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Shelter Medicine Program College of Veterinary Medicine
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2023 Summer and Fall Shelter Medicine Courses for Veterinary Students

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Make this the summer of awesome

With seven course offerings this summer, students can pick a favorite topic or start on a path toward earning the Certificate in Shelter Medicine. Several courses are designed with rising second-year students in mind, including Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems, the foundational course of the Shelter Medicine Program. “Miami Shelter Camp,” in which we spend an immersive week at one of the largest shelters in the country, Introduction to Disaster Response to prepare students for deployment in our disaster-prone state, and the 10-week paid Community Cat Management Fellowship with Operation Catnip fill out the options for rising second years.

Dr. Ashley Saver with Beckett

Featured Course

Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems

This course, one of three required for the certificate in Shelter Medicine, uses a case-based approach to explore the critical role played by the entire shelter team to protect the health and welfare of sheltered dogs and cats and how medical care, behavior programs, and operations all come together under the umbrella of Shelter Medicine. Students will learn about the vast opportunities to join the community of Shelter Medicine, how to follow trends in the field, and to build lifelong professional networks.

The rising juniors will be entering their clinical rotations, where they can pick from several clerkships emphasizing spay/neuter and Shelter medicine, including Veterinary Community Outreach Program, Miami-Dade Animal Services, and Alachua County Animal Resources. They can also join our Shelter Consultation clerkship to assess a client shelter’s operations and make recommendations for enhancements. A recent consultation student shared, “This course and all my other shelter med courses have been such a privilege to take . . . My pro-tip for any future shelter med students is to take this clerkship without a doubt!” — Katie Houston, 2023

Shelter consultants in front of a shelter

Featured Clerkship

Consultations in Shelter Animal Medicine

Are you ready to help make shelters more efficient, safer, and better at helping animals and their people? You bring the motivation and we’ll bring an immersive training experience! During this 2-week elective clinical clerkship, participants will work side-by-side with shelter medicine faculty, working professionals, and expert consultants in a professional assessment of a client animal shelter. Join the assessment team on-site to assess facilities and operations, evaluate health and well-being of the animals, and participate in meetings with policy makers and shelter leadership where our new recommendations are shared..

The new seniors will have their advanced courses, such as Community Cat Management, where they learn how to manage the business and medical operations behind a Trap-Neuter-Return program caring for more than 7,000 community cats per year. They will travel to shelters and spay/neuter clinics to complete externships. In the fall they’ll have Shelter Animal Physical Health, in which they will learn evidence-based protocols that protect and enhance both physical and mental well-being of animals in shelters, and apply best practices and strategies for preventive healthcare and infection control, diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions and zoonotic diseases, management of disease outbreaks, and integration of shelter and community healthcare programs for at-risk pets to promote access to veterinary care and pet retention. “Sometimes it’s hard to remember the purpose of putting myself through the long hours of studying and the sacrifices I’ve made to be in vet school. This class helped me remember why I’m here and made me so excited to become part of the difference in the lives of shelter animals. It was so inspiring to be taught by an amazing team of doctors and staff.”  — Jill Aldredge, Class of 2024, upon completing on the Community Cat Management course.

Cars being released from traps

Featured fellowship

Community Cat Management Fellowship

Do you have a deep, personal passion to change the world for community cats? Are you ready to develop the knowledge, experience, and skills to build a community-centric program benefitting cats, neighborhoods, and the environment? And to put together a High-Quality, High-Volume Spay-Neuter (HQHVSN) clinic for community cats? Does your idea of a fun night out with friends include tracking elusive trap-shy cats on hot, buggy Florida evenings? Then you might be our next Community Cat Management Fellow.

We hope that everyone will take advantage of Welfare and Wellness for Pets and People, because this course is all about you! It promotes wellness for veterinary students by exploring and practicing a variety of skills needed to thrive as a student and veterinary professional. This pass/fail course is designed to be flexible, relaxing, and focused on enriching your self-care skills (no tests!). It is totally compatible with a busy summer schedule without getting overloaded. You’ll learn to recognize and reduce professional and personal risk factors (including mental distress, compassion fatigue, and burnout), integrate healthy behaviors, and utilize coping skills in everyday challenges. There is  no judgement – just complete the exercises to gain more resilience and keep stress at bay. One student summed it up with, “I only wish I could have taken this course sooner. I would have enjoyed vet school so much more.”

Choose Your Journey

Veterinary students at the University of Florida can choose from a variety of online courses and hands-om to explore the field of Shelter Medicine while earning elective credits, They can also complete the entire 15-credit Professional Certificate in Shelter Medicine. However you connect with the Shelter Medicine Program, we strive to provide the veterinary leaders of tomorrow with the skills they need to make a difference in the lives of animals and communities. Need a guide? Come in to see us!

Shelter Medicine Courses All veterinary students at the University of Florida can choose from a variety of online and in-person courses and clinical rotations to explore the field of Shelter Medicine while earning elective credits.

Learn more

Shelter Medicine Certificate This 15-credit certificate, earned by completing a series of electives, clerkships, and externships throughout all 4 years of veterinary school, is an internationally recognized credential of achievement.

