Blogs from the Field
A healthy future for wildlife, people, and planet.
February 11, 2026
Aquatic veterinary medicine began as a dream for me, a field hidden behind the scenes, largely unknown. Still, I knew that someone was providing medical care for the animals at the zoos and aquariums I often admired and learned from throughout my life....
February 03, 2026
As a young girl, I was captivated by the majestic animals and wild landscapes I saw on television—so different from the concrete jungle that surrounded me. They seemed magical, distant, and almost unreachable from my urban home in Queens, New York....
January 13, 2026
On the first day of my externship with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, I shook hands with Dr. Julia Burco, a state wildlife veterinarian, and I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and fulfillment....
December 11, 2025
One of my primary goals during my veterinary education was to present at a professional conference to gain experience and build my network. I was able to achieve this goal by presenting at the 2025 International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference....
December 02, 2025
This past spring, I had the opportunity to travel to Gulfport, Mississippi, where I served as a veterinary student extern at the Mississippi Aquarium. It was my first time working at an aquarium, and I loved it....
November 14, 2025
by
Rodman Getchell
Compassion is not just a feeling; it's a call to action. It motivates individuals to actively seek ways to help and make a difference in the lives of others....
February 20, 2025
Since deciding to pursue veterinary medicine, I have been interested in conservation medicine, with a focus on improving the health of wildlife populations. More recently, my interest has expanded to aquatic medicine...
February 09, 2024
This summer, I embarked on an unforgettable journey into the heart of aquatic veterinary medicine with Dr. Tim Miller-Morgan at the Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) in Newport, Oregon. The center is Oregon State University’s coastal campus, also serving as a marine science laboratory and an oceanographic research base for six state and federal agencies....
October 25, 2023
I started veterinary school with the goal of working with stingrays, dolphins, and fish. Now, four years later, I can say I have worked at some of the top aquariums and other aquatic facilities in the country and connected with colleagues who are leading this field.