The University of Missouri (MU) Comparative Medicine Program provides advanced graduate training to veterinarians who wish to pursue careers in comparative medicine.  Trainees may combine one year of residency training in clinical, administrative and diagnostic laboratory animal medicine with two or more years of research training.  Alternatively, trainees with experience in laboratory animal medicine, comparative pathology or related disciplines may begin research training at the time of admission.  Training is designed to prepare individuals for a variety of careers including comparative medicine research, clinical and administrative laboratory animal medicine and comparative and diagnostic laboratory animal pathology.  Students may either pursue an MS or PhD. Research opportunities are available in several areas including infectious disease, pathology, molecular biology, mouse biology and cardiovascular physiology.  Resources available include the University of Missouri Office of Animal Resources (OAR) and Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (RADIL) and Mutant Mouse and Rat Resource and Research Centers. 

The MU training program in comparative medicine is recognized by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) as one that satisfies criteria set by ACLAM in meeting the training requirement in establishing eligibility for specialty board certification.
Programmatic Strengths
  • MU is one of only a few campuses in the U.S. that has schools of medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture, along with strong programs in basic biological and physical sciences.
  • Training is enhanced by the multidisciplinary nature of the faculty, which includes researchers, clinical veterinarians, laboratory animal pathologists, microbiologists, and molecular biologists.
  • The program offers the opportunity for combined residency and graduate study.
  • Trainees benefit from networking and sharing of experiences among the 10-12 postdoctoral fellows typically in the program at one time.
  • Trainees may conduct research projects in any one of numerous departments and research programs on the University of Missouri campus.
  • Flexibility of the program allows the individual to match the training experience with his/her own career goals.
  • State-of-the-art research facilities, active AAALAC accredited animal facilities, a full-service research animal diagnostic laboratory, and genetically engineered mouse and rat resource and research centers provide an outstanding training environment.
  • The University of Missouri has a long and distinguished history of successful training in comparative medicine.
  • MU is located in Columbia, Missouri which is consistently rated in the top twenty by Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live" (use the link to your left to find out more about Columbia).

CMP Training Coordinator:

Craig L. Franklin, DVM, PhD - FranklinC@missouri.edu  .

Please feel free to contact Dr. Franklin or any of the Training Program Faculty by e-mail for additional information about the training program.

Cynthia Besch-Williford, DVM, PhD - BeschWillifordC@missouri.edu
Lela Riley, PhD - RileyL@missouri.edu
Earl Steffen, PhD, SteffenE@missouri.edu
Bob Livingston, DVM, PhD - LivingstonR@missouri
Elizabeth Bryda, PhD - BydaE@missouri
Lon Dixon, DVM -DixonL@missouri.edu

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