In
2002 I enrolled in a course that gave me an amazing opportunity
to share my passion of conservation and environmental health
with 24 students from all over the United States and abroad.
It was pivotal in cementing my own focus and dedication to increasing
awareness for the environment and building partnerships. I met
many young, intelligent, and passionate veterinarians and students
who were dedicated to the mission of better understanding and
desire to make a difference in the world. I have returned to
teach during the course each year. This course began in 1991
with an aquatic ecosystem health focus and expanded in 2000 to
include terrestrial and international components. Administered
by the University of Illinois Department of Veterinary Biosciences;
University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine;
and Wildlife Health Center, it affords 25 students an emersion
experience for 7 weeks, 60 to 70 hours per week in lecture hall
and field. Faculty who are experts in their fields share their
knowledge and experience. Hosts include The White Oak Plantation
and Conservation Center in Yulee, Florida; Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Institute, Pt. Pierce, Florida; and a host country such as Kenya,
Brazil or the Republic of South Africa. Experiences range from
darting animals in the wild for disease sampling to radio telemetry,
necropsy and water quality monitoring. In all it is a window
into the challenges we face in sustaining a healthy planet and
call to action. Scholarships for students are available. For
more information go to the Envirovet website at www.envirovet.org.