A charitable initiative of Hollis Burbank-Hammarlund
A Six-Day Elephant Veterinary Conservation Medicine Course for International Veterinary Students & Graduates
At the Elephant Conservation Center's ECORE Institute Sayaboury, Laos
December 7 - 12, 2026
Work for Wild Life International's Founder/Director, Hollis Burbank-Hammarlund is teaming up with the Elephant Conservation Center's ECORE Institute in Sayaboury, Laos to create and deliver a new elephant healthcare and welfare course in December of 2026.
Working closely with ECC wildlife biologist Dr. Anabel López Pérez, elephant veterinarian Dr. Susan Mikota, and elephant welfare specialist Dr. Janine Brown my work involves organizing our team, recruiting international veterinary students, raising and monitoring funds, preparing course materials, and leading interactive learning sessions with our 16 enrolled students.
Learn from our team of Asian elephant experts!
Our comprehensive, six-day veterinary course offers international students an overview of elephant conservation medicine. It is oriented to 4th and 5th-year veterinary students and recent graduates with some clinical experience who are interested in expanding their knowledge and skills around elephant conservation medicine with a focus on Asian elephants.
Specially designed by a global team of practicing elephant veterinarians, biologists, scientists, and conservationists, it will take place at the award-winning Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in Sayaboury, Laos.
Founded and directed by Sebastien Duffillot, the ECC is a nature-lover's paradise and a perfect place to learn about elephant veterinary medicine. Situated far from the crowds on the serene banks of Nam Tien Lake, the ECC is home to 27 Asian elephants, the Elephant Hospital, a well-equipped laboratory, indoor and outdoor classrooms, 540 hectares of forest habitat, hiking trails, viewing platforms, and comfortable accommodations.
In this course, a wide range of topics will be explored through lectures, hospital and lab instruction, hands-on-practice of healthcare techniques, field work, forest excursions, and group participation activities. All topics will be taught in English.
https://www.elephantconservationcenter.com/vet-training-course/
Meet our Team of Instructors
Susan K. Mikota, DVM
Founder & Director of Veterinary Programs & Research ~Elephant Care International, USA
Janine L. Brown, PhD
Senior Scientist Emeritus ~ Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, USA & Thailand
Anabel López Pérez, PhD
Wildlife Biologist, Head of Research & Education ~ Elephant Conservation Center & ECORE Institute, Laos
Hollis Burbank- Hammarlund
Founder/Director of Work for Wild Life International., USA
ECC Instructional Support Team
Dr. Moukthida Vilasith, ECC Head Veterinarian, Laos
Dr. Pavina Chalernsouk, ECC Veterinarian, Laos
Sounthone Thisamone (Kan), ECC Vet Technician & Elephant Manager, Laos
Jamie Russell, ECC Biologist, Laos
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