The University of Georgia Graduate Certificate in Clinical Residency with an Area of Emphasis Clinical Microbiology is a two- or three-year residency program that provides training and experience to qualify the individual to take the certification examination of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM). Training is supervised by three full-time faculty members. The program includes formal course work, participation in the Microbiology Diagnostic Laboratory, case conferences, and participation in laboratory meetings.

The resident is expected to complete a research project or clinical study under the guidance of a faculty member during the residency program. The results of this work will be presented at the annual American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) meeting and other meetings as feasible. It is recommended that the student’s work be submitted in manuscript form to a refereed journal. Continuation in the program from year-to-year is contingent on satisfactory performance.

UGA’s Clinical Microbiology Program consists of two laboratories (Athens and Tifton) that include the areas of bacteriology (MADITOF), mycology (MADITOF), virology (including viral isolation), serology, molecular bacteriology, molecular virology, molecular parasitology, NGS (MinION, Illumina, Sanger), and bioinformatics. Residents will be trained in all areas of pathogen isolation and identification, including gross pathology associated with infectious diseases. There is special emphasis on antimicrobial susceptibility testing guidelines and antimicrobial stewardship. Residents will also be trained on the laboratory standards, such as quality management programs and client communication, over the duration of their training.

Jessica Moss Graduate Program Coordinator Assistant 706-542-0389