Dr. Rod Getchell came to Cornell in 1990 and earned his Ph.D. through the employee degree program while pursuing research and diagnostic work in several different labs within the Avian and Aquatic Animal Medicine Department at the College of Veterinary Medicine.  Rod’s thesis focused on retrovirus-induced tumors in fish using walleye as a model species. As a Research Associate in the Bowser Lab, he contributed to studies on a variety of fish diseases, as well as independent projects assessing the impacts of koi herpes virus, largemouth bass virus, and type E botulism outbreaks in fish within New York State. Over the past 15 years, he has been investigating the invasion of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in the Great Lakes. Dr. Getchell is now an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Veterinary College, where he mentors students with aquatic interests, teaches the Anatomy and Histology of Fish course, serves as the Associate Director of AQUAVET®, coordinates the AQUAVET® II course that focuses on Comparative Pathology of Aquatic Animals, and continues to provide diagnostics services for the Aquatic Animal Health Program. With funding from the NYSDEC and USDA, his present research efforts are focused on evaluating the non-target effects of ultrasonic control of harmful algal blooms on seven species of fish plus tadpoles, the prevalence of mycobacteria in Hudson River striped bass, and the safety of AQUI-S®20E (10% Eugenol) as a sedative for marine fish. Rod presently serves on the General Committee, Committee for Review of Research Faculty Appointments and Promotions, and the Admissions Committee at CVM. All of these opportunities allow him to give back to the college. Dr. Getchell has enjoyed interacting with the mentors in the PACE Program and the other participants. The resources provided have been very helpful, particularly those related to grant writing, and evaluation of his proposals.