Faculty

Norman Altman, V.M.D. founded the Division of Comparative Pathology in 1981 and led the respected NIH training program in veterinary pathology as well as the vigorous tri-county veterinary laboratory service that since morphed into our international service specializing in avian & wildlife species. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. Over his career, Dr. Altman, in addition to serving as Director of Comparative Pathology, undertook many leadership roles at the university. There is no doubt that he has had a positive impact on the lives and careers of many students, trainees, staff, and faculty. In 2019, he received the James W. McLamore Outstanding Service Award. Dr. Altman continues to serve as Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Carolyn Cray received her Ph.D. in Microbiology & Immunology from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. While trained as a basic scientist, she developed at interest in Comparative Pathology while performing her graduate work. With a lifelong interest in veterinary medicine, joining the Division of Comparative Pathology was an easy choice. The division’s outreach service transition to avian & wildlife specialization was managed by Drs. Bossart and Cray and Dr. Cray shepherded this outstanding service over the years. The areas of clinical research well known to the users of the laboratory are those of Dr. Cray including protein electrophoresis, acute phase proteins, and aspergillosis. She says that is a pleasure to work so closely with the laboratory clients and this has served to drive the research program and further this specialized field of veterinary clinical pathology. Dr. Cray has over 175 publications and 165 presentations and currently serves as the Director of Comparative Pathology as well as the outreach lab services of Avian & Wildlife Laboratory and the Acute Phase Protein Laboratory. She is a Clinical Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.

Dr. Gregory Bossart passed away in 2019. He was a dedicated and knowledgeable pathologist, veterinarian, and scientist. His work greatly increased the understanding marine mammals and emerging diseases. Dr. Bossart founded the Avian & Wildlife Laboratory in 1993 making his plan of joining pathology services with groundbreaking research a reality. Dr. Bossart was a wonderful collaborator, friend, and mentor to all. It was a pleasure to know and work with him and we honor his legacy with our continued commitment to furthering the fields of avian, exotic, and wildlife medicine.

Dr. Gregory Bossart spent over 30 years working in clinical domestic, marine mammal and avian medicine and wildlife pathology on a national and international basis. Dr. Bossart’s published research documented re-surging and emerging diseases in manatees, whales, dolphins, and birds. He helped characterize the first viral disease in manatees and was responsible for developing the first immunohistochemical technique for diagnosing brevetoxicosis (red tide poisoning) in marine mammals and birds. He was particularly interested in the application of aquatic species as sentinels for the effects of global climate change, ecosystem and human health. While internationally recognized as a clinical veterinary consultant, he held positions at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and the Georgia Aquarium. Dr. Bossart was awarded the Dean’s Clinical Research Award for his work at the University of Miami’s School of Medicine, the Distinguished Alumni Torch Award from Florida International University and the Alumni Award of Merit from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bossart was also awarded an honorary Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

Dr. Don Harris began his “career” in the swamps of South Louisiana. Growing up there exposed him to a plethora of wild birds, mammals, and reptiles. His typical pets included raccoons, squirrels, snakes, alligators, ducks, sparrows, etc; dogs and cats were considered unusual!

Upon entering vet school, Dr. Harris’s attention was immediately focused on exotic species. While attending the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, he acted as the caretaker for LSU’s Bengal Tiger mascot, “Mike IV”. Dr. Harris participated in as many cases involving exotic species as possible, and acquired extensive experience with captive exotics, wildlife, and marine mammals.

Once Dr. Harris entered practice, his focus remained on exotics. Within 10 years he achieved the presidency of the international Association of Avian Veterinarians. Within 20 years he became president of the North American Veterinary Conference, arguably the world’s foremost veterinary conference for all species of animals. His veterinary practice, Avian & Exotic Animal Medical Center, is recognized globally and visited regularly by veterinarians and veterinary students from around the world for the sake of expanding their knowledge of exotic animal veterinary care.

Most important to Dr. Harris is the trust his clients place in him. Every case receives the attention it deserves, and no effort is spared in providing for the medical and/or surgical needs the patients. In Dr. Harris’s words, “If clients honor me by trusting me with the care of their pets, it is my responsibility to give them the absolute best I have.”

