The IAAAM Executive Board will again be granting monetary awards to students planning to deliver ORAL [not poster] presentations at the annual IAAAM conference in May 2027. The awards are intended to defray costs of attending the conference, promote student participation in the professional program and further the commitment of the IAAAM to its students. The conference will extend from May 16-20th. Awards will be granted on a competitive basis. Undergraduate students, Masters and
Hosted by Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, this hybrid event will include in person as well as remote/virtual presentations.
We will consider abstracts that cover ALL aspects of aquatic animal health and medicine, but we encourage submissions on the following topics:
One Health: presentations that focus on the links between aquatic environmental, animal, and human health
Fish, Invertebrate and Amphibian Health and sustainability, including aquaculture, reproduction and conservation practices
Imaging: presentations that use imaging for diagnosis, monitoring, therapeutics and more
Novel Techniques and Innovation: presentations that highlight innovative methodology and treatments in aquatic animal medicine
Conservation Medicine: presentations that highlight veterinary and zoological expertise being leveraged to benefit any wild aquatic animal species and ecosystem
Host: Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton Omaha Downtown/Old Market
More details will be available soon.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 IAAAM Student Travel Awards.
Amber Lum - UF Aquatic Resident
Cardiac Examinations of Pacific Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) Under Behavioral Control
Madeline Yde - NC State Vet Student
Pharmacokinetics of Pradofloxacin in Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) After Single Intravenous and Subcutaneous Injections
Emily Pepin - Mystic Aquarium Intern
The Role of Electrolyte Imbalances for Prognosis in Rehabilitating Gray Seals (Halichoerus grypus)
Sebastian Elsenbroek - SA Rotating Vet Intern
Evaluating Patterns and Prevalence of Crossmatch Compatibility in a Population of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Caroline Pessi (*International Winner) - Masters Student University of Sao Paulo
Surveillance of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza on the Antarctic Peninsula During the 2024/2025 Austral Summer
Congratulations to the following students who were awarded 2025 Medway Scholarships.
Title: Population pharmacokinetics of oral maropitant citrate in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
PI: Dr. Barbara Linnehan
Organization: National Marine Mammal Foundation
Title: Comprehensive Study on Blood Characteristics and Health in Wild Caught Mahi-Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus)
PI: Dr. Greg Lewbart
Organization: North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Title: Comparative Health Assessment and Genomics of the Hybrid Galápagos Iguana; An Enigma Cross Between the Marine Iguana and the Yellow Land Iguana
PI: Dr. Greg Lewbart
Organization: North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Tite: Ocular Parameters Related to Drug Delivery in Marine Mammals
PI: Dr. Brian Gilger
Organization: North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Title: Behavioral Effects of Chlordecone Exposure in Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Martinique
PI: Dr. Claire Vergneau-Grosset
Organization: Université de Montréal
While we had intended to offer a Fall cycle for Medway Scholarship applications, a higher-than-expected number of high-quality applications were submitted this spring; and, the funds allocated for 2025 awards were expended. For this reason, the IAAAM Board has decided to delay the next Call for Applications until early in the new year. We will be looking to receive and review the next round of applications in February/March of 2026.
We have been encouraged and excited by the interest that has been expressed, and by the breadth of wonderful new ideas!
Cole Ferreira (DVM student, UF): Evaluation and Treatment of Microfloral Dysbiosis with Gastric Microbiota Transplantations in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Amber Lum (Resident, University of Florida): Thyroid Hormones in Free-Ranging Florida Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and Comparison to Individuals Affected by Chronic Malnutrition due to Seagrass Die-Off in the Indian River Lagoon
Aricia Duarte Benvenuto (University of San Paulo)- A Case Report of Rehabilitation of a Neonatal Franciscana Dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) in Uruguay.
James Yan (Resident, Ontario Veterinary College); Echocardiographic Examination in Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) with Decompression Sickness
Cassie Seebart (Intern, The Marine Mammal Center)- Evaluation of Chemical Restraint Protocols for California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) with Acute Domoic Acid Intoxication
Ashley Souza (Resident, NC State)- Transorbital Cerebrospinal Fluid Tap in Green Sea Turtles, Chelonia mydas (Proof of Concept)
Join us in celebrating the incredible women on the IAAAM Executive Board! Their unwavering support for science and dedication to advancing women in STEM is truly inspiring.
Let's honor their contributions and the importance of women in science today and every day.
Click the links below to learn more about your board members.
Gabriela Hernandez Mora, DVM, Ph.D., MSc.
Category A [Undergrad, DVM]- TIE
Emily Pepin- 52.75 (average score): University of Melbourne, Vet student - 'Stranding Trends of Fur Seals in South-eastern Australia, With a Focus on Ocular Conditions'
Yuka Takahashi- 52.2 (average score): UC Berkley, Undergraduate student - 'Characterizing Non-Pulmonary Lesions in Northern Elephant Seals with The Pulmonary Nematode (Otostrongylus circumlitus)'
Category B [Intern, resident, fellow]- TIE
Laura Martinelli- 51.8 (average score): North Carolina State CVM, Resident - 'Use of Computed Tomography to Determine Body Surface Area and K-Constant in Atlantic Stingrays (Dasyatis sabina)'
Darbi Jones- 51.5 (average score): UC Davis, Fellow - 'Preliminary Comparative Ontogenetic Diet Assessment of Sand Tiger Sharks (Carcharias taurus) in the New York Bight Through Fecal DNA Metabarcoding'
Category C [Phd, masters, postdoc]
Dorthea Megarani: University of Florida, Phd Program - 'One-Pot RT-LAMP CRISPR/Cas12b Platform for Rapid Detection of Tilapia Lake Virus'
Posters [all students]
Sasha Troiano- Seattle Aquarium, Fellow - 'Pharmacokinetics of a Single Dose of Intramuscular Danofloxacin to Whitespotted Bamboo Sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum)'
Radiology donor- from an anonymous donor to encourage talks in this area.
Wei Yeng Yeong- Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Vet Student - 'Standardizing Ultrasonographic Protocol in Crocodilian Coelomic Organs Assessment Using Fusion Imaging Technique'
Molly Horgan, a third-year zoological medicine resident at the University of Florida/White Oak Conservation, is the winner of the Wildlife Disease Association-International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicines joint award for the best aquatic animal manuscript published by a student in JWD in 2023. She is pursuing a career in wildlife medicine and is interested in studying diseases of free-ranging and rehabilitated wildlife.
Molly's paper DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A NOVEL DUPLEX PROBE–HYBRIDIZATION QUANTITATIVE PCR FOR LYMPHOMA-ASSOCIATED MIROUNGINE GAMMAHERPESVIRUS 3 IN NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEALS (MIROUNGA ANGUSTIROSTRIS) appeared in the January 2023 issue, 59(1) of the Journal of Wildlife Diseases.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is announcing the issuance of nine warning letters to manufacturers and distributors of unapproved and misbranded antimicrobial animal drugs for violations of federal law. The agency is concerned because these products contain antimicrobials that are important in human medicine and using them without medical oversight contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance.
