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.