Research Triangle Laboratory Animal Medicine Training Program

Institution Type	Other
Is there a medical school?	Yes
Is this a land-grant institution?	Yes
Vivarium Director
Program Director	Richard E. Fish, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
Who to Contact	Richard E. Fish, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
Address	Assoc Professor of Laboratory Animal Medicine, NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, 1060 Willam Moore Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone	(919) 513-6480
Fax	(919) 513-2825
Email	rick_fish@ncsu.edu

Vivarium Information

Vivarium Name	(multiple)
Is the facility AAALAC accredited?	Yes
Describe management structure	More than 5 administratively distict vivaria
Describe the extent to which your facilities are centralized	Animals housed in 5+ separate locations
Vivarium Square Feet	500,000
Summarize the nature of the animal population and the predominant types of clinical activities	The RTLATP is comprised of four large institutions, each of which has one or (typically) more animal facilities. Taken together, these facilities house more than 25 species (including nonhuman primates), with an average census over 300,000. Trainees spend at least 20 hours per week for two years in the supervised practice of laboratory animal medicine in one of the sponsoring institutions. Trainees rotate through each institution, spending 1-2 months under the direct supervision of a Rotation Supervisor (a RTLATP faculty member). In these rotations, trainees function as a Clinical Laboratory Animal Veterinarian, participating fully in the various service activities of the host institution.
Number of Veterinarians in program	32
Number of ACLAM Diplomates in program	24
Number of Boarded Pathologists	3
Number of Other Boarded Veterinary Specialists	0
Number of necropsies/week in the veterinary unit	10
Number of surgical cases/week in the veterinary unit	50

Training Program Details

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?	1
Of these, how many have subsequently become ACLAM Diplomates?	0
In what year did the program accept its first trainee?	2010
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)?
Which departments most commonly grant degree(s)?
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 Research Triangle Laboratory Animal Medicine Training Program (RTLATP) is an inter-institutional, cooperative training program in laboratory animal and comparative medicine, located in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. The sponsoring institutions are Duke University, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, North Carolina Sate University, and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. The RTLATP works closely with the long-standing program at UNC-CH. Supervised practical experience will take place in each of the institutions, providing trainees a unique combination of experiences and exposure to very different types of laboratory animal practice. The core faculty of 25+ includes 24 ACLAM and 3 ACVP diplomates, but residents will meet and interact with an even greater number of laboratory animal professionals in the Research Triangle area. Weekly didactic training will be coordinated by RTLATP faculty, and a mentored research experience will be arranged in the laboratory of an established investigator. Our specific objectives are to provide the training and experience to satisfy credentialing requirements of ACLAM, and to lay the foundation for post-training experience and study that will result in successful certification.
Describe any unique research interests of your faculty	- Recognition and alleviation of pain and distress - Pathological evaluation of new mouse models - Behavior - Thrombosis and platelets - Hemophilia and atherosclerosis - Laboratory animal disease - Environmental factors influencing research - Refinement of decontamination processes and techniques for rodent pathogens - Rodent surgical models (may be too broad) - Anesthetic combinations in non-human primates (in particular ketamine/dexmedetomidine) - Evaluation of rabbit social housing methods.
Give a few literature citations of publications completed by trainees during their tenure in this program	Smith, S. D.*, Amos, J. D., Beck, K. N., Colvin, L. M., Franke, K. S., Liebl, B. E., & Permar, S. R. (2014). Refinement of a Protocol for the Induction of Lactation in Nonpregnant Nonhuman Primates by Using Exogenous Hormone Treatment. JAALAS 53(6), 700–707.
Where will vacancies be advertised?	CompMed Listserv
What month does the program begin?	usually July

Living and Working

Starting Annual Salary	$32,000
To what extent is travel to meetings, etc. paid for?	Travel funds are usually available.
Is individual health insurance provided?	Yes
Is family health insurance provided?	Yes
Describe any fees or tuition
Describe the residents' responsibilities for night, weekend, and holiday coverage	Residents will participate fully in the veterinary care programs of the sponsoring institutions. Although on-call expectations vary, residents in general rotate with clinical faculty to cover after-hours and holiday clinical care
How many annual vacation days are given?	12
How many annual sick days are given?	12
Briefly describe the community	The "Research Triangle" of North Carolina lies roughly between Raleigh (NC State), Durham (Duke) and Chapel Hill (UNC), and includes Research Triangle Park (NIEHS); the RTLATP sponsoring institutions are no more than 20 miles apart. The area has outstanding cultural attractions and restaurants, and is the home of the Carolina Hurricanes and heart of ACC basketball. Within a few hours drive is the NC coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Institutional, facility, or training program web site