Institution Type

Other

Is there a medical school?

Yes

Is this a land-grant institution?

Yes

Program Director(s)

Dr. Felicia Boynton ; Dr. Nate Koewler

Vivarium Director(s)

Dr. Jodi Scholz; Lisa Johnson

Who to Contact

Dr. Felicia Boynton

Address

200 First Street SW, Rochester,  MN  55902

Phone

(507) 284-1051

Fax

(507) 284-1059

Email

Boynton.felicia@mayo.edu

Vivarium Name

University of Minnesota; Mayo Clinic

Is the facility AAALAC accredited?

Yes

Describe management structure

2-5 Administratively distinct vivaria

Describe the extent to which your facilities are centralized

Animals housed in 5+ separate locations

Vivarium Square Feet

360,000

Summarize the nature of the animal population and the predominant types of clinical activities

The Minnesota Laboratory Animal Medicine Consortium is comprised of two institutions: The University of Minnesota in Minneapolis/St. Paul and Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

At least fifteen species are housed at one or both institutions, consisting predominantly of mice and also including rats, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, farm animals, nonhuman primates, fish, reptiles and amphibians.

During the clinical portion of the program, trainees will function as clinical laboratory animal veterinarians under the supervision and mentorship of faculty veterinarians. The University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic have diverse research programs with many unique resources that include surgical model and device development in large animals, advanced imaging techniques, rodent phenotyping, and swine breeding programs.

Number of Veterinarians in program

13

Number of ACLAM Diplomates in program

12

Number of Boarded Pathologists

1

Number of Other Boarded Veterinary Specialists

0

Number of necropsies/week in the veterinary unit

5

Number of surgical cases/week in the veterinary unit

3

Is this program recognized by ACLAM?

Yes

Does this program participate in the Veterinary Internship & Residency Matching Program (VIRMP)?

Yes

Number of concurrent residents

5

How many residents/trainees have completed this program?

6

Of these, how many have subsequently become ACLAM Diplomates?

3

In what year did the program accept its first trainee?

2017

How many years are required to complete this program (residency only)?

3

Is formal coursework offered?

No

Is a degree program associated with this residency?

No

If yes, what degree(s)?

N/A

Which departments most commonly grant degree(s)?

N/A

Give an overview of this program, describing its particular strengths and any unique aspects that are not addressed in any of the other sections

The Minnesota Laboratory Animal Medicine Consortium is a three-year training program formed as collaboration between The University of Minnesota in Minneapolis/St. Paul and Mayo Clinic in Rochester. The overall objective of the training program is to provide a focused background in laboratory animal medicine against the backdrop of a broad program in biomedical research. The program is intended to provide an environment for veterinarians to develop clinical and critical thinking skills needed to responsibly function within programs of laboratory animal care. Further, the program will provide residents with experience and insight with respect to research design and study execution. An expected outcome for residents is that they will have received the necessary training to meet all requirements for certification by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM).

Each trainee is sited at one of the two locations, where the majority of their clinical training will take place. Travel between the two institutions, as well as to external facilities, will broaden the exposure to various aspects of laboratory animal medicine and biomedical research. Didactic training is provided in the form of resident seminars, journal club, clinical conferences, and board preparation sessions, delivered in person and by video conference. Residents will participate in collaborative research as part of a project designed toward their research interests and publication of results in a peer-reviewed journal.

The residency will also include focused areas of concentration. For each concentration, residents will be under the direct supervision of a residency faculty member who will direct their study and work. Each concentration will last a defined period of time, depending on the specific topic, and will include didactic approaches, as well as opportunities to translate didactic knowledge into practice. This will be accomplished through discussion, self-study, problem-solving exercises, and application of knowledge to actual challenges and workload associated with the concentration area.

Please note: Applicants to this program must complete their applications (through VIRMP) on or before the NOVEMBER deadline as posted on the VIRMP website to ensure that the program has ample time to schedule and complete interviews with prospective candidates. In addition, applicants should contact their references and registrar to ensure all application materials are submitted prior to this deadline.

