The California Department of Food & Agriculture has recently posted two veterinary examinations. Completing these examinations is the first step for any candidate interested in applying for the upcoming terrestrial wildlife veterinarian position that the California Department of Fish & Wildlife will be advertising later this year. The exams assess each candidate’s knowledge, skills, and experience; individuals with the highest scores will be placed on a prospective interview list. Interested individuals are encouraged to take both the Veterinarian (General) and Veterinarian Specialist (General) exams, if eligible. For more information, click here.
Travel Grant & Workshop at The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference…
The American Fisheries Society (AFS) and The Wildlife Society (TWS) are hosting a joint annual conference in Reno, NV from September 29 – October 3, 2019. Visit https://afstws2019.org/ for more information.
TWS’s Wildlife Disease Working Group (WDWG) is offering a $500 travel grant to a TWS student member presenting a paper or poster at the conference. Applicants must be student members of TWS and have an accepted paper or poster abstract for presentation at the conference. The application deadline is August 16, 2019. Visit https://afstws2019.org/tws-student-travel-grants/ for more details.
Seats are also still available in the Keepin’ It Clean: Biosecurity & Biosafety for Biologists and Scientists workshop co-sponsored by the WDWG and the Fish Health Section of AFS. The workshop will be held on Sunday, September 29 from 1-5pm. Featuring a mix of interactive components, lectures, and demonstrations, participants will learn best management practices for biosecurity and biosafety that can be incorporated into everyday work to help safeguard both human and wildlife health. The instructors are fish and wildlife health professionals in state, federal, tribal, and academic institutions and are eager to share their expertise as well as help address specific questions and concerns raised by participants. Visit https://afstws2019.org/sessions/keepin-it-clean-biosecurity-biosafety-for-biologists-and-scientists/ for more details.
Proposed Revisions to AAWV Constitution and Bylaws
Online Course in Emerging and Exotic Diseases of Animals…
The Center for Food Security and Public Health is offering an Emerging and Exotic Diseases of Animals (EEDA) online course for continuing education (CE) credit beginning July 31, 2019. The course covers the causes and consequences of foreign animal diseases (FAD), how FADs are transmitted and introduced, the entities involved in a response to an FAD outbreak, what to do if an FAD is suspected, how veterinarians can be involved in an FAD response, and effective communication strategies. In addition to veterinarians, the course is suitable for veterinary technicians or other individuals interested in high consequence animal diseases and the response to those diseases. Click here for more details.
Participate in the 2019 AAWV Survey & Election!
Call for AAWV Officers!
Report from AAWV Student Travel Award Recipient…
Here’s a report from Christine Casey, recipient of the AAWV Student Travel Award to attend the 2018 USAHA Annual Conference, held last October in Kansas City, MO.
Residency in Population Medicine at Mississippi State…
Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, is soliciting applications for a 3-year residency in Population Medicine. This 3 year residency is an excellent opportunity for someone wishing to transition into an academic or industry position, while sharing their knowledge with some very talented students. The 3 year residency offers a lot of latitude in the direction one might take to earn a Master’s degree and board certification in preventive medicine.
The 3-year residency will consist of didactic and clinical training designed to achieve specialty certification by the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Residents are expected to teach in the professional curriculum, participate in applied population medicine research, lead and publish the results of research projects, conduct field disease outbreak investigations, and participate in extension outreach activities. In particular, the resident will contribute to teaching in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s 3rd year clinical rotation in population medicine. Along with a mentor, the resident will conduct applied research and clinical activities to improve the health and well-being of Mississippi’s many animal populations, including animal shelters, cow-calf farms, cattle stocker operations, swine farms, catfish and other aquaculture production systems, poultry farms and wildlife. It is expected that the resident pursue and complete a Master’s degree.
Qualifications: Candidates must have a DVM or equivalent degree from an AVMA-accredited college of veterinary medicine. Veterinary practice experience is desirable, but not required.
All applicants must apply online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu. Please submit a cover letter and resume. Qualified applicants are invited to submit letter of application, resume and 3 references to Dr. David Smith, P.O. Box 6100, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Selected candidate will be expected to supply official transcripts of all degrees at time of hire. The complete position description can be found at http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/cw/en-us/job/498139/resident : Or go to: http://www.msujobs.msstate.edu/ and search for PARF# 498139.
MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.
Veterinary Biologics Training Program in Ames, IA…
2019 Veterinary Biologics Training Program
May 20-24, 2019
Ames, Iowa USA
The Veterinary Biologics Training Program has been offered every year since 1996. More than 2800 individuals, including 833 international attendees from 96 countries, have attended the program. The course gives participants an overview of the USDA regulatory process for assuring the purity, safety, potency and efficacy of veterinary biologics.
This course is sponsored by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) and the Iowa State University (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine.
For more details: http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/IICAB/meetings/may2019.php
AFWA Statement on Cause of CWD…
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Approves Statement on the Cause of Chronic Wasting Disease
Washington D.C. (March 12, 2019)- Last week, at the 84th North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference, state directors approved a statement entitled Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Statement on Chronic Wasting Disease Etiology during the of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies business meeting. This statement was drafted by leading experts in wildlife disease management and affirms the current scientific consensus that Chronic Wasting Disease, a 100% fatal disease of deer, elk, moose, and reindeer, is caused by a misfolded protein called a ‘prion.’
“Recent media coverage has focused on alternative theories that suggest that Chronic Wasting Disease may be caused by v bacteria or other sources,” said Ed Carter, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Executive Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “We felt that until there was definitive proof otherwise, it was important that the Association go on record as supporting the overwhelming scientific consensus that Chronic Wasting Disease is caused by mutated protein known as prions.”
The Association and its members have been at the forefront of Chronic Wasting Disease management for decades, having most recently written and adopted the Best Management Practices for Prevention, Surveillance, and Management of Chronic Wasting Disease which provides extensive guidance to state, federal, provincial, and territorial wildlife agencies tasked with managing this disease.
“I strongly support the statement that is being released by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies today,” said Bob Duncan, Director of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and chair of the Association’s Fish and Wildlife Health Committee. “Our nation’s hunters deserve to have the best available scientifically credible information about this deadly disease, and to know that our state, federal, provincial, and territorial wildlife agencies are doing everything within their power to stop its spread.”