AAH Resident:
Dr. Molly Martony
Dr. Molly Martony is the current University of Florida Aquatic Medicine Resident. She completed her veterinary degree at Western University of Health Sciences and a small animal rotating internship at Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital. She spent two years in an exotic animal and avian private practice and provided veterinary services to two zoological facilities in southern California. She completed the SeaWorld California and National Marine Mammal Foundations aquatic medicine veterinary internship. She then worked as an aquatic veterinarian at a Dolphinaris Arizona and then Gulf World Marine Park, prior to starting the residency with UF. She has a special interest in marine mammal ultrasonography and is currently studying the superficial cervical lymph node ultrasonograpic characteristics in bottlenose dolphins to establish early indicators of oral neoplasia.
Recent Publications:
Martony, M.E., K.J. Krause, S.H. Weldy, S.A. Simpson. Xenotransfusion in an island fox (Urocyon littoralis clementae) using blood from a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2016; 47(3): 923-926.
Martony, M.E., M. Ivančić, F.M. Gomez, J.M. Meegan, H.H. Nollens, T.L. Schmitt, C.D. Erlacher- Reid, K.P. Carlin, C.R. Smith. Establishing marginal lymph node ultrasonographic criteria in healthy bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2017; 48(4):961-971.
Martony, M.E., D.B. Pouder, R. Yanong, Y. Kiryu, J. Landsberg, R. Isaza, T. Waltzek, N. Stacy, R. Giglio, S. Baker, R. Francis-Floyd. Establishing a diagnostic technique for coelomocentesis in the long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum). J Aquat Animl Health. 2018; 30(4):325-331. doi: 10.1002/aah.10043
Martony M, Hernandez JA, de Wit M, St Leger J, Erlacher-Reid C, Vandenberg J, Stacy NI (2019) Clinicopathological prognostic indicators of survival and pathological findings in cold-stressed Florida manatees Trichechus manatus latirostris. Dis Aquat Org 132:85-97. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03306
AAH Intern:
Dr. Laura Burns
Dr. Laura Burns is the current University of Florida Aquatic Animal Medicine Intern. She received her bachelor’s in wildlife and fisheries and obtained her DVM from the University of Georgia. While in veterinary school, she participated in AQUAVET I and III and completed externships at National Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta. After graduation, she spent a year at Oradell Animal Hospital in New Jersey for a one year small animal rotating internship. She is excited to be joining the University of Florida as the aquatic animal health intern. Her research this year will focus on evaluating samples for brain injury biomarkers or proteins found in the tissue or blood of cetaceans and manatees. This research will help to find new diagnostics and prognostic indicators when evaluating stranded cetaceans and manatees. Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, swimming, traveling and spending time with her friends and family.
