), and representation and promotion of ZSL and its conservation work. The project manager will be responsible for a team of at least two other office staff and will work closely with WWF, WCS and other partners to develop the programme further.
The postholder should have as a minimum a BSc or MSc level qualification in a relevant discipline, excellent written and spoken English and French, good organisation and interpersonal skills, experience of living and working in west/central Africa and experience of managing large conservation/development projects, ideally with the EU or similar donors. The position is based in Goma and Beni , DRC, with frequent displacement within and around the park, and is offered until December 2008, with possibility of extension depending on funding. A salary of ~£20,000 p.a., return flight from Europe to Goma, visa and insurance under ZSL’s group travel insurance policy will be provided. The position is to start as soon as possible (preferably in May). Applicants should send their CV and a covering letter detailing relevant experience and skills, and including a possible start date, by email to ZSL’s HR Department (hr@zsl.org) by Friday 4th May 2007. Further details of the position can be obtained by emailing Noelle Kumpel (noelle.kumpel@zsl.org). We hope to hold interviews (in person or by telephone) around 10-11th May. We regret that we will only be able to contact applicants who have been selected for interview.
Exotic Animal Clinical Instructor
University of Georgia, to assist current faculty with the exotic animal, wildlife and zoological service at the University of Georgia from mid-May to mid-October. The service consists of 1 full-time faculty person (myself), 1 full-time intern, 1 dedicated technician, 2-3 part-time assistants, and 1-4 students on elective rotation. When the faculty is off-clinics, the Instructor would have sole responsibility for intern/senior student teaching and seeing first opinion and referral clinical cases within a well-equipped university teaching hospital. Interested clinicians should have a minimum of 4 years experience in exotic pet medicine, and be comfortable performing standard diagnostic and surgical procedures (although specialty surgical support is available). Emergency calls are typically handled by the intern. Salary negotiable and to be determined if a candidate can be identified. Please contact Steve Hernandez-Divers directly at SteveDZooVet@aol.com if you are interested. For more information on the service, please visit www.vet.uga.edu/zoo
RESEARCH INTERN
Potomac Conservancy, a Silver Spring, MD-based nonprofit, seeks an upper level undergraduate or a graduate student with a strong background in environmental science and land use policy to undertake a research project on the health of the Potomac watershed. The Research Intern will answer questions essential to understanding the health of the watershed. The outcome of this research will be a report on the health of the watershed, with emphasis on the trends as they relate to several key indicators of watershed health. These may include, land
use, forest and agriculture trends, population trends, policy
effectiveness, conservation program impacts. Stipend possible. To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and writing sample to: Kevin Mack, Vice President for Conservation, 8601 Georgia Avenue, Suite 612,Silver Spring, MD 20815, Mack@potomac.org
TENURE TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ZOOLOGICAL MEDICINE
LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. This is a tenure-track faculty position in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences with a concurrent appointment to the professional staff of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics (VTH&C). The successful candidate will be expected to contribute toward instruction in zoological medicine and conduct independent and collaborative research. Contribution in the VTH&C will be through participation in the zoological medicine service of that unit. Required Qualifications: Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine or equivalent degree; Ph.D.; four years of clinical experience in Zoological Medicine; experience in clinical investigation and/or team research. Additional Qualifications Desired: Significant experience working with wildlife and reptile species. Responsibilities: participates in the didactic and tutorial instructional programs in zoological medicine; cooperates with other faculty members in the development of teaching programs, visual aids and other instructional materials; participates in the School’s research program as a team leader and member; participates in and helps supervise the zoological medicine service of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital & Clinics; cooperates with other clinical faculty in the clinical and hospital practice; supports the emergency duty clinicians through provision or supervision of zoological medicine service when requested; participates in the continuing education programs of the School of Veterinary Medicine. School wide participation will be through the Directorship of the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check. Application deadline is April 30, 2007 or until candidate is selected. Anticipated hire date is May 15, 2007. Submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae (including e-mail address), and the names of three references to: Dr. David F. Senior, Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Room 1821
