AAZV Educational Resources

New AAZV Resources!! CV and Cover Letter Guides for Zoo, Aquarium, and Wildlife Medicine

Applying for internships, residencies, or associate veterinarian positions? The AAZV Student Programs and Services Committee has developed a new suite of resources to help you put your best application forward. Based on the CV and Cover Letter Panel held in February 2025, these materials offer practical, field-specific guidance straight from the people reviewing your applications.

The resources include:
- A CV Best Practices Guide with recommended section order, formatting tips, and a pre-submission checklist
- A Cover Letter Best Practices Guide covering structure, common mistakes, and advice for both institution-specific letters and the VIRMP
- A sample CV and sample cover letter illustrating what a strong application looks like in practice

All resources are available on the AAZV Education page for AAZV members!
https://www.aazv.org/page/Education_Center

Would you like to get zoo and wildlife medicine educational opportunities emailed to you every month? Then sign up for the AAZV Student Programs and Services Newsletter!

The SPS newsletter isn’t just for vet students; it’s for ANYONE passionate about zoo, wildlife, or exotic animal medicine, including interns, post-grads, and early-career professionals. We share updates on externships, post-grad programs, CE opportunities, educational resources, and more.

Sign up for the newsletter at this link (you may need to copy and paste): http://eepurl.com/itz1Go

ATTENTION AAZV STUDENT MEMBERS!!
The next AAZV Student Programs and Services webinar is scheduled for March 26th at 6pm CST!
If you are interested in zoo medicine, internships, or residencies please join us for this AAZV student webinar featuring a panel of zoo veterinarians and professionals who have been directly involved in selecting interns, residents, and early-career clinicians. Panelists will share practical insight and how to approach interviews with confidence. There will be time for student questions, making this a valuable opportunity to gain candid, experience-based advice as you plan your next steps.

Sign up at the link (you may need to copy and paste): https://forms.office.com/r/37DQgb7cDw

NOTE: This webinar is only open to AAZV student members. For information on becoming a student member, check out membership info here: https://www.aazv.org/page/membership_info

UPCOMING SYMPOSIUM!
Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine is hosting a Zoo, Exotics, & Wildlfe Symposium March 27-29, with in-person AND virtual options!

This event, organized by students from the college's special species clubs, is a weekend conference of lectures, wet labs, and networking events focused on veterinary medicine in non-domestic species. Although the event is geared towards DVM students, anyone interested in zoo, exotics, or wildlife medicine is welcome to attend! For more information on speakers, lectures, and registration, please visit the Symposium website:
https://sites.google.com/view/zew-symposium-2026/home

DEADLINE APPROACHING!!
Binder Park Zoo is offering a one-year clinical Zoo Medicine Veterinary Fellowship! In addition to clinical duties at Binder Park, the fellow will also travel to Potter Park Zoo each week for additional experience, and have opportunities to collaborate with other regional zoos, the Dept of Natural Resources, and MSU. The first fellow from this program recently finished an ACZM residency and passed ACZM boards!

This opportunity interviews AFTER the Match, so if you're applying for internships and residencies, apply to this one too!

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 6th!!
For information on applying, check out the link (you may have to copy and paste):
https://careers.aazv.org/jobs/view/binder-park-zoo-zoological-medicine-fellowship/82139563/

Are you a 1st or 2nd year vet student who loves elephants? Then check out the Houston Zoo's summer internship with the EEHV program!

The Houston Zoo is seeking a summer Veterinary Student Intern for our Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus program. This is a PAID opportunity to work on issues surrounding the most important viral disease of elephants with both the elephant husbandry and veterinary teams at the Houston Zoo, as well as EEHV researchers in Dr. Paul Ling’s lab at Baylor College of Medicine located across the street from the zoo in the Texas Medical Center.
The successful candidate will participate primarily in research aspects of EEHV at the Houston Zoo and Baylor College of Medicine under the mentorship of the Houston Zoo’s veterinary team and elephant herd manager, and Dr. Paul Ling at Baylor College of Medicine. The intern will primarily report to the Houston Zoo’s veterinary team. The intern will be expected to design, implement, and complete an original research project relating to EEHV, which may be prospective or retrospective or case based. Moreover, the intern will learn and utilize laboratory skills to assist in the completion of existing EEHV research projects. The intern will have the opportunity to participate in the husbandry aspects of the zoo’s Asian elephant herd.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Feb 27, 2026

