1) provide advanced training opportunities for veterinarians that will improve their ability to prevent, identify, report, and respond to aquatic animal diseases; 2) provide advanced training for…

1) provide advanced training opportunities for veterinarians that will improve their ability to prevent, identify, report, and respond to aquatic animal diseases; 2) provide advanced training for the newly hired hawai I department of agriculture (HDOA) aquaculture VMO (TRAIN-THETRAINER); and 3) to increase the number of veterinarians available to provide relevant veterinary services needed to support historically under-served and underrepresented aquaculture producers and communities across the pacific islands region. Project activities will include 1) establish a supported training program so that veterinarians practicing in hawai'i can receive hands-on training by accompanying the HDOA aquaculture VMO on farm visits to conduct aquaculture facilities inspections, on-site risk evaluation and biosecurity assessments, collect disease surveillance samples, conduct disease investigations, and to participate in necropsy and laboratory activities to build fundamental clinical pathology skills specific to aquatic animals; 2) organize and host an in-person aquatic animal disease workshop for veterinarians that focuses on specific knowledge and skills relevant to disease prevention, preparedness, and response in for aquatic animal diseases, and 3) facilitate advanced training for the newly hired HDOA aquaculture VMO to develop additional expertise relevant to job duties, including coordination of state and federal programs for aquatic animal disease prevention, preparedness, regulatory compliance, and response. Project deliverables will include, 1) an aquatic animal disease workshop presented by technical experts in aquatic animal medicine, with presentations and reference materials made available (with the permission of the author); and 2) a field-tested framework for a supported training program to provide hands-on training opportunities for veterinarians across a variety of actual practice scenarios. Anticipated project outcomes include enhanced regional capacity to provide veterinary services to the aquaculture industry and an increase in the number of veterinarians who are capable and willing to provide services to the aquaculture industry. Advanced training for the newly hired HDOA aquaculture VMO will increase the VMO's ability to 1) provide ongoing support and training to veterinarians and aquaculture producers; and 2) effectively coordinate state and federal aquatic animal disease prevention, surveillance, preparedness, and response programs. The intended beneficiaries are historically under served and under-represented aquaculture iindustry stakeholders, producers, employees, and community members in the pacific islands region.