Army Col. (Dr.) Derron Alves, the director of the Defense Department's Veterinary Pathology Residency Program, gives exclusive access to the Joint Pathology Center in Silver Spring, Md., where veterinary pathologists examine animal tissue and body fluid and diagnose diseases.
Like medical pathology, veterinary pathology is divided into two branches: anatomical pathology and clinical pathology. Army veterinarians in the program study anatomical pathology to prepare them to lead or support military medical research. Other than the diagnosis of disease in food-producing animals, companion animals, zoo animals and wildlife, veterinary pathologists also play important roles in drug discovery and safety and scientific research.
Video by Army Staff Sgt. Vanessa Atchley