By Dr. Shane Boylan, GSTC Veterinarian
During four years of veterinary school, you might expect to learn how to use diagnostic equipment like X-ray generators, endoscopes, and ultrasound machines—tools mentioned daily in clinical settings. However, most students graduate without ever handling an ultrasound probe or rigid endoscope. These tools are often too expensive, and the number of students too large, to allow for practical, hands-on training with live patients.
Veterinary externships at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) offer a rare opportunity for students to receive one-on-one training with advanced diagnostic equipment on live patients. Many students have never observed, handled, or even assembled a rigid endoscope due to its cost. But during the 2025 diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) season, multiple veterinary students will observe and participate in rigid endoscopic exams to locate eggs in the urinary bladder.
For reasons not yet fully understood, turtles that suffer trauma can fail to lay their eggs normally. These eggs may inappropriately “backflow” into the urinary bladder due to the unique anatomy of the turtle cloaca, a cavity at the end of the digestive tract. These retained eggs can cause a range of life-threatening complications and must be removed with medical intervention. At the GSTC, Drs. Boylan and Schaffner sedate these patients and use a rigid endoscope to visualize, break up, and remove the eggs from the urinary bladder. This type of training is rare—even for zoological medicine residents at the university level—making the GSTC a unique and valuable teaching site for students interested in wildlife medicine.
Recently, a sedated bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) (see photo) is being evaluated for gill parasites using a rigid endoscope as part of a quarantine exam by veterinary student Natasha Serrano. The endoscope enters the gill chamber, allowing the veterinarian to inspect all the gill filaments where certain pathogens may hide. This technique not only guides drug treatments but also helps assess their effectiveness. The bluegill in the photo is part of an outreach program with the Conservation Department, and the rigid endoscope used was generously funded by the Jekyll Island Foundation.
Other equipment provided by the Jekyll Island Foundation (JIF) includes a ventilator that keeps patients alive during early morning hours when staff are unavailable to help recovering animals breathe. The X-ray generator and VetRocket software system help assess egg counts, detect fractures, and evaluate lung health in every patient. From sea turtles injured by boat strikes to box turtles hit by cars, X-ray equipment plays a critical role in guiding treatment plans for all wildlife patients.
Veterinary students at the GSTC have the opportunity to interpret radiographs of non-traditional species (like sea turtles) alongside experts and contribute to the development of treatment plans. These experiences are rare and essential for training the next generation of wildlife health professionals.
Thank you to all the donors who support our conservation efforts. If you’d like to help us continue providing exceptional care and education, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center by clicking here.
