Zoological Medicine Vet Associations

Most veterinarians who work with wild animals--including the authors who contributed to The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes--belong to one of the following international professional organizations.

AAZV, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

EAZV, European Association of Zoo Veterinarians

WDA, Wildlife Disease Association

AAWV, American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians

IAAAM, International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine

AAV, Association of Avian Veterinarians

AARV, Association of Amphibian and Reptile Veterinarians

In the United States, most veterinarians also belong to the American Veterinary Medical Association

Board Certification in Zoological Medicine

The American College of Zoological Medicine offers a certifying exam for vets who practice on non-domestic animals, with various subspecialties, such as general zoo medicine, wildlife medicine, aquatic medicine, and avian medicine.

ACZM, American College of Zoological Medicine

Vets must achieve a certain level of academic and scientific achievement in order to take the exam. The requirements for board eligibility include five first author publications and successful completion of a three-year residency, an intensively mentored training program similar to a post-doc. Alternatively, a vet who has at least five years of practical experience and has worked with a board-certified mentor can also become board eligible.

The board certification exam covers all species and any medical problem, and it takes two days. We're never that smart again!

DACZM

Veterinarians certified in zoological medicine use the abbreviation, DACZM, which stands for Diplomat of the American College of Zoological Medicine. Worldwide, this is a group of just 124 vets.

Sixteen of the twenty-eight contributing authors to The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes are board certified, including Lucy and Ted.