Maged Abdelmalak
Assistant Professor, Pharmacist
Rowan University Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine
A Novel Drug Delivery Strategy to Improve Treatment Outcomes for Cryptosporidiosis
Teaching Hospital Pharmacist
Assistant Professor, Pharmacist
Rowan University Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine
A Novel Drug Delivery Strategy to Improve Treatment Outcomes for Cryptosporidiosis
Teaching Hospital Pharmacist
Mohadeseh Abouhosseinitabari
Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology
Rowan University Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine
A Novel Drug Delivery Strategy to Improve Treatment Outcomes for Cryptosporidiosis
Assistant Professor, Veterinary Pharmacology
Dr. Tabari served as Assistant and Associate Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology at the Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences at Amol University of Special Modern Technology in Amol, Iran as well as Postdoctoral Researcher for the Department of Neurology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University. Additionally, Dr. Tabari sat on the editorial board of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Elsevier.
Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology
Rowan University Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine
A Novel Drug Delivery Strategy to Improve Treatment Outcomes for Cryptosporidiosis
Assistant Professor, Veterinary Pharmacology
Dr. Tabari served as Assistant and Associate Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology at the Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences at Amol University of Special Modern Technology in Amol, Iran as well as Postdoctoral Researcher for the Department of Neurology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University. Additionally, Dr. Tabari sat on the editorial board of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Elsevier.
Laura Adamovicz
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Illinois
Comparison of two methods for analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in turtle plasma
Plasma Protein Electrophoresis in Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) During Rehab
Laura is a wildlife veterinarian and a senior research scientist with the Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory at the University of Illinois. She is a 2012 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and obtained her PhD in epidemiology from the University of Illinois in 2019. Her research focuses on improving health assessment and conservation strategies for wild reptiles and amphibians.
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Illinois
Comparison of two methods for analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in turtle plasma
Plasma Protein Electrophoresis in Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) During Rehab
Laura is a wildlife veterinarian and a senior research scientist with the Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory at the University of Illinois. She is a 2012 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and obtained her PhD in epidemiology from the University of Illinois in 2019. Her research focuses on improving health assessment and conservation strategies for wild reptiles and amphibians.
Verena Affolter
Surgical Treatment of a Carapacial Osteosarcoma in a Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)
Verena K Affolter, Dr. med vet, Dipl.ECVP, PhD
Surgical Treatment of a Carapacial Osteosarcoma in a Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)
Verena K Affolter, Dr. med vet, Dipl.ECVP, PhD
M. Graciela Aguilar
PhD Student
LSU
Measuring the Effect of Ultraviolet B Light on the Skin Microbiome of Red-Eyed Tree Frogs
Uncovering Health Threats and Conservation Needs for Louisiana’s Critically Gopher Tortoise
Dr. Graciela Aguilar is a Costa Rican veterinarian who earned her PhD this spring from Louisiana State University, where she specialized in wildlife epidemiology with a primary focus on amphibians. Her research integrates husbandry, nutrition, microbiome, and disease dynamics to improve the health and management of both captive and wild populations. She has extensive clinical experience in wildlife and exotic animal medicine, as well as field-based conservation research. Driven by a deep commitment to wildlife medicine and the preservation of global biodiversity, Dr. Aguilar’s work bridges clinical care, research, and conservation action.
PhD Student
LSU
Measuring the Effect of Ultraviolet B Light on the Skin Microbiome of Red-Eyed Tree Frogs
Uncovering Health Threats and Conservation Needs for Louisiana’s Critically Gopher Tortoise
Dr. Graciela Aguilar is a Costa Rican veterinarian who earned her PhD this spring from Louisiana State University, where she specialized in wildlife epidemiology with a primary focus on amphibians. Her research integrates husbandry, nutrition, microbiome, and disease dynamics to improve the health and management of both captive and wild populations. She has extensive clinical experience in wildlife and exotic animal medicine, as well as field-based conservation research. Driven by a deep commitment to wildlife medicine and the preservation of global biodiversity, Dr. Aguilar’s work bridges clinical care, research, and conservation action.
