Dr Mark Mitchell presented on his current projects which focus on elasmobranchs, amphibians, reptiles, raptors, cetaceans, and bears from Louisiana, Florida, Belize, Massachusetts, Mississippi, El Salvador, and the Galapagos Islands. He discussed some of the opportunities available for those interested in wildlife field research as a career. The RUSVM Chapter of American Society for Lab Animal Practitioners (ASLAP) hosted the presentation.
A bit of a biography: Dr Mitchell is an Associate Professor in the Bird, Zoo, and Exotic Animal Medicine Service at the Louisiana State University. In addition to his DVM, Dr Mitchell also has an MS and a PhD in epidemiology. He founded the International Aquatic and Terrestrial Conservation Medicine Research Laboratory at LSU and has numerous projects covering a wide variety of topics currently underway.
Dr Mitchell is a past-president of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, and is on the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association board. He is the scientific editor for the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, and has written numerous papers and book chapters, as well as being a co-editor of Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Practice.
Dr Mitchell’s visit focused on the development of a research program in sea turtles and conservation medicine in collaboration with RUSVM. One activity is a PhD program for Dr Kimberly Stewart; Dr Mitchell will serve as her advisor.