Department of Biology and Marine Science, Jacksonville University 2800 University North Jacksonville, Florida 32211-3394 904-256-7319 (Office) 904-256-7573 (Fax) rborkow@ju.edu
September 2009 EDUCATION
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - University of Florida Bachelor of Arts, Zoology - University of North Carolina LICENSURE
State Veterinary Licenses – Florida and Virginia PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Jacksonville University – Jacksonville, Florida 2006 - Present
Responsible for teaching undergraduate courses in comparative vertebrate anatomy, marine mammal biology, human ecology and zoonotic disease, human anatomy and physiology. Oversees student internship, independent study, research, and shadowing programs involving diverse animal species at zoos, wildlife agencies, racetracks, and veterinary practices.
RESPONSE VETERINARIAN
Dolphin Conservation Field Station – Marineland, Florida 2009 - Present (Southeast Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Network)
SUPPORT VETERINARIAN 2009 – Present
United States Navy Marine Mammal Program
ASSISTANT COMMISSION VETERINARIAN 2008 - 2009
Colonial Downs Summer Thoroughbred Meet – New Kent, Virginia
SUPPORT VETERINARIAN 2008-Present
Exotic Bird Hospital – Jacksonville, Florida ATTENDING VETERINARIAN
Lion Country Safari - Loxahatchee, Florida 2000-2006
Full-time medical and surgical services for diverse species at large AZA accredited zoological park. Inventory of nearly one thousand animals including several hundred African hoofstock, elephants, lions, chimpanzees, birds, reptiles, others. Field experience involved hundreds of large exotic animal immobilizations and substantial clinical work with hoofstock and primates. Developed preventive medicine and disease surveillance programs, escaped animal plans/drills, refined species-specific field anesthesia regimens. Oversaw hospital development, equipment acquisition, compliance with USDA, DEA, and AZA regulations, consulting veterinarian involvement, zoonotic disease education, student externships.
SUPPORT VETERINARIAN
CONTRACT VETERINARIAN
National Marine Fisheries Service - Silver Spring, Maryland 2001-2002 Served as a primary writer developing national guidelines for the release of rehabilitated wild marine mammals. Document emphasized prevention of disease transmission to free-ranging populations.
VETERINARIAN 1999-2000
South Florida Veterinary Practices – Key West and Miami, Florida
Provision of medical and surgical services for dogs, cats, and exotic pets at several South Florida veterinary practices needing additional coverage for primary veterinarians.
STAFF VETERINARIAN AND ASSISTANT CLINICAL PROFESSOR Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine
Grafton, Massachusetts 1995-1999
Full-time clinician for exotic animal service. Medical and surgical services for pet birds, reptiles, and exotic mammals plus animals from area zoological parks, circuses, and biomedical centers. Oversaw student and resident clinical rotations, served as general student advisor, presented lectures in comparative medicine course, served as course coordinator for aquatic animal medicine course and faculty advisor for student chapter of International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine.
CONSULTING VETERINARIAN
New England Aquarium (NEA) – Boston, Massachusetts 1995 - 1999
Medical and surgical services for collection animals and aquatic wildlife, particularly aquatic birds, pinnipeds, and small cetaceans. Provided veterinary support for marine mammal strandings including response to single and mass cetacean stranding events. Clinical instruction of veterinary students and interns at NEA.
CONSULTING VETERINARIAN
Big Apple Circus – New York, New York 1999
Composed written guidelines for the husbandry and care of captive performing elephants. INTERN AND ASSISTANT STAFF VETERINARIAN
Tufts Wildlife Clinic - Grafton, Massachusetts 1993-1995
Completed a one year internship in wildlife medicine and surgery, then joined the staff of this full-service wildlife hospital. Provided medical and surgical services to ill and injured native wild animals, primarily avian cases with smaller percentage of wild mammals and reptiles. Participated in field biosampling and health assessment of juvenile wild bald eagles as part of reintroduction efforts for this species in Massachusetts. Conducted wild bird necropsies and sampling for mass avian mortality event in Boston. VETERINARIAN
Calusa Animal Hospital - Boca Raton, Florida 1992-1993
INTERN VETERINARIAN
Angell Memorial Animal Hospital - Boston, Massachusetts 1991-1992 Completed 13-month internship in small animal medicine and surgery. Intensive experience in the management of small domestic animal and exotic pet emergencies as well as routine preventive health care. MARINE MAMMAL TRAINER AND SUMMER EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Miami Seaquarium - Key Biscayne, Florida 1985, 1987-1989
Full-time marine mammal trainer, worked primarily with bottlenose dolphins, occasionally with manatees and sea lions. Daily general care of captive dolphins, plus training for performances, veterinary examinations and venipuncture. Served as director of the park’s first summer education camp for children.
SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR
Dade County Public Schools - Miami, Florida 1983-1985
Full-time certified science instructor for Miami Palmetto Senior High School and Miami Southridge Senior High School. Taught biology, ecology, and physical science including laboratory. Served as coach for girls’ basketball and softball teams.
GRANTS
Borkowski, R., C. Merigo, B, Rubenstein, and J. Rice. 1998. Kohlberg Foundation. Stranded Marine Animal Facility. Delivered a presentation that demonstrated how rehabilitation of stranded marine mammals can enhance public support for conservation issues. The presentation secured funding for the New England Aquarium to construct a marine mammal rehabilitation pool in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Harper, C., R. Borkowski, A. Hoffman, and A. Warner. 1997. Geraldine Dodge Foundation. “Noninvasive development of bronchial nomenclature and bronchoscopic protocol for the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).” Development of artificial models, radiographic and videoendoscopic images of harbor porpoise bronchial anatomy.
Borkowski, R. and Rommel, S. 1995-96. National Marine Fisheries Service. “Thymus characteristics and histopathologic findings in stranded and gill netted harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena).” Morphologic and histopathologic characterization of the harbor porpoise thymus in health and disease. Collaborated with scientists in Woods Hole, MA., Grand Manan, Canada, and the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C., conducting necropsies on porpoises that died in the gill net fishery or following stranding.
PUBLICATIONS*
*Publication also presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians or the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine as indicated.
Borkowski, R, S. Citino, M. Bush, P. Wollenman, and B. Irvine. 2009. Surgical castration of subadult giraffe, (Giraffa camelopardalis). J. Zoo Wildl. Med.In Press.
Borkowski, R., P.A. Moore, S. Mumford, and S. Carastro. 2007. Adaptations of subpalpebral lavage systems used in llamas (Lama glama) and a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 38:453-459. Whaley, J.E., and R. Borkowski. 2006. Interim Best Practices Marine Mammal Stranding Response, Rehabilitation, and Release. Standards for Release.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/health/release_guideline.pdf Accessed 14 September 2009.
*Borkowski, R., P. Wollenman, R. Brusie. 2005. Treatment of pedal osteomyelitis in African hoofstock: Medical and surgical options, salvage procedures. Proc. Joint Conf. Am. Assoc. Zoo Vet. / Am. Assoc. Wild. Vet. / Nutr. Adv. Grp. P. 72 -73
*Borkowski, R., B. Irvine, P. Wollenman. 2004. Rapid immobilization of hoofstock in large herds. Proc. Joint Conf. Am. Assoc. Zoo Vet. / Wildl. Dis. Assoc. / Am. Assoc. Wildl. Vet. Pp. 513-517.
*Borkowski, R., P. Wollenman, J. Bellows. 2004. Health assessment, medical, and dental interventions for a group of 33 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Proc. Joint Conf. Am. Assoc. Zoo Vet. / Wildl. Dis. Assoc. / Am. Assoc. Wildl. Vet.Pp. 209-214.
*Borkowski, R. and R. Boswell. 2004. Use of ACell VetTM Scaffold, an extracellular matrix incorporating pig urinary bladder for wound healing in zoo species. Proc. Joint Conf. Am. Assoc. Zoo Vet / Wildl. Dis. Assoc./ Am. Assoc. Wildl. Vet. Pp. 531-532.
*Borkowski, R. et. al. 2003. Survey results for West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis Viruses at Lion Country Safari. Proc. Am. Assoc. Zoo Vet. Pp. 278-281.
