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Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is pleased to offer a one yearlong David E. Wildt Zoological Medicine Fellowship for graduate veterinarians interested in pursuing a career in Zoo and Wildlife Conservation and Medicine. This fellowship is designed to provide experience in nondomestic animal medicine with a focus on the application of veterinary principles to semi-free ranging species and conservation medicine.

As a member of the Conservation Centers for Species Survival (C2S2), Fossil Rim Wildlife Center offers a unique experience to work with captive wildlife in a naturalistic environment. The majority of the hoofstock in the collection are housed in semi-free ranging conditions over the park’s 1800 acres, allowing for herd management and field immobilizations to be common principles here at Fossil Rim. In addition to this strong emphasis on exotic hoofstock, the facility focuses on propagation and care of several endangered species including black rhino, multiple species of wolves, Attwater’s prairie chickens, and many others. Fossil Rim is also a member of the Cheetah Breeding Centers Coalition, having produced over 180 cubs since the cheetah program began at this institution. These large-scale programs allow veterinarians to participate in slightly different aspects of zoological medicine than are found in traditional zoo settings.

The fellow will participate as a full member of the veterinary team, which oversees the veterinary care and management of 1,000+ specimens of over 40 species. Although all aspects of veterinary management will be included in the fellowship, the primary focus will be to improve the comfort level of the fellow with anesthesia, particularly of exotic hoofstock. Given the herd structure at Fossil Rim, anesthesia of exotic hoofstock is often part of the daily routine. Compared to most traditional zoos that may average around 5-10 per year, Fossil Rim averages more than 150 hoofstock immobilizations every year. This creates a unique environment for becoming competent and comfortable with hoofstock anesthesia.

Responsibilities of the fellow will include case management, pathology, preventative medicine, breeding management, and record keeping, as well as training of final year veterinary students, staff, and veterinary technician interns. Research and publications are highly encouraged and the fellow will be expected to produce at least one publication for a peer-reviewed journal by the end of the fellowship. The position will also include opportunities for collaboration with other zoos, which may include the opportunity to visit and participate in specific procedures, spend an out rotation at the zoo, and / or collaborate on research projects depending on timing and resources.

Application requests include a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation. Please have all three reference letters submitted directly from your references to julies@fossilrim.org. The remainder of the application will need to be completed on-line using the link below. In addition to the requirement for at least one year of general post graduate experience, strong preference will be given to veterinarians with at least one-year postgraduate experience in zoo, exotic, or wildlife medicine. The applicant will need to gain licensure in the state of Texas, so international applicants will have to have passed either the NAVLE if from an AVMA accredited veterinary school, or the ECVFG prior to applying. The deadline for application is December 15th of each year and the position will start on July 1st of the following year. Please send any additional questions to julies@fossilrim.org (Julie Swenson, DVM, Dipl. ACZM).