Learn more

Community Cat Fellowship This 10-week paid summer fellowship develops the knowledge, experience, and skills to build a community-centric program benefitting cats, neighborhoods, and environment with HQHVSN at its core.

Learn more

Course Syllabi

2023 Summer Course Enrollment Open 3/20/23 — 5/20/23

Course Start Date End Date Format Max Enrollment Sponsored Section Nonsponsored Section Eligible Requirements Notes
VEM5051 Wellness and Welfare for Pets and People 6/5/23 7/30/23 Online self-paced No limit 16851 16852 All classes None
VEM5061 Introduction to Veterinary Disaster Response 5/22/23 7/16/23 Online self-paced No limit 13486 13487 All classes None
VEM5321 Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems* 5/22/23 8/9/23 Online self-paced No limit 13488 13489 All classes Visit a shelter 5/22/23 10:00-11:00 am Zoom course orientation
VEM5322 Shelter Medicine (aka “Miami Shelter Camp”) 7/3/23 7/19/23 Blended 10 16853 16854 Rising 2nd year Application, VEM5321 co-requisite Week 1 online self-paced, Week 2 in Miami, 7/3/23 10:00-10:30 am Zoom course orientation, 7/9/23-7/14/23 out of town
VEM5342 Community Cat Management 5/29/23 6/28/23 Blended 20 19099 19100 Rising 3rd/4th year Application Week 1-3 online self-paced, week 4 at UF, 5/30/23 11:00-11:30 am Zoom course orientation, 6/22/23 8:30-11:30 lab at Clinical Skills lab, 6/22/23 11:30-1:30 pm lab at Operation Catnip Facility, 6/24/23 7:30 am-6 pm clinic at VAB Surgery, 6/25/23 8-11 am cat discharge VAB
VEM5890 Consultations in Shelter Animal Medicine clerkship 7/31/23 8/13/23 Blended 6 13636 13635 Rising 3rd/4th year Application Week 1 online self-paced, week 2 at client shelter, 7/31/23 10:00-11:00 am Zoom course orientation, 8/6/23-8/11/23 out of town
Operation Catnip Community Cat Management Fellowship 5/31/23 8/4/23 In person 2-4 Not applicable Not applicable Rising 2nd/4th year Application 10 weeks in Gainesville
* Required for Certificate in Shelter Medicine –– –– –– –– –– ––

2023 Fall Course Enrollment Open 3/20/23 — 8/18/23

Course Start Date End Date Format Max Enrollment Sponsored Section Nonsponsored Section Eligible Requirements Notes
VEM5051 Wellness and Welfare for Pets and People 9/18/23 11/12/23 Online self-paced No limit 26641 26642 All classes Phase III
VEM5342 Community Cat Management 9/11/23 10/18/23 Blended 20 28996 28996 3rd/4th year Phase III Week 1-3 online self-paced, week 4-5 at UF
VEM5381 Shelter Animal Physical Health* 8/28/23 12/17/23 Blended No limit 17880 17881 3rd year Phase III 2 in-person discussions
Compassion Fatigue Strategies 10/16/23 12/10/23 Online self-paced No limit NA NA All CE Enrollment fee Professional continuing education, 4 live chat sessions
* Required for Certificate in Shelter Medicine –– –– –– –– –– ––

Chart Your Journey

  • The Community Cat Management Fellowship (and the required co-requisites) are open to students from any veterinary school who are eligible to work in the US
  • The other courses are restricted to UF veterinary students
  • Admission to some space-limited or advanced courses is by application. Students working toward the Certificate in Shelter Medicine may have priority in courses that have more requests than capacity.

Self-Enroll

Applications are not required for these self-paced online courses. UF student self-enrollment opens 3/20/23 and closes 5/20/23 for summer semester and opens 3/20/23 and closes 8/18/23 for fall semester.

  • VEM5051 Wellness and Welfare for Pets and People (Summer)
  • VEM5051 Wellness and Welfare for Pets and People (Fall)
  • VEM5061 Introduction to Veterinary Disaster Response (Summer)
  • VEM5321 Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems (Summer)*
  • VEM5342 Community Cat Management (Fall)
  • VEM5381 Shelter Animal Physical Health (Fall)*
  • * Required for Certificate in Shelter Medicine

Apply

Applications are required for these space-limited courses. Applications are due April 1, 2023 for summer courses and 4/30/23 for fall courses. Do not enroll until acceptance notifications are received by 2 weeks after the submission deadline.

  • Operation Catnip Community Cat Management Fellowship (Summer)
  • VEM5322 Shelter Medicine (aka “Miami Shelter Camp”) (Summer)
  • VEM5342 Community Cat Management (Summer)
  • VEM5890 Consultations in Shelter Animal Medicine clerkship (Block F) (Summer)

How to Apply

  • Complete the online application form
  • Upload transcript (unofficial OK)
  • Upload resume
  • Applications are due March 31, 2023 for summer courses and 4/30/23 for fall courses
  • Selections will be announced by April 15, 2023
Continue to Community Cat Management fellowship
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More Information

Have More Questions? We Can Help

  • Community Cat Management Fellowship: Dr. Patty Dingman, Medical Director, Operation Catnip, dingmandvm@gmail.com 
  • UF Courses and Clerkship: Logan Neser, Educational Programs Manager,  lneser@ufl.edu