There are multiple strategies that one can use when obtaining a higher degree with concentrations in aquatic medicine. The student will need to make certain key decisions about their future goals in order to make an informed choice about which program to undertake. First, are you willing to travel? Are you willing to get a degree in a related area, not exactly medicine? Many veterinary schools have graduate programs, but not many have aquatic programs or facilities. These will be discussed in another paper. Numerous graduate programs exist which offer Masters and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees in fisheries-related fields. The American Fisheries Society publishes a booklet which lists these programs by state. A good starting point is to look at the programs available in your state. Call the persons in charge of the programs and discuss your interests with them. Their program may not be exactly what you are looking for, but they may know of other programs in the state or nearby which are more suited to your needs. Occasionally, you can create your own program. For example, the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Medicine offers a Ph.D. in Pathology. This degree is usually obtained by students conducting research on mammalian species. The Department of Pathology, however, has an aquatic center where students can conduct basic and applied scientific investigations. Such programs are often not well advertised and most often are heard about by word of mouth. One of the best ways to obtain information is to call people who are conducting research in your area of interest. They can usually put you in touch with an institution where you can obtain a degree in that field. How do you find such people? First, review the literature in journals such as Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, Journal of Fish Diseases, Aquatic Toxicology, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, and Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine. Second, attend meetings such as the IAAAM conference or the annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society. These meetings provide an excellent opportunity to meet people who have similar interests and who can be a great resource for finding a graduate program suited to your needs.