Kurt Sladky
Education
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine
M.S., Psychology (Animal Behavior), University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S., Meat and Animal Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Departments & Organizations
Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine
Contact
Kurt Sladky is an associate professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Research
Two current research areas of interest:
- Sladky’s clinical research encompasses comparative non-domestic animal analgesia/anesthesia, with an emphasis on analgesic efficacy in reptiles, amphibians, fish and avian species, and anesthetic efficacy in nonhuman primates.
- From a theoretical perspective, he is interested in the evolution of nociception, from invertebrates to mammals.
- Sladky’s broader research interests include conservation medicine and the interface between wildlife, domestic animal and human health and disease. Within this context, his focus is anthropogenic influences on infectious and noninfectious diseases affecting free-ranging wildlife species, and the consequences on ecosystem, animal and human health.
Responsibilities
- Clinical responsibilities include: medical and surgical management of pet nondomestic, zoo and wildlife species
- Teaching responsibilities include: 1) fourth-year veterinary students clinical rotation in special species health and nondomestic animals anesthesia didactic; 2) third-year students special species medicine; 3) coordinator for upper level undergraduate course, Diseases of Wildlife; 4) a variety of single lectures: zootoxicology, parasitology of non-domestic pets, avian radiology and ethics of maintaining elephants in captivity.
- Advisor, University of Wisconsin Global Health Initiative
- Wildlife Data Integration Network (WDIN) team: Megan Hines (technical manager), Cris March (content manager), Victoria Szewczyk (administrative manager), Kurt Sladky (project manager)
- Member, master’s of public health advisory committee, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Clinical Interests
Sladky’s clinical focus is zoological medicine, which encompasses three broad animal areas: zoo and aquaria, free-ranging wildlife and nondomestic pets. He acts as section head of the special species health service, and oversees resident and student training in zoological medicine.