Describe any unique research interests of your faculty

• Cancer models
• Wound healing
• Experimental surgery, device development
• Environmental enrichment
• Anesthesia and analgesia
• Prion disease

Give a few literature citations of publications completed by trainees during their tenure in this program

Unger MD, Pleticha J, Steinauer J, Kanwar R, Diehn F, LaVallee KT, Banck MS, Jones B, Yaksh TL, Maus TP, Beutler AS. Unilateral Epidural Targeting of Resiniferatoxin Induces Bilateral Neurolysis of Spinal Nociceptive Afferents. Pain Medicine. 2019 May; 20(5):897-906. PMID: 30590777.

LaVallee KT, Maus TP, Stock JD, Stalder KJ, Karriker LA, Murthy NS, Kanwar R, Beutler AS, Unger MD. Quantitation of Gait and Stance Alterations Due to Monosodium Iodoacetate-induced Knee Osteoarthritis in Yucatan Swine. Comp Med. 2020 Jun 1;70(3):248-257. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-CM-19-000075. Epub 2020 Apr 24. PMID: 32331555

Edmunson AM, Duke Boynton FD, Rendahl AK, Merley AL, Koewler NJ, Dunbar ML, Sivula CP. Indicators of Postoperative Pain in Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Comp Med. 2021 Feb 1;71(1):76-85. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-CM-20-990056. Epub 2021 Jan 26. PMID: 33500019

Merley AL, Hubbard JS, Rendahl AK, Duke Boynton FD, Collura Impelluso L. Behavioral and Physiologic Effects of Dirty Bedding Exposure in Female ICR Mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2022 Jan 1;61(1):42-51. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-21-000060. Epub 2021 Dec 13. PMID: 34903313

Beale CN, Esmail MY, Aguiar AM, Coughlin L, Merley AL, Alarcon Falconi TM, Perkins SE. Use of Air-activated Thermal Devices during Recovery after Surgery in Mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2018 Jul 1;57(4):392-400. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-17-000077. Epub 2018 Jun 22. PMID: 29933764

Where will vacancies be advertised?

CompMed listserv, ASLAP

What month does the program begin?

July

Starting Annual Salary

$53,760  

To what extent is travel to meetings, etc. paid for?

Travel to at least one national meeting. Salary is adjusted to cover travel between Mayo/UMN. Other travel considered on a case-by-case basis.

Is individual health insurance provided?

Yes

Is family health insurance provided?

Yes

Describe any fees or tuition

None

Describe the residents' responsibilities for night, weekend, and holiday coverage

Residents will be included in the routine after-hours coverage with other veterinary staff/faculty.

How many annual vacation days are given?

15

How many annual sick days are given?

10

Briefly describe the community

Rochester is the third-largest city in Minnesota, with a population of approximately 110,000. The city has been frequently recognized as one of the best places to live in the United States. Rochester lies alongside the south fork of the Zumbro River and encompasses an approximately 54 square mile area, surrounded by farm land. It has more than 3500 acres of park land and more than 85 miles of paved trails to explore. The city of Rochester is expected to grow significantly in the near future with the implementation of the Destination Medical Center initiative, a 20-year development plan aimed at positioning Rochester as the world’s premier destination for health and wellness.

The Twin Cities metropolitan area is comprised of two distinct urban cores, Minneapolis and St. Paul, separated by the Mississippi river with a population of approximately 3.5 million. The metro area is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the US, ranking high in both wellness and livability. The Twin cities area is a vibrant place to live with entertainment, culture, recreation, and emphasis on the arts. Hundreds of rivers, lakes, waterfalls, recreation areas, park systems, and trails offer year round outdoor recreational activities.

Institutional, facility, or training program web site

https://www.mayo.edu/mayo-clinic-school-of-health-sciences/careers/laboratory-animal-medicine/laboratory-animal-medicine-residency-minnesota;http://www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/