Aquatic Medical Education was developed by the University of Florida (UF) to provide veterinary students and professionals with specialized training in health care, management and husbandry of aquatic species ranging from invertebrates to marine mammals. It consists of four short courses: Diseases of Warmwater Fish, Advanced Fish Medicine, SeaVet I and SeaVet II.

These courses are offered in UF’s Aquatic Animal Health (AAH) Program, which is a multidisciplinary specialty incorporating aspects of medical, biological, and environmental sciences. The Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences within the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences within the School of Forest Resources and Conservation collaborated to develop the AAH program.

Specialized training courses include:

Diseases of Warmwater Fish provides instruction in the methodology of diagnosis and treatment of parasitic, bacterial, viral, nutritional and environmental diseases of warmwater fish and aquarium species. It is a two-week course offered during the summer of even years (2008, 2010…).

Advanced Fish Medicine is an intensive six-day course offering “hands-on” training in the latest techniques including anesthesia, hematology, nutritional therapy, imaging, histopathology and surgery. Only those with prior education in fish diagnostics and health management are accepted into the course, which is offered during November of odd years (2007, 2009…).

SeaVet I is a two-week course providing an introduction to marine mammal biology, natural history and captive husbandry. It is offered during the summer of even years.

SeaVet II is an intensive six-day course, which provides advanced instruction in management of Florida’s megavertebrates. Only those with prior education and experience with marine mammals are accepted into the course offered during the summer of odd years.