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Program Goals Program Description Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 |
Year 4 Clinics Focus Areas Extramural Studies Clinical Competencies Veterinarian's Oath |
Focus Area for Laboratory Animal Medicine
Focus Area Leader
Dr. Richard Fish
Description of the Focus Area
Laboratory Animal Medicine (LAM) is a specialty that combines many elements of veterinary medicine, typically including clinical medicine, surgery, pathology, regulatory compliance, facilities and personnel management, and research. Laboratory animal veterinarians are employed in academia, industry (e.g., pharmaceutical), and government, and have responsibilities for a wide variety of species. There is currently very high demand for laboratory animal veterinarians, and short supply; this translates into relatively high salaries and benefits compared with practice.
LAM specialists typically receive training in a post-DVM residency/postdoctoral program that lasts 2-3 years (or more with additional research exposure and/or graduate degree), and which may occur either immediately after the DVM or following practice or other experience. Residency training positions can be competitive and, therefore, good planning and preparation is important during the vet school years.
LAM is a sufficiently broad career path that veterinary students should be careful to avoid too much specialization; it is arguably the ultimate mixed animal practice. Animal handling and clinical skills are important, in a variety of species, as is pathology, and research is at the heart of what LAM is about, even if the lab animal vet is not directly engaged in his/her own research program. Students should consider developing strengths in these and/or other areas of “subspecialization,” such as surgery, or large animal or special species husbandry and medicine.
Advisors
- Dr. Richard Fish, Director, Associate Professor Laboratory Animal Medicine and Director, LAR, H-114, 513-6280, rick_fish@ncsu.edu
- Dr. Melanie Sorrell, Clinical Assistant Professor Laboratory Animal Medicine, RB-160, 513-8273, melanie_sorrell@ncsu.edu
- Dr. Karen Taylor, Clinical Assistant Professor Laboratory Animal Medicine, D256, 515-8594, karen_taylor@ncsu.edu
Steps to pursue a focus in laboratory animal medicine (LAM)
- Identify an advisor within the focus area
- Plan CVM selectives and other activities (see below) with the help of your advisor
- Make contacts/arrangements for externships during summers and 4th year
- Plan 4th year CVM rotations
Year 1-3 Requirements
Introduction to Laboratory Animal Medicine (VMC 991S) is a one-week selective (Fall, Week 2) intended to provide a broad overview of the specialty of laboratory animal medicine, using a combination of lectures, laboratories, and group exercises. It is required for the LAM Focus Area.
Year 1-3 Recommended Courses
LAM-Related
Active Learning the Companion Animals and Equine VTH (VMC 992Z) is a senior rotation offered also as a selective. (See the course description for VMC981 for details.) We recommend that this be taken as a selective, rather than waiting for the senior year. Selective credit can also be obtained via an externship (VMC 991H).
Other
There are selectives available related to pathology (including diagnostics), special species, and research, but students also should take the opportunity to gain a firm foundation in basic clinical skills. It may also be possible to get credit for attending a professional meeting (see Conferences, below).
