@ People > Faculty > Dr. Stephen Divers

Dr. Stephen Divers, BVetMed, MRCVS, DZooMed, Dipl. ACZM
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Recognized Specialist in Zoo & Wildlife Medicine

Associate Professor of Exotic Animal, Wildlife & Zoological Medicine
Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7390, USA

Tel: 1-706-542-9384 ( Small Animal Department )
Tel: 1-706-542-3221 ( Hospital ) - Owners can only contact faculty through the hospital number.
Fax: 1-706-542-6460
E-mail: sdivers@uga.edu

Education:

• Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine, September 2004.
• Diplomate, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Zoological Medicine, London, UK, June 2000.
• Certificate, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Zoological Medicine, London, UK, June 1998.
• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK, July 1994.
• Bachelor of Medical Sciences (physiology), Kings College, University of London, UK, July 1991.

Boarded Area of Specialization:
Zoological medicine (birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, fish, wildlife).

Clinical and Research Interests:

• Exotic pet medicine & surgery.
• Zoo & wildlife medicine & surgery.
• Research involving exotic, zoo, or wildlife species.
• Minimally invasive endoscopy and endosurgery.

Dr Divers has a particular interest in cardiorespiratory physiology and anesthesia, drug pharmacokinetics, liver and kidney diseases, and minimally-invasive diagnostic and surgical techniques. He and his colleagues have validated endoscopic techniques for the minimally-invasive collection of lymphoid (splenic) tissue from birds; endoscopic examination, reproductive evaluation, liver and kidney biopsy techniques in reptiles; and endoscopic evaluation and manipulation of the reproductive tract of fish. He is keen to facilitate the use of minimally-invasive techniques in exotic animal, zoo and wildlife research studies and conservation projects.

Various opportunities exist for veterinary students, fellow academicians, and veterinarians to visit, observe and train at the veterinary college. More at "Visit Us."

Professional Curriculum Courses:

• SAMS 5415, Senior Clinical Course in Exotic Animal, Wildlife, and Zoological Medicine and Surgery.
• SAMS 5117, Wildlife Medicine Clinical Elective.
• SAMS 5218, Reptile and Avian Medicine.
• SAMS 5217, Small Mammal and Aquatic Medicine.
• SAMS 5116, Zoo & Wildlife Medicine.

Graduate Instruction:

• SAMS 7500, Exotic Animal, Wildlife and Zoological Medicine Intern Training.
• SAMS 7650, Seminars in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery.
• MSc (Masters degree course) in Wild Animal Health, Zoological Society of London and The Royal Veterinary College, University of London.

The exotic animal, wildlife and zoological medicine 1-yr internship emphasizes clinical training in basic and advanced principles of exotic animal medicine and surgery. The clinical work is approximately distributed as follows: 45% avian, 35% mammals (incl primates), 15% reptiles (incl venomous), and 5% fish/amphibians/ invertebrates. There will also be opportunities to participate in clinical research, and publications in peer-review scientific journals or other veterinary periodicals are encouraged. Past interns of this program have been very successful at achieving residency/zoo placements.

Selected Publications:

Aguilar RF, Hernandez-Divers SM and Hernandez-Divers SJ (2005). Atlas de Medicina, Terapéutica y Patología de Animales Exóticos (Atlas of Medicine, Therapy and Pathology of Exotic Animals). Editorial Inter-Médica, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pp 1-375.

McArthur S, Wilkinson R, Meyer J, Innis C and Hernandez-Divers SJ (2004). Medicine and Surgery Of Tortoises And Turtles. Blackwell Scientific Publications, London. Pp 1-579.

Hernandez-Divers SJ (2004). Surgery: principles and techniques. In: Manual of Reptiles, Second edition. Edited by Raiti P and Girling S. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Cheltenham, England. Pp 147-167.

Hernandez-Divers SJ (2004). Diagnostic and surgical endoscopy. In: Manual of Reptiles, Second edition. Edited by Raiti P and Girling S. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Cheltenham, England. Pp 103-114.

Hernandez-Divers SJ and Murray M (2004). Small Mammal Endoscopy. In: Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Second edition. Edited by Quesenberry K and Carpenter J. WB Saunders Co, Philadelphia, PA. Pp 392-394 (color plates 1-8).

Hernandez-Divers SJ (2005). Minimally-invasive endoscopic surgery of birds. J Avian Med & Surg, 19: 107-120.