Matt Allender
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Comparison of two methods for analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in turtle plasma
I received by Bachelors of Science degree in Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution prior to completing veterinary school at the University of Illinois in 2004. I was in small animal practice for 2 years while completing a Masters of Science focusing on Conservation Medicine. I then went on to complete a three-year residency in Zoological Medicine at the University of Tennessee and Knoxville Zoo before finally returning to the University of Illinois to join the faculty in 2009. Concurrently, I completed a PhD in Wildlife Epidemiology investigating ranavirus in free-ranging chelonians in the US. Since that time, I have taught, provided clinical service, and performed research in the epidemiology of infectious and non-infectious diseases of free-ranging and managed wildlife. Currently, I am in a joint position as the Director of the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab at the University of Illinois and Director of Conservation Medicine and Science at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. I have authored/co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles and 250 national presentations on wildlife and zoological medicine.
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Comparison of two methods for analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in turtle plasma
I received by Bachelors of Science degree in Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution prior to completing veterinary school at the University of Illinois in 2004. I was in small animal practice for 2 years while completing a Masters of Science focusing on Conservation Medicine. I then went on to complete a three-year residency in Zoological Medicine at the University of Tennessee and Knoxville Zoo before finally returning to the University of Illinois to join the faculty in 2009. Concurrently, I completed a PhD in Wildlife Epidemiology investigating ranavirus in free-ranging chelonians in the US. Since that time, I have taught, provided clinical service, and performed research in the epidemiology of infectious and non-infectious diseases of free-ranging and managed wildlife. Currently, I am in a joint position as the Director of the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab at the University of Illinois and Director of Conservation Medicine and Science at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. I have authored/co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles and 250 national presentations on wildlife and zoological medicine.
Jeffrey Applegate
Owner, Veterinarian
Nautilus Avian and Exotic Veterinary Specialists
Successful Medical Management of Liver Lobe Torsion in Domestic Rabbits: A Case Series
Dr. Applegate is a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine and has published on a variety of species, highlighting cases of interest and novel techniques. He attended Kansas State University for his veterinary education, followed by a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. After a spell in private practice in New Jersey, he served as faculty at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in the Exotic Animal Medicine Service, where he remains involved as adjunct faculty. It was while at NCSU that Dr. Applegate helped to spearhead the formation of the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium (HBVC), in which he served various leadership roles. Following NCSU, Dr. Applegate returned to New Jersey and founded Nautilus Avian and Exotics Veterinary Specialists, where he currently serves as owner/medial director, leads an active student and house officer program, and works with multiple local zoo and aquarium facilities. Dr. Applegate’s continued teaching responsibilities include clinical year rotations at Iowa State University, CVM and conference-based labs and lectures.
Owner, Veterinarian
Nautilus Avian and Exotic Veterinary Specialists
Successful Medical Management of Liver Lobe Torsion in Domestic Rabbits: A Case Series
Dr. Applegate is a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine and has published on a variety of species, highlighting cases of interest and novel techniques. He attended Kansas State University for his veterinary education, followed by a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. After a spell in private practice in New Jersey, he served as faculty at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in the Exotic Animal Medicine Service, where he remains involved as adjunct faculty. It was while at NCSU that Dr. Applegate helped to spearhead the formation of the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium (HBVC), in which he served various leadership roles. Following NCSU, Dr. Applegate returned to New Jersey and founded Nautilus Avian and Exotics Veterinary Specialists, where he currently serves as owner/medial director, leads an active student and house officer program, and works with multiple local zoo and aquarium facilities. Dr. Applegate’s continued teaching responsibilities include clinical year rotations at Iowa State University, CVM and conference-based labs and lectures.
