Aquatic Animal Health Program Courses

VTMED 6120 Anatomy and Histology of Fish 
Spring, first 8 weeks (A-B Blocks); 2 credit; maximum enrollment of 10; veterinary students or permission of instructor. R.G. Getchell.

This course provides an overview of the diversity of anatomy and histology of fish. Students will participate in lecture, discussion, and laboratory exercises to review the major organ systems. Access to on-line resources such as normal fish histology manual and Aperio-scanned images will be provided. Each student will prepare a short paper and make an oral presentation.

VTMED 6432 Fish Health Management 
Spring, first 8 weeks (A-B Blocks); 1.5 credit; maximum enrollment of 16; veterinary students or permission of instructor. H. Marquis.

This lecture and laboratory course provides an overview of the aquatic environment and the important infectious and non-infectious diseases of aquatic animals in commercial aquaculture, aquarium systems, and natural waters. The laboratory is designed to provide students with a knowledge base and hands-on necropsy for diagnostic purpose, anesthesia, blood collection, and health management in zoo and lab settings. Students maintain and manage aquarium systems during the course to gain an appreciation for the science behind the operation of those systems. The laboratory requires time outside the normal scheduled class sessions. An outside trip to the Syracuse Zoo will be part of the course to observe management of large aquariums.

VTMED 6722 AQUAVET I: Introduction to Aquatic Veterinary Medicine 
Four weeks of full-time instruction at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI, immediately after the spring term. 4 credits. Maximum enrollment: 24 students from Cornell University and other U.S. and foreign colleges and schools of veterinary medicine. By permission of the instructor (special competitive application procedure with applications normally due by mid-January). R.G. Getchell.

The course is designed to introduce veterinary students to aquatic animal medicine. The marine environment is described and visited on field trips throughout Southern New England. Specific aspects of the comparative anatomy, physiology, nutrition, microbiology, pathology and medicine of a variety of marine and freshwater species are discussed. Some emphasis is placed on systems of aquaculture. The specific diseases of a few selected species are presented as examples, including the diseases of crustaceans, shellfish, finfish and marine mammals. The course is taught by an invited faculty of thirty-five individuals who are leaders in their respective fields of aquatic animal medicine. Students present seminars on appropriate topics.
Visit the AQUAVET® home page.

VTMED 6521 AQUAVET II: Comparative Pathology of Aquatic Animals 
Two weeks of full-time instruction at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI, immediately after the spring term. 2 credits. Maximum enrollment: 18. Prerequisites: formal course work in diseases of aquatic animals, histology, or appropriate experience and permission of the instructor (special competitive application procedure with applications normally due by mid-January). R.G. Getchell.

The course is an advanced course in the comparative pathology of aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates commonly used as laboratory and aquacultured animals. The material presented will consist of discussions of the diseases of aquatic animals as well as extensive use of the microscope to examine the histopathology associated with these diseases. The course is taught by an invited faculty of twelve individuals who are leaders in their respective fields of aquatic animal medicine.
Visit the AQUAVET® home page.

VTMED 6563 AQUAVET III: Practical Training in Aquarium and Captive Aquatic Animal Medicine

AQUAVET® III was created to give veterinary students and veterinarians more specific and practical training in aquarium and captive aquatic animal medicine. The course is designed for veterinary students and veterinarians who have specific interest in working in an aquarium or dolphinarium.

The course is presented in three different venues. The first two weeks are focused on all of the animals found in a typical aquarium and will be held at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA. The next week focuses on endoscopy and surgery of reptiles and fish taking place at the University of Georgia. The final two weeks take place at Dolphinaris in Cancún, México, where students focus on dolphin medicine including learning to take and analyze samples and hands-on learning of dolphin ultrasound. Students are expected to present a relevant in-depth case study during the third week of the course. This is a 5-week course and the three venues necessitate travel to Georgia and Mexico. It is very competitive since the limit will be 6-8 students. The prerequisite is having taken AQUAVET® I or equivalent.
Visit the AQUAVET® home page.

VTMED 6X98 Special Projects in Veterinary Medicine ("X" depends on block alignment for Blocks 1-7)
Fall, spring, summer. Variable 0.5-4 credits. Must be arranged with College of Veterinary Medicine lecturer, senior lecturer, or tenure-track faculty member. S-U Grades optional.

Students work individually with a faculty member to pursue an area of particular interest that, typically, is not part of the established curriculum. Specific course objectives and course content are flexible and reflect the expertise of the faculty. Special projects also include opportunities to gain teaching experience by assisting faculty in selected veterinary courses. Contact faculty to identify teaching opportunities or other special projects. (This College-wide course may focus on a topic in aquatic animal medicine)

VTMED 6X99 Research Opportunities in Veterinary Medicine ("X" depends on block alignment for Blocks 1-7)
Fall, spring, summer. Variable 0.5-4 credits. Must be arranged with College of Veterinary Medicine lecturer, senior lecturer, or tenure-track faculty member. S-U grades optional.

Provides the opportunity for students to work in the research environment of faculty involved in veterinary or biomedical research. Specific course objectives and course content are flexible and reflect the specific research environment. Research projects may be arranged to accumulate credit toward requirements in Distribution Sets I, II, III, IV, and V. (This College-wide course may focus on a topic in aquatic animal medicine)

VTMED 6435 Forensic Medicine for Wildlife Biologists (also BIOSM 4450)
Summer. 2 credits. Held at the Shoals Marine Laboratory. By application through the Shoals Marine Laboratory (http://www.sml.cornell.edu/). A special fee is required. Prerequisites: satisfactory completion of a year of college level biology, ecology or marine science. Maximum enrollment 21. S-U Grades Optional. R.G. Getchell.

Forensic science represents the unique merging of scientific insight and the law. Forensic Science for Marine Biologists provides a field-oriented introduction to the forensic science domain and the utilization of marine biology within the justice system. Students receive comprehensive instruction concerning the recognition, documentation, collection, and preservation of physical evidence. Additionally, students develop practical incident response, scene management, and forensic teamwork skills.

VETMI 7720 Advanced Work in Aquatic Animal Diseases (Graduate)
Fall and spring. Variable 1-3 credits. By special arrangement with the instructor. S/U grades only. R.G. Getchell.