Hernandez-Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, Stedman NL, Hernandez-Divers SM, Schumacher J, Hanley CS, Wilson GH, Vidyashankar AN, Zhao Y and Rumbeiha WK. Renal Evaluation in the green iguana (Iguana iguana): Assessment of plasma biochemistry, glomerular filtration rate, and endoscopic biopsy. Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine, accepted August 2004.

Hernandez-Divers SJ, Bakal RS, Hickson BH, Rawlings CA, Wilson GH, Radlinsky M, Hernandez-Divers SM and Dover SR. (2004). Endoscopic sex determination and gonadal manipulation in Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi). Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine, 35: 459-470.

Hernandez-Divers SJ and Hernandez-Divers SM (2004). Avian diagnostic endoscopy. Compend Cont Ed Pract Vet, 26: 839-852.

Hernandez-Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, Hernandez-Divers SM, Read MR, Hanley C, Martinez F and Cooper TL (2004). Coelomic endoscopy of the green iguana (Iguana iguana). J Herpetological Med & Surg, 14:10-18.

Hernandez-Divers SJ and Hernandez-Divers SM (2004). Xenogeneic skin grafts using porcine small intestinal submucosa in two barn owls (Tyto alba), an umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua alba), and a common crow (Corvus brachyhynchos). J Avian Med & Surg, 17:224-234.

Hernandez-Divers SJ, Cooper JE and Cooke SW (2004). Diagnostic techniques and sample collection in reptiles. Compend Cont Ed Pract Vet, 26: 470-483.

Hernandez-Divers SJ, Lafortune M, Silvetre AM and Pether J (2003). Assessment and conservation of the giant Gomeran lizard (Gallotia bravoana). Vet Rec, 152:395-399.

Hernandez-Divers SJ (2002). Endosurgical debridement and diode laser ablation of lung and air sac granulomas in psittacine birds. J Avian Med & Surg, 16:138-145.

Hernandez-Divers SM, Hernandez-Divers SJ and Wyneken J (2002). Angiographic, anatomic, and clinical technique descriptions of a subcarapacial venipuncture site for chelonians. J Herp Med & Surg, 12:32-37.

Continuing Education Programs Coordinated:

• Avian & Reptile Endoscopy, Veterinary Endoscopy Training Symposia. College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia (15 hours) including; equipment choice and care; avian coelioscopy, gastro-intestinal endoscopy, tracheoscopy; reptile coelioscopy, gastro-intestinal and respiratory endoscopy; small mammal oral, aural, and upper respiratory endoscopy; biopsy and sampling techniques; endoscopy practice management; and endoscopy case presentations.



• Advanced Avian and Reptile Endoscopy, Veterinary Endoscopy Training Symposia. College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, (15 hours) including; minimally-invasive endoscopy equipment; introduction to endosurgery; reptile endosurgery; and avian endosurgery.



• Basic Fish Endoscopy, Veterinary Endoscopy Training Symposia. College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, (7.5 hours) including; endoscopy equipment care and use; general anesthesia and anesthesia circuits; anatomy and endoscopic techniques; catfish and koi endoscopy wet-lab.

Graduate Students:

• Dr. David Martinez-Jimenez, intern 2005-2006.
• Dr. Megan Blasier, intern 2004-2005.
• Dr. Michael McBride, intern 2003-2004.
• Dr. Chris Hanley, intern 2002-2003.
• Dr. Anneliese Strunk, intern 2001-2002.

Professional Services:

• Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians: Secretary & Treasurer 1997-1998, President-elect and scientific program chair 1998-1999, President 1999-2000, Immediate Past-President 2000-2001.
• British Veterinary Zoological Society: Council Member 1995-2000, Honorary Secretary 1996-1998, Scientific Program Chair 1998-2000.
• British Herpetological Society: Council Member 1992-1995, Captive Breeding Committee 1992-1995.
• British Chelonia Group: Committee Member 1992-2000, Veterinary Liaison Officer 1992-2000.
• American College of Zoological Medicine, Education Committee (ex-officio), 2004-present.
• American Veterinary Medical Association, member 2001-present.
• Association of Avian Veterinarians, member 1994-present.
• Georgia Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Chairman of the wildlife hospital planning committee.

Editorial Boards:

• Journal of Herpetological Medicine & Surgery (associate editor).
• Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine (associate editor).

^  Top of page