MARVET Mississippi 2025
Marine Animal Medicine Externship

Veterinary students and veterinarians interested in an introduction to marine medicine for aquatic species and One Health concepts will participate in a one-week interactive externship held in Mississippi. The externship workshops will explore aspects of biology, pathology, husbandry, clinical care and conservation medicine of a variety of marine species, including:

dolphins
sea turtles

fish
sharks

rays
penguins

IMPORTANT NOTICE

All positions for MARVET MISSISSIPPI 2025 have been filled and we are no longer taking applications.

DATE: June 7-15, 2025 (inclusive of arrival and departure dates)
HOSTED BY: Mississippi Aquarium, Gulfport, MS
LODGING: Courtyard Gulfport Beachfront
TUITION: $2,000 (includes lodging, off-site field trips and some meals)
ACADEMIC CREDIT: Externship credit is offered for those students whose veterinary school recognizes MARVET Mississippi 2025 course content as fulfilling curricular goals, either for summer externships or for senior year clinical rotations credit. Requests for academic credit, along with the necessary paperwork, should be made to workshop coordinators prior to attending the workshop so that attendees can be evaluated in accordance with school guidelines.

Questions? Contact us at info@marvet.org

Externship Participants

The MARVET Mississippi externship is an introductory workshop in marine animal medicine designed for students who wish to explore career possibilities in conservation medicine through an interactive learning format that provides a broad overview of the clinical and conservation marine medicine field.

Previous experience in marine animal medicine is not required or expected.
Most participants are veterinary students; however, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, biology and ecology students and others seeking an introduction to the marine conservation medicine field are also welcome to apply.
The course is not intended for those who already have extensive experience in this field.

Marine Mammals

Marine Mammal anatomy and physiology
Marine mammal pathology
Marine mammal husbandry
Marine mammal imaging
Marine mammal preventive and clinical medicine

Experiential Learning:

Physical examinations of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins
Dolphin hematology and cytology exercises
Dolphin ultrasound exercises
Introduction to husbandry and dietary protocols in managed marine mammal care facilities
Participation in food preparation activities for the park's marine mammals

Bottlenose Dolphin

veterinarian student examining sea turtle

Loggerhead sea turtle

Sea Turtles

Lecture, lab and beach fieldwork formatc
Sea turtle exams, rescue and rehabilitation and conservation
Fibropapillomatosis – diagnosis, treatment and conservation threats
Anthropogenic stressors and policy mitigation

Fish

Lecture and dissection lab on shark biology
Lecture on whale sharks
Introduction to maintaining fish in managed facilities
Shark conservation
Water quality in aquaria
Fish dissection lab
Clinical care of fish

Nurse Sharks

Ocean Health

Climate change and ocean stressors
Noise pollution
Plastic pollution
Introduction to coral reefs and mangroves
Agriculture, algal blooms, dead zones
Introduction to molluscs
Introduction to marine birds
One Health and red tides (brevitoxin)- environmental implication
Introduction to natural ecosystems

Off-site Course Activities:

1. Early in the course there will be a half day off-site field trip to The University of Southern Mississippi’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center for a lecture and introduction to a multiple-species aquaculture research center – a division of USM’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.

2. Midway through the course, there will be a day-long field trip to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Alabama where course participants will learn about the operation of a marine mammal stranding network through a series of lectures and hands-on dissection of a bottlenose dolphin recovered by the network.

MARVET Mississippi Can Help You See It - Feel It - Learn It
Mark your calendar for the MARVET 2025 marine animal externship.

Read what former participants and an instructor from previous marine animal medicine workshops have to say about the quality of the MARVET program.

“MARVET Cayman was the highlight of my summer. Dr. Shields coordinated an amazing program that not only enabled us to learn from some of the biggest names in aquatic medicine but also coordinated hands-on laboratories and activities that helped to bring the information all together. The information presented in lectures and labs was informative and interesting and covered a wide range of topics from invertebrates to marine mammals. The students at St. Matthew's went out of their way to make us feel welcome and the facilities and living arrangements were excellent. MARVET Cayman also enabled me to meet life-long friends and mentors, and I am grateful to have had the incredible experience!”

Alex Mason, DVM
2019 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine

“MARVET was a life-changing experience and the highlight of my time as a veterinary student. Lectures consisted of an outstanding amount of clinically-relevant information that I continue to reference as a practicing veterinarian. Numerous opportunities to work hands-on with dolphins, manatees, sea lions, sea turtles and fish provided more veterinary-based experience with marine animals than any other program or externship in the USA. MARVET also consisted of excellent networking opportunities that have led to lasting relationships with mentors in the field of aquatic veterinary medicine.”

Lauren Strazdis, DVM (2020 graduate of Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences) - Course Participant

“Teaching veterinarians and veterinary students about aquatic animal ecology, medicine and pathology on Grand Cayman Island has been an incredible journey. Having been with the program since 2008, I have seen it grow into an even more amazing training course each year. With St. Matthew’s University as our host and the beautiful island as our backdrop - the experience for students AND faculty continues to be enriching and rewarding.”

Dr. Cindy P. Driscoll
State Fish & Wildlife Veterinarian
Fish & Wildlife Health Program
Department of Natural Resources

MARVET Mississippi 2025Marine Animal Medicine Externship