Recommended Selectives for Laboratory Animal Medicine Focus
Recommended Selectives for Laboratory Animal Medicine Focus |
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Course Number |
Title |
Instructor |
Classes |
Semester |
Week |
Every Year |
VMB 991A |
Fish Physiology |
Dr. Swanson |
1,2,3 |
Fall |
1 |
* |
VMB 991D |
Introduction to Research at the CVM |
Drs. Martin, Blikslager |
1,2,3 |
Fall |
1 |
* |
VMB 991G |
Avian Anatomy & Physiology |
Dr. Smallwood |
1,2,3 |
Spring |
1 |
* |
VMB 992A |
Developmental Toxicology and Teratology |
Dr. Nascone-Yoder |
2,3 |
Fall |
Both |
* |
VMC 991B |
Advanced Ferret Medicine |
Dr. Harms |
1,2,3 |
Fall |
2 |
Odd |
VMC 991C |
Skin Toxicology |
Dr. Monteiro |
1,2,3 |
Spring |
2 |
* |
VMC 991F |
Animal Behavior and Welfare |
Dr. Simpson |
2,3 |
Fall |
2 |
* |
VMC 991Q |
Advanced Fish Medicine |
Dr. Lewbart |
1,2,3 |
Fall |
1 |
* |
VMC 991U |
Primate Medicine |
Dr. Stoskopf |
1,2,3 |
Spring |
2 |
Even |
VMC 991I |
Sample Collection and Interpretation |
Dr. Williams |
1,2,3 |
Spring |
1 |
* |
VMC 991X |
Professional Meeting |
Dr. Bristol |
1,2,3 |
Both |
Both |
* |
VMP 991D |
Necropsy Pathology |
Dr. Meuten |
2,3 |
Both |
1 |
* |
VMP 991F |
Spec. Topics in Pathology I: Careers |
Dr. Brown |
3 |
Fall |
1 |
* |
VMP 991I |
Special Topics in Pathology II |
Dr. Law |
2,3 |
Both |
1 |
* |
VMP991I |
Special Topics in Pathology II |
Dr. Law |
2,3 |
Both |
2 |
* |
VMP 991T |
Gnotobiology |
Dr. Carter |
1,2,3 |
Spring |
2 |
* |
VMP 992D |
PCR-based Diag. Of Bacterial Disease |
Drs. Altier, Orndorff |
1,2,3 |
Fall |
Both |
* |
Fourth Year Required Rotations
Required Rotations
- VMB 976 - Radiology Rotation
- VMB 977 - Clinical Anesthesia Rotation
- VMP 977 - Clinical Laboratory and Necropsy
- VMP 978 - Clinical Pathology, Parasitology, and Immunology
- VMC 970 - Community Classroom
- VMC 971 - Companion Animal Internal Medicine
- VMC 973 - General Surgery
- VMC 960 - Small Animal Emergency/Critical Care Medicine OR VMC 976 – Veterinary Emergency/Critical Care Medicine Small Animal
- VMC 981 - Laboratory Animal Medicine ( IF not taken as a selective)
- VMC 995 - Externship
+ One of the following:
- VMC 976 - Companion Animal Critical Care
- VMC 982 - Ophthalmology
- VMC 983 - Dermatology
- VMC 986 - Advanced Small Animal Medicine
- VMC 988 - Special Species Medicine
+ Two of the following (or other VMF course(s), with permission):
- VMP 970 Ruminant Health Management
- VMP 980 Theriogenology
- VMP 984 Swine Medicine & Production I
- VMP 990 Large Animal Community Classroom
- VMP 987 Ruminant Topics (e.g., bovine embryo transfer)
Other Experiences
Employment opportunities/externships/funding
Research experience, preferably involving animals, provides excellent background for pursuing a LAM career (including a residency). This experience is best during a summer, rather than a 2-4 week block. The CVM offers a summer research program for veterinary students, involving work in the lab of a CVM faculty member. Summer Internships
Research/LAM Opportunities in RTP
Contact Dr. Fish or the Student Chapter American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (SCASLAP) for more details on local opportunities.
- UNC-CH
- Duke University
- NIEHS
- EPA
- CIIT
- Glaxo-SmithKline
- Wake Forest University
Other Externship Possibilities
- Several research facilities offer summer programs, externships, clinical rotations, or other educational experiences for veterinary students interested in laboratory animal medicine – see the ASLAP site: http://www.aslap.org/preceptorships.php
- ACLAM sponsors summer externs; more information at http://www.aclam.org/education/pathways.html
- NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research: http://www.training.nih.gov/student/internship/internship.asp
- Center for Corporate and Government Veterinary Medicine (a resource to help train veterinary students in a variety of non-practice careers): http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/Organization/Maryland/cgcvm.asp
- Michigan State University has compiled a useful list of opportunities for veterinary students: http://cvm.msu.edu/ORG/rgs/nationalwebsite.htm
- University of Washington Department of Comparative Medicine: http://depts.washington.edu/compmed/instructional/index.html
- Stanford School of Medicine Department of Comparative Medicine: http://med.stanford.edu/compmed/education/externship.html
Funding
- CVM Summer Research Interns – Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies
- Some of the above opportunities may include stipends for veterinary students (e.g., NIH).