TO APPLY: Submit a letter of intention, resume/curriculum vitae, unofficial transcript, and 2-3 letters of reference (zoo/exotic practitioners preferred) to our administrative associates: Katie Solomon and Renee Grix, Houston Zoo Veterinary Services Department 1513 Cambridge St. Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713-533-6632 Fax: 713-533-6764 Email: [email protected]

FOR MORE INFO: contact Dr. Christine Molter, Dipl. ACZM, Director of Animal Health at the Houston Zoo: [email protected]

For full details, check out the listing at the link (you may have to copy and paste into your browser):https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.aazv.org/resource/resmgr/docs/education_center/2026vet_student_summer_eehv_.pdf

If you're a1st or 2nd year vet student and interested in aquatics, check out Houston Zoo's summer internship with their Sea Turtle Conservation Program!

The Houston Zoo is seeking a summer Veterinary Student Intern for our Sea Turtle Conservation Program. This is a PAID opportunity to work with endangered sea turtles native to the upper Texas coast undergoing rehabilitation managed by our sea turtle and veterinary teams. The successful candidate will participate in the husbandry and medical care of sea turtles undergoing rehabilitation at the Houston Zoo and work with zoo veterinarians and conservation biologists to design, implement, and complete a research project relating to the sea turtle program. The intern will tour husbandry and veterinary facilities (including NOAA site), become familiarized with protocols, and participate in routine care.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Feb 27, 2026

TO APPLY: Submit a letter of intention, resume/curriculum vitae, unofficial transcript, and 2-3 letters of reference (zoo/exotic practitioners preferred) to our administrative associates: Katie Solomon and Renee Grix, Houston Zoo Veterinary Services Department 1513 Cambridge St. Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713-533-6632 Fax: 713-533-6764 Email: [email protected]

FOR MORE INFO: contact Dr. Kendra Bauer, Dipl. ACZM, at the Houston Zoo:
[email protected]

For full details, check out the listing at the link (you may need to copy and paste into your browser):https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.aazv.org/resource/resmgr/docs/education_center/2026sea_turtle_veterinary_co.pdf

Are you a 1st or 2nd year vet student who likes herps? Then check out Houston Zoo's Summer Internship with the Houston Toad Conservation Program!

The Houston Zoo is seeking a Veterinary Student Intern for our Houston Toad Conservation Program. This is a PAID opportunity to work with one of the most endangered amphibians in the United States through a unique recovery partnership with the Zoo’s herpetology department, veterinary department, USFWS and field partners. The successful candidate will participate in the husbandry and medical care of captive Houston toads and work with zoo veterinarians and conservation biologists to design, implement, and complete a research project relating to the Houston toad recovery program.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Feb 27, 2026

TO APPLY: Submit a letter of intention, resume/curriculum vitae, unofficial transcript, and 2-3 letters of reference (zoo/exotic practitioners preferred) to our administrative associates: Katie Solomon and Renee Grix, Houston Zoo Veterinary Services Department 1513 Cambridge St. Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713-533-6632 Fax: 713-533-6764 Email: [email protected]

FOR MORE INFO: contact Dr. Maryanne Tocidlowski, Dipl. ACZM, at the Houston Zoo: [email protected]

For full details, check out this link (you may have to copy and paste into your browser):https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.aazv.org/resource/resmgr/docs/education_center/2026houston_toad_veterinary_.pdf

Applications are open for the John L. Pitts Aquatic Veterinary Education Scholarship, supporting students and recent graduates with an interest in aquatic veterinary medicine.

🗓 Deadline: 31 March 2026
🔗 Find out more and apply here: https://www.wavma.org/scholarships

Please share with anyone who might be interested!

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is now accepting applications for their Veterinary Internship! Visit IAAAM.org to learn more and apply today!