Zoological Medicine Residency

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, along with White Oak Conservation, are proud to host a three-year residency in Zoological Medicine approved by the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM). The program is supervised by five ACZM Diplomates, three of which are based at UF and two at White Oak Conservation. The individual completing this program will attain a broad clinical base for future involvement in a variety of non-domestic animal practices including zoos, wildlife parks, research institutions, universities, or privately-owned hospitals. The first two years of the program are based in the Zoological Medicine Service within the UF Veterinary Hospitals (UFVH) and in field activities at collaborating Florida zoological facilities, including Lubee Bat Conservancy, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, and Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo. Approximately 2,500 cases are seen within the Zoo Med Service and another 1,000 cases are evaluated/treated in the field at zoological facilities per year. The third year of the residency is at White Oak Conservation, a conservation facility that houses a large collection of endangered hoofstock, megavertabrates, cheetahs, and birds. There are approximately 3,000 medical evaluations or treatments performed annually within the collection. Housing is provided on site at White Oak, with pets conditionally permitted to be housed on site. During the first two years, residents are involved in teaching and training third and fourth year veterinary students, with four to six students rotating through an elective Clerkship in Zoological Medicine every two weeks. In addition, there is a rotating intern that will spend approximately half of the year with the Zoological Medicine Service. While at White Oak, the residents are also involved in teaching and training third or fourth year veterinary students. In addition to clinical training, the program provides exposure to research and investigative approaches. An ACZM qualifying residency research project is required, and the awarding of a Resident Certificate is dependent on completion of this project and submission of a manuscript to a refereed journal prior to completion of the program. There is a research training course during the first year to help develop the project. Residents are also expected to submit a minimum of two further ACZM qualifying manuscripts, including clinical case series or retrospective studies, to refereed journals by the end of the second year in order to credential for the ACZM board exam at the end of March in their third year. Annual presentation in the Resident and Intern Series is required. Active participation in a weekly journal club for board preparation is also expected.