Student applied and was selected for an Army Active Duty Training (ADT) clinical rotation at the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. This rotation has a focus on working marine mammal clinical medicine, to include daily hands-on clinical tasks, didactic learning and a culminating student project. During the rotation, the student will also be exposed to more traditional clinical and administrative duties of a Veterinary Corps Officer. To include small animal medicine/personally owned pet clinical cases, Military Working Dog (MWD) medicine, food inspection and protection, and Army leadership.
See elective description below, from the application packet.
"The VETLAB staff provides on-call veterinary care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mornings are used for scheduled clinical procedures, veterinary medical technologies support, and rounds. Most afternoons are dedicated to sample processing, data entry, research, training, and unscheduled (urgent) procedures. Students are given the opportunity to observe and participate in clinical activities, under the direction of the veterinary staff, as the situation permits. In addition, students are expected to select and complete a clinical project in marine mammal medicine while on-site.
The MMP maintains and cares for a large population of dolphins and sea lions in an open-ocean environment in San Diego Bay. Student externs are given the unique opportunity to observe and contribute to the preventive medicine program that includes:
- Regularly scheduled comprehensive physical examinations
- Nutrition and sanitation oversight
- Veterinary medical data management and biologic specimen archival
- Veterinary support of animal deployments
- Advanced clinical technologies development
- Staff development regarding animal care
Requirements and Student Selection
Three to four Army HPSP students are chosen each year to participate in a three to six week externship (the longer the time the more valuable). Only one student will be on-site at a time. Students are encouraged to participate in the externship after completing one ADT at another site and during their senior level or fourth year at an accredited veterinary college. Applicants must provide proof of United States citizenship."
The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program is based out of San Diego, CA. The program has both Army/military veterinarians on staff (3) along with government general schedule veterinarians (3) and numerous contracted veterinarians through the National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF), many of which are zoo and/or preventative medicine board certified.
The student will have the opportunity to work with a variety of personnel and experience levels.
The student will participate in diagnostic procedures and utilize equipment to include: portable radiograph, ultrasound, echocardiogram, endoscopy, +/- advanced imaging (CT/MRI).
Student report times are 0730-1530 Mon-Fri. They will shadow the on-call veterinarian after hours and on weekends, as cases arise.
When Army students are here conducting an ADT, they are reimbursed for housing costs and receive a per diem amount per day. Most students elect to stay at a local Navy lodge (Naval Base Point Loma or Naval Base Point Loma- Annex). They work with their Army student manager to make these reservations and receive reimbursement.