Student Experiences
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at 03:09PM Submitted by Hery Ríos-Guzmán, Cornell University
AQUAVET: Summer Camp for Fish (and Other Species) Nerds
My name is Hery Ríos-Guzmán and I want to be an aquatic veterinarian when I grow up. Now, I may be just a tiny bit biased, but aquatic veterinarians are amazing. I mean, think about it for a second. There are 35,000 identified species of fish as of today… And that’s just fish! From corals and axolotls to sea turtles and humpback whales, aquatic veterinarians are expected to work with an even greater number of species than terrestrial veterinarians. In light of this immense species diversity, it’s not hard to imagine that training opportunities are scarce. People like me must look into external resources in order to acquire any type of preparation regarding aquatic and marine species. When was the last time you did a surgical procedure on a fish? Heck, when was the last time you had a lecture related to anything aquatic? Luckily, the need for specialized training opportunities geared towards veterinary students interested in aquatics has not gone unnoticed. AQUAVET®, a crash course into all things aquatic was born to fulfill this demand. And it’s amazing!
AQUAVET® was founded by University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University in 1977 with the goal of increasing aquatic animal health competence in veterinary professionals. It is subdivided into 3 courses: AQUAVET® I, AQUAVET® II, and AQUAVET® III. The latter is focused exclusively on marine mammal medicine and conservation. AQUAVET® II, on the other hand, is a histology and histopathology-based course. And AQUAVET® I, with which I am most familiar, is a general course that takes vet students on an educational journey from invertebrates, such as shellfish, all the way to marine mammal macrofauna. All of this is done within an intense, one-month period, with regular 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. days full of lectures, labs, and/or fieldtrips. It’s a lot, but it’s totally worth it! During my time in AQUAVET®, I was able to learn about different species of aquatic animals, their anatomy, physiology, and the clinical aspects that are most important for each. I was also exposed to the different fields that an aquatic veterinarian could work in, such as aquarium medicine, aquaculture, ambulatory services for pet fish, and conservation work. In addition to the amazing lectures, I learned a myriad of new clinical techniques. There was a bit of everything: blood draws on stingrays, gill clips, bacterial cultures, sea turtle necropsies, and so much more! The highlight of AQUAVET® I was definitely the last lab: fish surgery. With help from a licensed veterinarian, I was able to sedate, monitor anesthesia, perform a splenectomy, and suture a striped bass (who was appropriately euthanized after the procedure).
In addition to academic and clinical content, one of the best things that AQUAVET® I provides is an opportunity to network. The sheer number of professors teaching the course – which far outnumber the students that participate – has been termed the “Parade of Stars.” The many lunches and dinners that I shared with some of these professionals was a great way to get an inside view of the field (and to get to know them as real people and not just vets). Moreover, AQUAVET® I is a great way to meet individuals from different cultural and ethnic origins; students from all over the world apply and participate. Going through and completing the program with these people, especially when they all had similar interests to mine, was a surefire way of creating meaningful connections that will remain for years to come. In fact, I was able to apply and successfully receive a scholarship because of the connections I made through the program!
AQUAVET® I is a must for anyone interested in aquatic animal medicine. I was able to meet new people, obtain new resources, and learn so much during my time in Rhode Island. All of this newfound knowledge has made me way more confident in my skills as a veterinary student and has reinforced my desire to pursue a career within the aquatics field. Further, I was able to get a sense of the opportunities that I should apply to before and during my clinical year, and some of the different ways I can prepare for a career in aquatic veterinary medicine after graduating (i.e. internships vs. residency vs. experience). Without a doubt, AQUAVET® I has been the best summer-camp-for-fish-nerds experience that has brought me even closer to achieving my goal.
Share this Post | Comments Off 
