Wildlife and Conservation Medicine Signature Opportunity

Built upon the strengths provided by the Tufts Wildlife Medicine Program and the Tufts Center for Conservation Medicine, the Wildlife and Conservation Medicine Signature Opportunity provides a rich learning environment for students who are concerned with wildlife health and preservation, habitat and species diversity, conservation biology, ecological issues and natural resources.

The Wildlife and Conservation Medicine Signature Opportunity at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University is designed to:

• Teach the clinical skills required for the medical and surgical care and management of wildlife.
• Provide an understanding of the larger role veterinarians can play in conservation biology and to develop an understanding and respect for the natural history of wild animals and the environmental conditions in which they live.
• Develop a philosophical commitment to teaching the public a similar understanding and respect and to sharing their sense of compassion for animals in the wild.

The goals of the Signature Opportunity in Wildlife and Conservation Medicine are to:

• Educate and engage all veterinary students in the practice of wildlife medicine as well as the larger ethical and conservation issues that impact wildlife individuals and populations.
• Provide additional didactic and experiential learning opportunities for those veterinary students who wish to pursue more specific interests in wildlife and conservation medicine.
• Advance knowledge in the fields of wildlife and conservation medicine through high quality student research activities with the goals of improving the well being of wildlife as well as domestic animals and people.
• Provide mentorship for veterinary students who wish to pursue careers in wildlife and conservation medicine.
• Collaborate on wildlife-related issues with other Cummings School programs including International Veterinary Medicine, the Center for Animals and Public Policy and many outside institutions.