VIN MULT501-0920: Conservation Medicine and One Health

The lectures for this course will be presented in an audio format using a webinar platform.

Enrollment is closed.
Presenter: Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, DACZM, PhD
Course Open: September 8-October 16, 2020
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesdays, September 15, 22, 29 and October 6, 2020; 8:00-10:00 pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

Level and Prerequisites: This basic course will be open to veterinarians and veterinary support personnel actively interested in Conservation Medicine and One Health.
VIN CE Course: Open to veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists. This course has been submitted for RACE approval for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists.

Course Information:
The primary purpose of this course is to provide a basic to intermediate understanding of the concepts of Conservation Medicine and One Health. Conservation Medicine evolved as a multidisciplinary science to address the anthropogenic impacts on wildlife and ecosystems. Because humans are embedded in these ecosystems, our health is tied to the health of wildlife and our shared environments. This course will focus on reviewing the "big themes" of Conservation Medicine and One Health and provide updates on current topics. Veterinarians from all arenas should be aware of these topics to educate the general public, to be prepared when, for example, new pathogens emerge, to promote appropriate conservation behaviors and to engage in this discipline, either as a practitioner or researcher. Most of the course will be taught by utilizing specific examples to illustrate the general theories and concepts of this transdisciplinary science.

Week 1 (Real Time Session Session September 15, 2020): General Principles of Conservation Medicine & One Health I
Presenter: Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, DACZM, PhD
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • discuss the history and development of Conservation Medicine and One Health.
  • describe how it is practiced.
  • discuss who practices it and in what capacity.

Week 2 (Real Time Session September 22, 2020): General Principles of Conservation Medicine & One Health II
Presenter: Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, DACZM, PhD
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • list historically significant emergent pathogens and the reasons why they emerged.
  • understand (through examples) the relationship between habitat destruction and health and the meaning and examples of "pathogen pollution."
  • discuss Global Emergent pathogens (Part I).
  • discuss habitat destruction and health/disease.
  • discuss pathogen pollution.

Week 3 (Real Time Session September 29, 2020): General Principles of Conservation Medicine & One Health III
Presenter: Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, DACZM, PhD
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • discuss Global Emergent pathogens (Part II).
  • discuss the impact of the international pet trade.
  • discuss the impact of invasive species.

Week 4 (Real Time Session October 6, 2020): General Principles of Conservation Medicine & One Health IV
Presenter: Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, DACZM, PhD
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • discuss Global Emergent pathogens (Part III).
  • discuss keystone species.
  • discuss other anthropogenic disturbances.

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Presenter:
Sonia M. Hernandez is a wildlife veterinarian and ecologist. She is currently a professor in a shared position between the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia. She graduated veterinary school from LSU in 1996. She received training in zoological medicine through a residence at Cornell University (1998-2001) is boarded in zoological medicine and has a PhD in Ecology. She obtained clinical experience as a zoo veterinarian and a private exotic animal and wildlife practitioner. Currently she conducts research to better understand how anthropogenic activities affect the health and pathogen dynamics of wild animals. She currently teaches various courses on wildlife disease investigation and management and conservation medicine. She teaches a month-long study abroad course on Conservation Medicine & Biology in Costa Rica.

Total CE Credit: 8

Tuition: Member $184 ($166 early bird special if enrolled by August 25, 2020)
Non-Member $292 ($263 early bird special if enrolled by August 25, 2020)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on September 15, 2020 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
  4. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
Enrollment is closed.

"This program (RACE program number to be determined) has been submitted for approval by AAVSB RACE to offer a total of 8 CE Credits, with a maximum of 8 CE Credits being available to any individual veterinarian or veterinary technician/technologist. This RACE approval is for the subject matter categories of: Non-Medical, using the delivery method of Interactive-Distance: (Web-based, Teleconference or Audio-Conference). This approval is valid in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE; however, participants are responsible for ascertaining each board's CE requirements."

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.

Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Director

VIN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357