Thirty-one veterinarians and veterinary students have just completed the Maddie's? Online Graduate Certificate in Shelter Medicine. These new certificate holders are now the first in the world to complete the fully online program offered by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

This online graduate certificate program provides students with the unique medical and surgical skills they need to meet the challenge of caring for large numbers of homeless pets.

"I thought I knew a lot about Shelter Medicine, having spent a year working in a cats-only animal shelter prior to taking my first course in the program," said Candice Corriher, D.V.M., one of the students who just completed the certificate program. "It's truly unbelievable how much I've taken away from these courses, and how I've been putting it all to good use while working in animal shelters in my area."

Although the academic study of shelter medicine is growing in popularity, few veterinarians leave school with intensive training in this field. The Maddie's? Online Graduate Certificate in Shelter Medicineat UF allows all veterinarians and veterinary students to gain advanced knowledge in best practices for protecting the health and welfare of shelter animals.