“Medicine of Aquatics, Amphibians, and Reptiles” (MOAAR) is the name of a successful two-day symposium that was hosted last month in Lynn Hall by the Exotic Animal Club. The program, held November 11-12, featured 20 lectures and six wet labs that were offered in two separate tracks: Amphibians/Reptiles and Aquatics. The club brought in speakers from private practice as well as other universities, including Michigan State University and the University of Illinois, who joined presenters from the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.
The symposium was conducted as an in-person event with a virtual attendance option. The nearly 70 in-person attendees included veterinary students from Michigan State University, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Among the 40 virtual participants were attendees from outside the U.S. on three different continents, in countries that included Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and Thailand.
The Exotics Animal Club seeks to offer its members knowledge, understanding, and experience to utilize in providing excellent care for exotic animal patients. Throughout the year, in addition to planning and supporting the symposium, the club arranges lectures, wet labs, and other activities featuring specialists in zoo, wildlife, exotic, and aquatic medicine. The faculty advisor for the club is Dr. Steve Thompson, clinical associate professor of small animal primary care. Breanna Davis, of the DVM Class of 2025, served as the symposium student chair.
The symposium is offered every other year, alternating with another biennial continuing education program called, “Medicine of Mammals and Avian Species” (MMAS), which also is a two-day symposium organized by the Exotic Animal Club.
This event was supported by the college’s Office of Lifelong Learning.