Dr. Susan Clubb has nearly 40 years of experience working with all types of birds and exotic animals. Her experience has been augmented by working at the international level with breeders, zoological institutions, conservation organizations, and avian enthusiasts from Indonesia to Qatar to Costa Rica. After receiving her B.S. in Zoology and her D.V.M. degree from Auburn University, Dr. Clubb began her impressive career which continues to encompass many positions including Staff Veterinarian at Jungle Island (Miami), advisor to Loro Pargue (Tenerife, Canary Islands), and Consulting Veterinarian to the Fundacion de Rehabilitation de Especies Tropicales in Panama and Milo’s Ranch in Loxahatchee, Florida. She is also owner and operator of Rainforest Clinic for Birds & Exotics and Hurricane Aviaries in Loxahatchee.

While Dr. Clubb enjoys working with exotic species, there is little doubt that parrots are her favorite. She has produced many special booklets for bird owners and has published widely on many topics in avian medicine including more than 70 articles and 25 book chapters. Of the many notable publications, Psittacine Aviculture: Perspectives, Techniques and Research and Avian Medicine and Surgery are just two of her more influential publications. Her presentations at national and international meetings are innumerous. She is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians where, over the years, she has served in many posts including President. Throughout her career, her interests have included working to change USDA regulations and helping to evolve legislation for wild bird conservation.

Dr. Nicole Stacy is currently Clinical Assistant Professor of Aquatic, Amphibian and Reptile Pathology, Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, at the University of Florida.

Education

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathologists, 2013
DrMedVet, Vetsuisse Faculty of Berne, Switzerland, 2007
Veterinary Clinical Pathology Residency, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, Fla., 2003-2006
Small Animal Referral Practice Piding Internship, Germany, 2002
DVM, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany, 2001

Research Interests

Dr. Stacy’s primary areas of interest are clinical pathology of exotic species, especially aquatic species and reptiles, environmental toxicology and wildlife conservation.

Dr. Graham graduated with her DVM from Auburn University in 1999. She completed an avian/exotic internship at the University of Georgia followed by a 3-year residency in avian/exotic animal medicine at the University of California at Davis. Following her residency, she started an exotics practice in a specialty referral hospital located in Seattle from 2003-2006. Dr. Graham worked at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston from 2006-2012. From 2012 to early 2022, Dr. Graham ran the Zoological Companion Animal Medicine Service at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Dr. Graham is board certified with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Avian and Exotic Companion Mammal practice categories as well as with the American College of Zoological Medicine. Dr. Graham is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV), Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV), and the Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV). She has authored numerous research papers, chapters, and books including the ‘Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Avian’ and ‘Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine’. Dr. Graham’s professional interests include NSAIDs/inflammation, oncology in exotic animal species, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, and emergency and critical care of exotic species. Dr. Graham is committed to promoting wellness in the veterinary profession and has a menagerie of animal friends at home including an Amazon parrot, love bird, budgie, 4 cats, and a special-needs golden retriever. In her spare time, Dr. Graham enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, and fly fishing (although she never catches anything!).