Jeffrey Applegate, Jr
Owner/Medical Director
Nautilus Avian and Exotics Veterinary Specialists
RABBIT AND RODENT DENTISTRY LAB
Dr. Applegate is a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine and has published on a variety of species, highlighting cases of interest and novel techniques. He attended Kansas State University for his veterinary education, followed by a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. After a spell in private practice in New Jersey, he served as faculty at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in the Exotic Animal Medicine Service, where he remains involved as adjunct faculty. It was while at NCSU that Dr. Applegate helped to spearhead the formation of the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium (HBVC), in which he served various leadership roles. Following NCSU, Dr. Applegate returned to New Jersey and founded Nautilus Avian and Exotics Veterinary Specialists, where he currently serves as owner/medial director, leads an active student and house officer program, and works with multiple local zoo and aquarium facilities. Dr. Applegate’s continued teaching responsibilities include clinical year rotations at Iowa State University, CVM and conference-based labs and lectures.
Owner/Medical Director
Nautilus Avian and Exotics Veterinary Specialists
RABBIT AND RODENT DENTISTRY LAB
Dr. Applegate is a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine and has published on a variety of species, highlighting cases of interest and novel techniques. He attended Kansas State University for his veterinary education, followed by a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. After a spell in private practice in New Jersey, he served as faculty at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in the Exotic Animal Medicine Service, where he remains involved as adjunct faculty. It was while at NCSU that Dr. Applegate helped to spearhead the formation of the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium (HBVC), in which he served various leadership roles. Following NCSU, Dr. Applegate returned to New Jersey and founded Nautilus Avian and Exotics Veterinary Specialists, where he currently serves as owner/medial director, leads an active student and house officer program, and works with multiple local zoo and aquarium facilities. Dr. Applegate’s continued teaching responsibilities include clinical year rotations at Iowa State University, CVM and conference-based labs and lectures.
Jenna Archambeau
Field Application Specialist, NGS
MiDOG Animal Diagnostics
A Newly Emergent Emydomyces Species Associated with Shell Lesions in Freshwater Turtles
Neodermopthirius harkemai, an Ectoparasite of Lemon Sharks, and Its Detection via Metagenomics
Field Application Specialist, NGS
MiDOG Animal Diagnostics
A Newly Emergent Emydomyces Species Associated with Shell Lesions in Freshwater Turtles
Neodermopthirius harkemai, an Ectoparasite of Lemon Sharks, and Its Detection via Metagenomics
Marta Bakaj
Small Animal Rotating Intern
University of Wisconsin- Madison
Ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy in rabbits: Retrospective evaluation of 24 surgeries
Long-term outcome of craniectomy in a ferret with intracranial abscess due to a cholesteatoma
Dr. Marta Bakaj is currently a small animal rotating intern at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
She received her DVM from Cornell University and has a strong interest in zoological companion animal
medicine. She has a passion for advancing the care of exotic animals and hopes to do so through board
certification and becoming a clinical professor. She and her partner, Joshua, have many pets
including a dachshund (Joey), cat (Mags), rabbits (Attila the Bun and Marilyn Bunroe), red-eared
slider (Tortimer), and California king snake(Elden), whom they adore.
Small Animal Rotating Intern
University of Wisconsin- Madison
Ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy in rabbits: Retrospective evaluation of 24 surgeries
Long-term outcome of craniectomy in a ferret with intracranial abscess due to a cholesteatoma
Dr. Marta Bakaj is currently a small animal rotating intern at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
She received her DVM from Cornell University and has a strong interest in zoological companion animal
medicine. She has a passion for advancing the care of exotic animals and hopes to do so through board
certification and becoming a clinical professor. She and her partner, Joshua, have many pets
including a dachshund (Joey), cat (Mags), rabbits (Attila the Bun and Marilyn Bunroe), red-eared
slider (Tortimer), and California king snake(Elden), whom they adore.
Alexis Baker
RVT
Pet Hospital of Penasquitos | VEG
Sedative Effects of Intramuscular Tiletamine-Zolazepam in Various Species of Tortoises
RVT
Pet Hospital of Penasquitos | VEG
Sedative Effects of Intramuscular Tiletamine-Zolazepam in Various Species of Tortoises