Harper C., R. Borkowski, A. Hoffman, and A. Warner. 2001. Development of a bronchoscopic nomenclature for use in the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 32:190-195. Borkowski, R., T. Taylor, and J. Rush. 2000. Cerebral infarction and myocardial fibrosis in a white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar). J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 28: 109-111.
*Borkowski, R., P.A. Moore, and S. Mumford, et. al. 1999. Extended use of subpalpebral lavage systems for treatment of keratitis in a harbor seal, (Phoca vitulina). Proc. Internatl. Assoc. for Aquatic Animal Med. Pp. 39-40.
Borkowski, R. and A.Z. Karas. 1999. Sedation and anesthesia of pet rabbits. Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice. 14:44-49.
Borkowski, R. 1997. Lead poisoning and intestinal perforations in a snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) due to fishing gear ingestion. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 28:109-113.
Fox, J. G., C. A. Dangler, W. Sager, R. Borkowski, J. M. Gliatto. 1997. Helicobacter mustelae-associated gastric adenocarcinoma in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Vet Pathol. 34:225-229.
Borkowski, R. 1997. Anesthesia of the reptile patient. Japanese J. of Small Animal Pract. 12:3-19. Sedgwick, C.J. and R. Borkowski. 1996. Allometric scaling: extrapolating treatment regimens for reptiles.
In:Mader, D.R. (ed). Reptile Medicine and Surgery. W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA. Pp. 235-241. Borkowski, R. and S. Rommel. 1995. Preliminary observations regarding morphologic characteristics of the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) thymus. Proc. of the Northeast Regional Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Network Conf. P. 1.
Borkowski, R., H. Krum, et. al. 1995. Use of radiation therapy in the medical and surgical management of severe pododermatitis in an African rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes crestastus). Proc. of the Internatl. Assoc. for Aquatic Animal Med. 26:119.
Borkowski, R. and R. Bullis. 1989. Shell disease inCancer sp. crabs. The Biological Bulletin. 177: 327. SELECT PRESENTATIONS
Borkowski, R. 2003. “Insights into Conservation Medicine from Clinical Work at Zoological Parks.” The Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine Spring Wildlife Symposium and Annelisa Kilbourne Memorial Lecture. Grafton, MA.
Borkowski, R. 1998. “Basic Clinical Techniques for Stranded Seals and Small Cetaceans.” Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and New England Aquarium Veterinary Continuing Education Symposium. Cape Cod, MA.
Borkowski, R. 1998. “Avian Emergency Medicine.” Veterinary Continuing Education Lecture, Boston Road Animal Hospital, Springfield, MA.
Borkowski, R. 1997. “Approach to Clinical Problems in Small Captive Cetaceans.” Cornell University Special Species Symposium. Ithaca, NY.
Borkowski, R. 1997. “Veterinary Management of Trauma in Avian Wildlife.” The Connecticut State Wildlife Rehabilitation Meeting.” Stamford, CT.
Borkowski, R. 1997. ”Overview of Marine Mammal Zoonoses.” Northeast Regional Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Workshop. Plymouth, MA.
Borkowski, R. 1996. “Concepts of Interdependence: Insights from Domestic, Wildlife, Exotic Animal Medicine and the Hurricane Andrew Veterinary Relief Effort.” The Aquavet 20thAnniversary Continuing Education Conference. Woods Hole, MA.
Borkowski, R. 1996. “Zoonotic Disease, Antibiotic Resistance, and Infectious Disease Topics.” The Pennsylvania State Wildlife Rehabilitation Meeting. Carlisle, PA.
Borkowski, R. 1996. Pathologic Findings from Three Stranded Marine Mammals. Proceedings of the 1996 Northeast Regional Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Network Conference. Mystic, CT.
Borkowski, R. 1994. “Training Marine Mammals for Veterinary Exams.” Roger Williams Park Zoo, Veterinary and Zookeeper Continuing Education Series. Providence, RI.
Borkowski, R. 1994. “Raptor Care and Rehabilitation.” Massachusetts Annual State Wildlife Rehabilitation Meeting. Stoneham, MA.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS American Veterinary Medical Association
American Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians Association of Avian Veterinarians
Wildlife Disease Association Society for Marine Mammalogy