In November, the Non-Traditional Species Club at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine hosted the fourth annual Wildlife University conference. Wildlife University is a student-organized conference for veterinary students, pre-vet students, and anyone else that is part of or interested in veterinary medicine or wildlife. This two-day conference consisted of lectures on various topics, a workshop opportunity, a trivia night, and a career panel.
This year, we had several amazing speakers who graciously took their time to give very informative and exciting lectures. Our speakers on the Saturday of the conference included: Dr. Margarita Woc-Colburn, Dr. Greg Lewbert, Dr. Tamara Qabazard, Dr. Lily Parkinson, Dr. Alida De Flamingh, and Dr. Karisa Tang. After these lectures, the day concluded with a fun and informative trivia night! On Sunday, our lecturers included: Jacob Dalen, Sarah Hollander, Dr. Giovana Miranda, Dr. Laura Adamovicz, Dr. Mandy Womble, and Dr. Michelle Borsdorf. The conference then concluded with a career panel where attendees were able to ask questions and learn about the variety of careers available in wildlife and veterinary medicine.
Wildlife University 2023 was a fun and successful conference enjoyed by many attendees. Much was learned through the various lectures on topics such as fish medicine, emergency zoo medicine, aquatic veterinary pathology, and so much more. The Non-Traditional Species Club and the Wildlife University planning committee would like to thank all of the speakers that took time out of their busy schedule to share their knowledge and experiences with the attendees. We would also like to thank our sponsors at the Wildlife Medical Clinic and the Illinois Raptor Center, as well as all the attendees who attended our conference. Our club will begin planning the 2024 Wildlife University conference in the spring, so keep an eye out for more information on next year’s conference!
Written by Trey, Class of 2026