Ruth Ewing is a veterinarian trained in pathology and forensics. Dr. Ewing has worked for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as a member of the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program for 26 years. For almost twenty years, she has been the primary investigator in the examination and evaluation of stranded aquatic animals for clinical and diagnostic signs of disease. She received her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Marine and Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in Biology and Chemistry from Hampton University, Hampton, VA. She obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), from University of Florida, Gainesville, FL and completed her Pathology Residency training in Combined Postdoctoral and Diagnostic Comparative Anatomic Pathology Program, University of Miami, Department of Pathology, Division of Comparative Pathology. Dr. Ewing works as a veterinary medical officer and examiner for the NMFS, in the Protected Resources Division coordinating and implementing pathological and epidemiological investigations of marine animal stranding events in the US southeast region. The evaluation of diseases within free-ranging populations of marine mammals allows a better overall understanding of the population biology, in order to properly establish management and conservation decisions in accordance with NMFS mandated responsibilities to the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Dr. Carlos Rodriguez, native from Caracas, Venezuela, received his veterinary degree from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine near Boston, MA in 2000. Pursuing a clinical track, he successfully completed an equine medicine and surgery internship at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in California, one of the country’s most prestigious private equine referral hospitals. This was followed by a year as an ambulatory equine veterinarian in Rhode Island. After developing a keen interest in finding answers to the causes of clinical disease, he decided to refocus his veterinary career and joined the Angell Memorial/Tufts University anatomic pathology residency training program. After completing the residency in 2005, he joined the Wildlife Conservation Society as associate pathologist. Based at the Bronx Zoo, he focused on the diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious pathologies throughout the animal collection in four major urban parks and an aquarium as well as monitoring local wildlife diseases. Also, during this time he developed a strong passion for capacity building and in-country conservation projects by participating in conservation initiatives around the world but especially throughout Latin America. He has participated in amphibian conservation programs in Colombia through the Amphibian Ark and organized and delivered lectures and workshops in capacity building courses throughout Chile, Argentina, Mexico and Colombia and continues to provide pathology support through a network of in-country specialists. In 2011, he joined the animal health team at Walt Disney World in Orlando, where he currently serves as the veterinary pathologist and manager for the pathology team based at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot. He is passionate about teaching and organizes regular pathology rounds for the animal care teams at both facilities, manages the veterinary student program and teaches the senior pathology resident. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Special interests include amphibian and aquatic animal diseases, emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases and supporting conservation programs throughout Latin America.

Dr. Lauren Thielen is a Texas native veterinary specialist practicing at Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital. She graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She completed an internship at Broward Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital in Florida and then a 2-year avian residency at the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in New York. After finishing her residency, Dr. Thielen returned to Broward Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital to practice full-time, then moved to Texas for a new career with Texas Avian & Exotics Hospital, one of the largest animal hospitals dedicated to avian and exotic pets in the country. Dr. Thielen became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in avian practice in 2020. Dr. Thielen is featured on the television shows “Dr. T, Lone Star Vet” and “Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER” on NatGeo WILD, her platform for educating people all over the world about exotic animal care.

Dr. Kelleher is originally from Buffalo, NY. She received her Bachelor’s degree with a dual major in Chemistry and Biology from Alfred University in 1990 and went on to veterinary school at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.

In high school and college Dr. Kelleher volunteered at the Buffalo Zoo and gained extensive experience by working closely with the bird keepers. Throughout veterinary school, she was very active in the avian, exotic and wildlife program and spent a lot of time volunteering at the Clinch River Raptor Center. Towards the end of her senior year of veterinary school, she spent two months working with Dr. Jeff Jenkins in San Diego as a student extern.

Dr. Kelleher moved to Florida in August of 1995. She spent her first 3 1/2 years in small animal practices in South Florida. As time went on and her following of avian and exotic pets grew, she decided and start her own practice and it has been a dream come true: a quiet atmosphere where Dr. Kelleher can focus all her attention on the special needs of unique pets.

You can see more about Dr. Kelleher’s work at Broward Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital and at Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER airing on NAT GEO WILD.

Julia Zaias received her D.V.M. from Tufts University and her Ph.D. from the University of Miami.  She completed her pathology training in the Division of Comparative Pathology.  With a lifelong interest in wildlife species, Dr. Zaias has published extensively in the pathology and clinical pathology of dolphins and pelicans among other species.  Currently, Dr. Zaias also serves as the Director of the Division of Veterinary Resources.  She is a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine.

Dr. Fabiano Montiani-Ferreira serves as Professor of Comparative Ophthalmology at the Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) in Curitiba-PR, Brazil. He is an educator, surgeon, researcher with primary interests in animal models of ocular diseases and ophthalmology of wild animals, with over 120 publications in this field. Dr. Montiani is internationally recognized for his expertise in comparative ophthalmology which stems from his proficiency in veterinary ophthalmology.