Residency Information

The resident will spend 80% of the time in gaining clinical experience under the direction of senior staff, with the remaining time used for undertaking a clinical research project, teaching in labs, attending selected classes, and preparing for boards. Primary rotations will be at the Sacramento Zoo and in the VMTH. The resident will participate in the avian and exotic pet clinics, in ambulatory calls to zoos, will handle non-domestic animal cases referred to the VMTH, and will provide clinical care for animals at the Sacramento Zoo and admitted to the Zoo Med Service at the VMTH. Outside rotations at other sites including the Marine Mammal Center will also be arranged.

Responsibilities and Activities (see Table 1):

• Under the supervision of faculty, the residents will receive, diagnose, hospitalize and treat Zoo Med Referral cases at the VMTH, and teach fourth year veterinary students participating in clinical rotations. A significant portion of time will be spent providing clinical services at the Sacramento Zoo.
  
  
• Under the supervision of faculty, the resident will participate in seeing patients with Companion Avian/Exotic Pet Medicine Service at the VMTH. (4 weeks) See Table 4 for list of rotations.
  
  
• Participation in formal daily and weekly case rounds, discussing cases in the VMTH with senior staff, fellow residents, and veterinary students. In addition, the resident will be involved in avian and zoo journal clubs and radiology rounds.
  
  
• Out-of-hours emergency duty (evenings, weekends, and holidays) will be required.
  
  
• Participation in didactic course work and teaching laboratories for veterinary students.
  
  
• Rotations with the UC Raptor Center, UC Primate Center, and Fish Medicine Service.
  
  
• External rotations at the Marine Mammal Center and possibly other sites.
  
  
• The VMTH is committed to building strong relationships with its constituents. A major part of the resident's duties, therefore, includes timely communication with referring veterinarians and clients.

In addition to clinical instruction and casework, the resident may be able to selectively participate in the course work offered to Zoological Medicine track students, including, but not limited to:

Medicine and Surgery of Companion Avian Species
Captive Wildlife Medicine
Primate Medicine
Introductory Lab Animal Medicine
Diseases of Free-Ranging Wildlife
Non-domestic Pet Medicine
Comparative Form and Function
Comparative Pathology of Vertebrates

Miscellaneous Requirements

• Inasmuch as restraint, handling, immobilization, and anesthesia are important to non-domestic animal medicine, the resident will be required to be highly proficient in carrying out these techniques. By practice and study, they will be expected to understand the anatomy, physiology and philosophy of restraint, (both physical and chemical) drugs and dosages for various species, the laws applicable to the use of narcotics, and different remote delivery systems.
  
  
• Presentation of a prospective research project at the VMTH Annual House Officer Seminar Day and a presentation at the national meeting of the AAZV is mandatory in the third year. Selecting a clinical research project, and gaining an understanding of statistics and scientific writing will be undertaken in the first year. Research projects may be completed in San Diego.
  
  
• Due to the multiple sites involved in the residency, the resident must have reliable transportation.
  
  
• The resident will be encouraged to become a member of and participate in the activities of professional organizations dealing with non-domestic animal medicine.
  
  
• American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
• Wildlife Disease Association
• International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine
• Association of Avian Veterinarians
• Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians

The resident will spend 80% of the workweek with clinical duties working under the direction and guidance of the veterinary staff at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park. The remainder of the workweek will be spent with the research project, follow-up investigations, preparing for boards, and other non-clinical activities.

Responsibilities and Activities (see Table 2)

• Under the supervision of the veterinary staffs of the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park, the resident will participate in all aspects of veterinary care of the animal collections. These activities will include routine preventive medicine procedures such as preshipment, annual, and quarantine examinations as well as case management of sick and injured animals and flock and herd health management.
  
  
• Under the supervision of and assistance from the veterinary staff, the resident will have responsibility for helping to manage emergency and after-hours ICU care.
  
  
• The resident will be responsible for performing epidemiological investigations of disease occurrences as needed by working closely with and using resources from the pathology and animal care departments.
  
  
• The resident will participate in daily and weekly case rounds discussions and will aid in the preparation of monthly morbidity and mortality meetings with animal care staffs.
  
  
• The resident will actively participate in the UCD Journal Club and UCD Zoological Pathology rounds via telecommunications or other method between San Diego and UC Davis.
  
  
• The resident will be responsible for selecting a research project with input from the veterinary staff. This project will be completed in time for inclusion in the AAZV annual meeting during the resident's third year.
  
  
• The resident will have some opportunities and responsibilities for participation in veterinary aspects of the ZSSDs conservation programs (e.g. California condor, San Clemente Island loggerhead shrike, and Hawaiian forest birds).
  
  
• Because of the nature of zoological parks, it is essential that the resident be service oriented to the needs of the animal collection and its curators and managers.

Depending on level of interest the resident will spend approximately 3 months with clinical duties working under the direction and guidance of the veterinary staff at SeaWorld. The resident will spend 80% of the work week with clinical duties and remainder of the work week will be spent with the research project, follow-up investigations, preparing for boards, and other non-clinical activities.

Responsibilities and Activities (see Table 3)

• Under the supervision of the SeaWorld veterinary staff, the resident will participate in all aspects of veterinary care of the animal collections. These activities will include routine preventive medicine procedures such as scheduled routine physical examination, quarantine examinations, and case management of sick and injured resident and wild stranded marine animals.
  
  
• The resident will be responsible for performing epidemiological investigations of disease occurrences as needed by working closely with and using resources from the pathology and animal care departments.
  
  
• The resident will participate in daily case rounds discussions and will aid in the preparation of monthly morbidity and mortality meetings with animal care staffs.
  
  
• The resident will participate in daily case rounds discussions and will aid in the preparation of monthly morbidity and mortality meetings with animal care staffs.
  
  
• Because of the nature of SeaWorld it is essential that the resident be service oriented to the needs of the animal collection and its curators and managers.