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Zoo medicine resident awarded for research at national meeting

Dr. Jessica Emerson, Dr. Dan Fredholm, Dr. Alexandra Goe and Dr. Marjorie Bercier are shown at the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians meeting in October.

Dr. Jessica Emerson, a clinical instructor at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and former UF CVM zoological medicine resident, took second place in a recent award competition for her presentation evaluating a novel technique for evaluating passive transfer in non-domestic ruminants.

Emerson presented her work during the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, held Oct. 18-24 in Orlando. The competition is jointly sponsored by the AAZV and Morris Animal Foundation for graduate veterinarians who are currently enrolled in or have recently completed postgraduate training. Presentation subjects can include any of the traditional veterinary or related science disciplines that impact the management of non-domestic animals.

Her prize was $600.

“Evaluation of passive transfer is important in identifying calves that are at higher risk for infection or disease to allow for early intervention,” said Emerson,  who is in her fourth year of the zoological medicine residency.

“The technique has the potential to have a wide applicability in the field of veterinary medicine and in many different species,” she said.

The Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians holds a separate but concurrent meeting in Orlando, and several UF zoological medicine residents presented their work at one or both events.  Emerson gave a separate presentation at the ARAV, and Dr. Dan Fredholm, a second-year zoological medicine resident, also presented two research projects, one at AAZV group and another at AARV. Dr. Alexandra Goe and Dr. Marjorie Bercier also presented work at AAZV.