There is a critical shortage of shelter medicine specialists in the United States and an urgent unmet need for consultants to help shelters develop effective medical programs that keep animals healthy and facilitate their placement into homes. To meet this need, the Shelter Medicine residency will provide intensive training in epidemiology, infectious diseases, internal medicine, surgery, facilities management, data management, disaster response, behavior, animal welfare, environmental enrichment, forensics, and research methods. Residents will be dual-enrolled in a Masters of Public Health and will be qualified for board certification by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners at the conclusion of their program.

Objectives of the Residency Program

• To provide advanced training in the multi-faceted discipline of Shelter Medicine
• To prepare Shelter Medicine specialists for careers in academic institutions, animal shelters, consultation services, and public service
• To train specialists in scientific research methods to contribute to new knowledge regarding issues of importance to animal shelters
• To develop strong teaching and communication skills in Shelter Medicine specialists
• To help veterinary students gain first-hand experience in Shelter Medicine
• To provide an opportunity for specialists to complete a Masters in Public Health
• To prepare specialists for board-certification by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

Description of the Program

The residency training program is three years. One new resident will enter the program each year starting in 2009. This will assure that there is always a first-, second- and third-year resident in the training program and will provide a critical mass for a robust training environment. Residents will participate in clinical rotations in the Veterinary Medical Center, journal clubs, seminar series, national on-line shelter rounds, and phone or email consultations with shelters. In addition, each resident is expected to visit at least 50 different shelters during the three-year program. A high priority will be placed on assuring visits to a variety of different sheltering models, including open admission, adoption-guarantee, private nonprofit, municipal, rural, urban, successful, and struggling shelters. A core component of the training program will be participation in detailed on-site shelter assessments alongside shelter medicine faculty. In the third year of the program, residents will take a leadership role in completing these shelter assessments under faculty supervision. Residents will participate in teaching veterinary professional students via didactic lectures, the Shelter Medicine clinical clerkship, and during shelter assessments in the field. Residents will also deliver continuing education programs for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and shelter staff. Each resident is expected to complete and submit for publication a research project on a topic of current importance to shelter medicine in addition to two other manuscripts. The Masters of Public Health may be completed at the University of Florida or at other institutions, including distance education programs.

Learn More
UF Shelter Medicine Residency Program Description

How to apply
Residents will apply through the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program.

Faculty in Direct Support of the Program
Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Residency Coordinator
Cynda Crawford, DVM, PhD
Natalie Isaza, DVM