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.
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
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.
Rising seniors will have 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 8,000 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 as well as how to 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 the Community Cat Management course.
Featured fellowships
Community Cat Management & Shelter Medicine Fellowships
Do you have a deep, personal passion to change the world for shelter pets or community cats? Are you ready to get out of the classroom and into a high-intensity training program where you can sharpen your clinical skills while caring for the animals that need you the most?
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-on experiences 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.
Shelter Medicine Certificate This 15-credit Certificate, earned by completing a series of electives, clerkships, and externships throughout all four years of veterinary school, is an internationally recognized credential of achievement.
Summer Fellowships These 10-week paid summer Fellowships develop practical medical and surgical skills through a blend of didactic study and hands-on clinical and field training. Options include Fellowships that focus on Shelter Medicine or Community Cat Management.
Parvo Puppy ICU Camp Students will participate in a 2-week immersion in a renowned parvovirus treatment center caring for 1,000 shelter puppies and outpatients a year. Students will also learn about this iconic shelter’s FeLV, FIP, ringworm, behavior, barn cat, neonatal kitten, and clinic programs.
Course Syllabi
Welfare and Wellness for Pets and People
Introduction to Veterinary Disaster Response
Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems*
Shelter Medicine (“Miami Shelter Camp”)
Community Cat Management
Shelter Animal Physical Health*
Consultations in Shelter Animal Medicine
2024 Summer Course Enrollment Open 3/20/24 — 5/6/24
| Course | Start Date | End Date | Format | Max Enrollment | Eligible | Requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VEM5051 Wellness and Welfare for Pets and People | 5/20/24 | 7/17/24 | Online self-paced | No limit | All UF vet students | None | |
| VEM5061 Introduction to Veterinary Disaster Response | 5/20/24 | 7/17/24 | Online self-paced | No limit | All UF vet students | None | |
| VEM5321 Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems* | 5/20/24 | 7/31/24 | Online self-paced | No limit | All UF vet students | Visit a shelter | 5/6/24 10:30-11:20 am Summer Course Orientation Lecture Hall A |
| VEM5322 Shelter Medicine (aka “Miami Shelter Camp”) | 7/8/24 | 7/28/24 | Blended | 14 | Rising UF 2nd year vet students | Application, VEM5321 co-requisite | Week 1-2 online self-paced, Week 3 in Miami, 7/21/24-7/28/24 out of town |
| VEM5342 Community Cat Management | variable | variable | Blended | 21 | UF 3rd/4th year vet students | Application | Week 1-4 online self-paced, week 5 surgery days on 6/22/24, 7/20/24, 7/27/24 |
| VEM5890 Consultations in Shelter Animal Medicine clerkship | 7/29/24 | 8/11/24 | Blended | 6 | All vet students (UF 3rd/4th year) | None | Week 1 online self-paced, week 2 at client shelter, Block F |
| Fellowships | 5/20/24 | 7/28/24 | In person | 4 | All vet students | Application | 10 weeks, based in Gainesville with out-of-town travel |
| Parvo Puppy ICU Camp | 5/6/24 | 11/23/24 | Blended | 8 | All vet students | Application | Online study module before 2-week rotation at Austin, Texas shelter |
| * Required for Certificate in Shelter Medicine | –– | –– | –– |
2024 Fall Course Enrollment Open 3/20/24 – 8/1/24
| Course | Start Date | End Date | Format | Max Enrollment | Eligible | Requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VEM5342 Community Cat Management | 8/26/24 | 10/9/24 | Blended | 20 | UF 3rd/4th year vet students | Application | Week 1-4 online self-paced, week 5 surgery days on 9/28/24 and 10/5/24 |
| VEM5381 Shelter Animal Physical Health* | 8/14/24 | 11/22/24 | Blended | No limit | UF 3rd year vet students | None | 2 in-person discussions |
| Compassion Fatigue Strategies | TBA | TBA | Online self-paced | No limit | All CE participants | Enrollment fee | Professional continuing education, 4 live chat sessions |
| Parvo Puppy ICU Camp | 5/6/24 | 11/23/24 | Blended | 2 per rotation | All vet students | Application | Online study module before 2-week rotation at Austin, Texas shelter |
| * Required for Certificate in Shelter Medicine | –– | –– | –– | –– |
Chart Your Journey
- The Shelter Medicine and Community Cat Management Fellowships (and the required co-requisites) are open to students from any veterinary school who are eligible to work in the US.
- Parvo Puppy ICU Camp is open to students from any veterinary school and veterinarians working in Shelter Medicine.
- 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 3/20/24 and closes 5/6/24 for both summer and fall semesters
- VEM5051 Wellness and Welfare for Pets and People (Summer)
- VEM5061 Introduction to Veterinary Disaster Response (Summer)
- VEM5321 Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems (Summer)*
- 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 4, 2024. Acceptance notifications will be received within 10 days of the application deadline. Do not enroll until acceptance notifications are received.
- Shelter Medicine and Community Cat Management Fellowships (Summer)
- Parvo Puppy ICU Camp (Summer/Fall)
- VEM5322 Shelter Medicine (aka “Miami Shelter Camp”) (Summer)
- VEM5342 Community Cat Management (Summer, Fall)
More Information
- Travel and lodging costs for the Miami Shelter Camp, Shelter Consultation clerkship, and Parvo Puppy ICU Camp are paid by the Shelter Medicine Program
- Summer Fellowships are 10-week paid experiences
- Learn more about Shelter Medicine courses for UF veterinary students
- Learn more about the Certificate in Shelter Medicine
- Learn more about Professional Continuing Education courses
- Learn more about online Shelter Medicine Graduate Programs
- Not sure where to start? Just ask our Educational Programs Manager Logan Neser at lneser@ufl.edu
Have More Questions? We Can Help
- Community Cat Management Fellowship: Dr. Liz Fitzpatrick, Operation Catnip, ocdvmfitz@gmail.com
- Shelter Medicine Fellowship: Dr. Patty Dingman, Sheltering Hands, dingmandvm@gmail.com
- Parvo Puppy ICU Camp, Courses, and Travel: Dr. Julie Levy, levyjk@ufl.edu