Chattanooga, Tenn. (Oct. 27, 2026) – Building on its 34 years of recognized expertise in aquatic animal health, the Tennessee Aquarium unveiled a sweeping program today to level up its veterinary capacity and prepare future leaders in animal care.
At a news conference this morning, the Aquarium announced a comprehensive veterinary program featuring the construction of a new $5 million animal hospital in the River Journey building. Staffed by an expanded veterinary team, this centralized facility will dramatically enhance the Aquarium’s capability to offer stress-free, on-site care for its living collection.
The veterinary program will provide extensive hands-on experience to future veterinarians and veterinary technicians through a robust partnership with the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) in Knoxville and Chattanooga State Community College’s Veterinary Technology Program.
Moving forward, the Aquarium has committed to offering recurring externships, fellowships and internships to students from these schools. During their time at the Aquarium, these up-and-coming animal health professionals will fill a critical knowledge gap by working with a diverse collection of aquatic life that includes many rarely exhibited freshwater species.
“In the next 10 years, through this program, we could have 50, 75 — 100 — veterinarians that have spent time at the Tennessee Aquarium,” says Aquarium Director of Animal Health Dr. Chris Keller. “If they harken back to what they learned when they were here and develop it even more into their area of expertise, it’s going to advance the whole profession.”
The launch of the veterinary program represents far more than the groundbreaking of a new facility; it’s about the Aquarium advancing into a broader leadership role in animal health, says Aquarium President & CEO Andy Wood.
“This is about us putting a flag in the ground that aquatic animal medicine should be shared with all,” Wood says. “If we can advance that aspect of care, we will affect the health of millions of animals.”
“We can do that if we have exceptional, committed talent, the facilities that support them, by advancing our commitment to innovation and by offering training to others.”
Through the new partnership, half of all future Aquarium veterinary externships will be reserved for fourth-year students at UTCVM. The partnership will also encompass post-doctoral training through one-year veterinary internships, one- to three-year fellowships and three- to four-year residencies.
“This partnership gives our students and faculty an extraordinary setting in which to advance animal health through both clinical training and discovery,” says UTCVM Dean Dr. Paul Plummer. “Our veterinary interns and residents will gain essential hands-on experience in aquatic animal medicine, while graduate students and faculty will have opportunities to pursue collaborative research with real-world implications.
“Together, we are preparing veterinarians and scientists to improve the health of animals, people and the environments they share.”
Leading up to the launch of the veterinary program, the Aquarium has significantly added to its own animal health staff. Today’s announcement featured introductions to this expanded team, which includes:
- Director of Animal Health Dr. Chris Keller
- Conservation Veterinarian Dr. Leah Owens
- Collections Veterinarian Dr. Courtney Pace
- Hospital Manager Kristen Hales
- Veterinary Assistant Shelby Ferguson
In addition, the Aquarium will work with veterinary technician externs from Chattanooga State’s Veterinary Technology Program with a focus on aquatic and exotic species. The Aquarium plans to offer full-time employment to one of the initial group of externs after they receive their associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degree. That individual will become the sixth member of the Aquarium’s veterinary team.
“This exciting new partnership between the Tennessee Aquarium and Chattanooga State will provide our Veterinary Tech students the opportunity to gain valuable work-based learning experience that will not only enhance their educational experience but will also promote animal health and freshwater life,” says Chattanooga State President Dr. Rebecca Ashford. “Through this partnership, our Vet Tech students will gain unique work experience that will set them apart from graduates of other programs.”
The Aquarium’s team of animal health professionals will be headquartered in the newly announced 3,100-square-foot hospital. Slated to open next June, this facility will occupy the entirety of the mezzanine level of the River Journey building.
There, veterinary staff will have access to an expanded array of surgical and diagnostic tools, including an updated X-ray, a computed tomography (CT) scanner, various endoscopes and veterinary-specific dental equipment.
The hospital layout features a large central treatment room abutted by imaging, surgical and recovery suites that facilitate end-to-end patient care, from initial diagnosis through post-treatment recuperation. Veterinarians will also have access to an isolated necropsy area and reference library as well as labs and office space.
For animals that are unable to be treated in the hospital due to their size or other aspects of their natural history, many of the new tools will be mobile-capable, enabling exhibit-side diagnosis and treatment.
Considered in its totality, the Aquarium’s veterinary program has tremendous potential to improve the lives of animals. That impact isn’t limited to the Aquarium’s 13,000 residents but potentially any animal treated by a professional whose expertise was honed in Chattanooga.
“The Tennessee Aquarium already does ‘great.’ This is about ‘How do we share ‘great’ with others?’” Wood says. “We need better facilities; we need more team members; we need more partnerships; and we need more opportunities to innovate.”
“If we can create all of those, then we can share that excellence with the world and impact millions of animals.”
For more information about the Aquarium’s veterinary program and to provide support for the animal hospital, visit tnaqua.org/care
Additional information about the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and Chattanooga State Community College’s Veterinary Technology Program are at vetmed.tennessee.edu/ and chattanoogastate.edu/veterinary-technology