Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, DACZM, PhD
Course Open: November 5-December 20, 2019
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesdays, November 12, 19, December 3, and 10, 2019; 7:30-9:30 pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter To prepare for your online experience, please review the VIN/VSPN CE informational video prior to the course open date. Level and Prerequisites: This basic course will be open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians/technologists, and veterinary support staff actively interested in captive and wild reptile medicine.
VIN CE Course: Open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians/technologists, and veterinary support staff. This course is approved by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists. (RACE 22-38075) Course Information:
The primary purpose of this course is to provide a basic to intermediate understanding of the principles of care for reptilian wildlife, zoologic collections, and captive pets. The course will include details on the common syndromes and diseases with which reptilian patients present to a clinic, the approach to triage, emergency treatment, basic surgeries, and routine husbandry and preventative medicine. Public health and legal implications will also be covered. Week 1 (Real Time Session November 12, 2019): General Principles of Reptile Medicine
Presenters: Heather W. Barron, DVM, DABVP (Avian) and Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, DACZM, PhD
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
- discuss the general principles for triage and critical care techniques commonly applied to reptiles.
- understand how to anesthetize common reptile species; advances in the application of analgesia and antimicrobials in reptiles.
- recognize emergent diseases in free-ranging reptiles and common zoonoses.
Presenters: Heather W. Barron, DVM, DABVP (Avian) and Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, DACZM, PhD
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
- understand causes of and therapeutic approaches to trauma in turtles, including both medicine and surgery, and specifically relating to shell fracture repair.
- understand the nutritional and supportive needs of turtles that have experienced trauma and how to meet them, including assisted alimentation.
- recognize and diagnose some of the common chelonian infectious diseases and recommend treatment.
Presenters: Heather W. Barron, DVM, DABVP (Avian) and Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, DACZM, PhD
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
- recognize and discuss the clinical syndromes and diseases of the most common pet and wild lizard species.
- understand their nutritional needs and assisted alimentation.
- learn how to restrain and apply common clinical techniques.
- understand common reasons for why crocodilians present for clinical care and their basic medicine.
Presenters: Heather W. Barron, DVM, DABVP (Avian) and Sonia M. Hernandez, DVM, DACZM, PhD
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
- recognize and discuss the clinical syndromes and diseases of the most common pet and wild snake species.
- understand their nutritional needs and assisted alimentation.
- learn appropriate caging, husbandry and preventative care.
Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course. About the Presenters:
Heather Wilson Barron is Medical and Research Director at the Clinic for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel Island, FL. She received training in exotic and wild animal medicine and surgery through a residency at the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, where she stayed on as faculty in the Zoological Medicine Service for a decade. She obtained further international experience as Department Head of Clinical Medicine at St. Matthew's University, School of Veterinary Medicine in the Cayman Islands, where she was also the veterinarian for the Cayman Turtle Farm and Cayman Wildlife Rescue. She has served as a consultant for IDEXX and Antech Imaging Services and is a former president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. Sonia M. Hernandez is a wildlife veterinarian and ecologist. She is currently an 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 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 disease prevalence of wild animals. She currently teaches various courses on wildlife disease investigation and management and conservation medicine. Total CE Credit: 8
Tuition: Member $184 ($166 early bird special if enrolled by October 22, 2019)
Non-Member $292 ($263 early bird special if enrolled by October 22, 2019)
Prices are listed in US dollars. *To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on November 12, 2019 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email CEonVIN. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
VIN Education Director VIN CE Services: CEonVIN
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