School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University. Ref: Log #026035, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
MARINE MAMMAL MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY INTERNSHIP
The Marine Mammal Center in collaboration with the University of California (Davis) has an exciting opportunity for a Veterinary Intern to work in our Veterinary Science Department. This is a one-year internship which is scheduled to start in mid-summer 2007, ending in mid-summer 2008. This position requires a DVM degree or equivalent. Previous marine mammal or wildlife experience is preferred. Preference will also be given to individuals who possess at least one year of clinical veterinary experience. The Marine Mammal Center veterinary staff includes two full-time veterinarians, four veterinary technicians, and a medical laboratory technician. The Veterinary Intern’s responsibilities include assisting the veterinary staff in providing medical management of a large number of marine mammals; mostly pinnipeds who are at The Marine Mammal Center for rehabilitation after having been stranded on the California coast due to injury, disease or malnutrition. The Intern will also be responsible for post mortem examinations, collecting samples for various research projects, and record-keeping. A research paper or case report should be completed during the internship. If interested, please send your resume, cover letter and three professional references to James Lechleitner, Director of Human Resources, The Marine Mammal Center, 1065 Fort Cronkhite, Marin Headlands, Sausalito, CA 94965-2609. The Marine Mammal Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications due no later than May 11th, 2007. If you have further questions regarding this position please contact: Felicia Nutter, Staff Veterinarian, The Marine Mammal Center, 1065 Fort Cronkhite, Marin Headlands, Sausalito, CA 94965, 415-289-7370 nutterf@tmmc.org
TRAINING POSITION IN ZOOLOGICAL PATHOLOGY
The Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, in association with Research Animal Resources Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, and the Milwaukee County Zoo is seeking a trainee in Zoo Pathology. Qualified applicants must hold a DVM or equivalent degree from an accredited College of Veterinary Medicine and be eligible for licensure in Wisconsin. Since residency training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine involves the practice of veterinary medicine on privately owned animals, resident trainees are required to be licensed in the state of Wisconsin at the time they begin their residency program. Prospective resident trainees who are graduates of schools that are not accredited by the AVMA must have passed either the NBE and CCT, or the NAVLE in order to obtain a license in Wisconsin. Graduates of schools that are not AVMA approved may register for the NAVLE examination through a limited number of states in the United States. (Some states require enrollment or completion of the ECFVG or similar program) You may want to visit the following web sites to learn more about licensing examinations and processes: http://www.aavsb.org and http://www.nbec.org.
Preference will be given to individuals with two or more years of residency training in anatomic pathology. The 2-year program, scheduled to begin July 2007 is designed to provide training and experience to prepare the trainee for a career in zoo, wildlife, avian, aquatic or exotic animal pathology and eligibility to sit the certification examination in anatomic pathology of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Stipend is $34,000/yr. Send curriculum vitae and the names of at least three references to:
Dr. R.D. Schultz
Professor and Chair
Department of Pathobiological Sciences
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin – Madison
2015 Linden Drive West
Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1102
(608) 2623-9888
Support the EMC through Amazon.com and IGIVE.COM
Amazon.com:
Amazon.com is now supporting the EMC by donating a percentage of the cost of each purchase made by anyone who shops at their online mega store by entering through a special link on the EMC WEBSITE. So, if Amazon.com is part of your life, you can help support the great programs of the EMC everytime you shop. But remember, it only counts if you enter through the web portal on our own website at www.friendsofemc.org.
iGive:
If you shop online for anything at all, consider joining igive.com and shopping through them. If you register your preference to help the Environmental Medicine Consortium, a small percentage of the amount of each of your purchases is returned to the Environmental Medicine operating fund. Even the little purchases add up, and it is relatively painless. The cost of your purchase is the same. Participating stores simply make donations based on your purchase amounts.
If you join iGive.com and make a purchase within 45 days from one of 642 or so participating stores, iGive.com will donate an additional $5 FREE to the EMC.
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