- The U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps offers two excellent opportunities for students in commissionable health-related categories throughout the academic year through the Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (JRCOSTEP) and Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (SRCOSTEP): http://commcorps.shs.net/student/. (This program may no longer accept students with a LAM interest.)
- The externship program sponsored by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine includes opportunity for the sponsoring institution to apply for a stipend on your behalf: http://www.aclam.org/education/pathways.html
Conferences
Students may benefit from attending a laboratory animal medicine/science conference. Annual meetings to consider include the following. Check websites at end for home pages of these organizations, which have latest information on upcoming meetings.
- Annual Meeting of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (5-day meeting in October or November)
- American Society for Laboratory Animal Practitioners annual meeting coincides with AALAS meeting; ASLAP offers travel funds on a competitive basis.
- American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine Annual Forum (4-day meeting in April or May)
- Annual Conference of the American Veterinary Medical Association (5-day meeting in July, usually with 2 full days of laboratory animal medicine-related topics)
- The Charles River Short Course on Laboratory Animal Care and Use is offered annually in June, and offers scholarships: http://www.criver.com/about_charles_river/events/short_course/index.html
- The Charles Louis Davis Foundation offers workshops on both comparative pathology and laboratory animal medicine, including a two-day meeting at NCSU in May. Check web site for details: http://www.afip.org/CLDavis/
- The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology offers an intensive course on the Pathology of Laboratory Animals in August: http://www.afip.org/vetpath/index.html
NCSU-CVM rounds/seminars/journal clubs
- LAM: Students are welcome to join in ongoing LAM rounds and seminars - schedule varies (Drs. Sorrell, Taylor )
- Histopathology Rounds - Fridays, 7:45 a.m.
- Gross Pathology Rounds - Wednesdays, 12:15 p.m.
- Zoo Rounds - Thursdays, 4:15 p.m.
- Research seminars - several ongoing series, as well as guest/invited speakers (usually posted on CVM listserv)
Extracurricular activities
- Student Chapter ASLAP
- PATHHEADS Student Pathology Club
Other Useful Information
Recommended journals
- Journal of the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science
- Comparative Medicine
- Laboratory Animal Practitioner (ASLAP)
- Lab Animal
- Laboratory Animals
Recommended memberships(web sites below)
- American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP) (student membership)
- American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)
Recommended electronic mailing list
- COMPMED is an Internet mailing list for discussing the topics of comparative medicine and the veterinary specialty of laboratory animal medicine (all species). This discussion group is primarily intended to provide a forum for information exchange among professionals working in the field of biomedical research. (Send email to: listserv@listserv.aalas.org ; command in body of email: SUBSCRIBE COMPMED FIRSTNAME LASTNAME)
Useful Internet Sites
- The American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) is an organization of board certified veterinary medical specialists who are experts in the humane, proper and safe care and use of laboratory animals. ACLAM establishes standards of education, training, experience and expertise necessary to become qualified as a specialist and recognizes that achievement through board certification: http://www.aclam.org/ (Note especially the links to Education & Training.)
- The American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP) promotes the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge, ideas, and information among veterinarians and veterinary students having an interest in laboratory animal practice. The Society does so for the benefit of laboratory animals, other animals, and society in general: http://www.aslap.org/. (Note especially the link to Career Information, which includes a listing of both externship opportunities and residencies.)
- The American Association for Laboratory Animal Science is the premier forum for the exchange of information and expertise in the care and use of laboratory animals. AALAS is more than 10,000 clinical veterinarians, technicians, technologists, educators, and business people... researchers... administrators... animal producers... national and international experts: http://www.aalas.org/
- Here are several sites for organizations supporting biomedical research using animals: Foundation for Biomedical Research: http://www.fbresearch.org/; National Association for Biomedical Research: http://www.nabr.org/; the North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research: http://www.ncabr.org/ ; Americans for Medical Progress: http://www.amprogress.org/
- Founded in 1952, the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) prepares authoritative reports on subjects of importance to the animal care and use community; serves as a clearinghouse for information about animal resources; and develops and makes available scientific and technical information on laboratory animals and other biological research resources: http://dels.nas.edu/ilar/.
- Here’s the site for NCSU IACUC general information, including links to the protocol form: http://www.ncsu.edu/iacuc/