Professor List – 10 Avian Veterinary Professors

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Avian Veterinarians are veterinarians who specialize in treating birds. A bird’s anatomy and physiology is distinctly different than that of cats and dogs, thus requiring years of training beyond the doctoral level. Of the 28 veterinary medicine schools in the United States, only a fraction offer courses and degrees in Avian Sciences. Avian Veterinarians should be Board certified through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), and a member of the American College of Veterinarian Pathologists.

Veterinarians’ seeking specialization in Avian Medicine will find themselves working in a general veterinary practice assisting companions animals. Others may work with zoological societies. Many Avian Veterinarians’ specialize in poultry safety, working alongside the USDA. A significant number of Avian Specialists find themselves continuing the research of their predecessors in understanding Avian influenza and microbiological diseases.

Dr. Karel A. Schat

Dr. Karel A. Schat

Cornell University

Dr. Schat is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He received the DVM degree from the State University, Utrecht, The Netherlands in 1970. He went on to earn his PhD from Cornell University. Dr. Schat received the Pfizer Award for Excellence in Poultry Research from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). He has also been honored with the Merck Award for Achievement in Poultry Science from the Poultry Science Association.

Dr. Gary Whittaker

Dr. Gary Whittaker

Cornell University

Dr. Whittaker received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Leeds University, U.K. There, he focused his studies on molecular biology and biochemistry. He completed his postdoctoral work at Yale University. Dr Whittaker's research is focused on the avian influenza viruses, rhaboviurses and coronaviruses into host cells. Currently, he is funded by research grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Oscar Fletcher

Dr. Oscar Fletcher

North Carolina State University

Dr. Fletcher earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1964 and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1968. A Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and American College of Poultry Veterinarians, Dr. Fletcher is a member of 6 Honor Societies. Dr. Fletcher serves as a member on the Board of Directors for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC).

Dr. Luc Berghman

Dr. Luc Berghman

Texas A&M

Professor Luc Berghman studied at University of Leuven, Belgium, where he graduated with a PhD in Zoology. Although he has worked with many types of animals, his research focuses on the avian immune system. Dr. Berghman was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and a Senior Research Associate with the National Fund for Scientific Research. He is currently a Professor of Poultry Science and Veterinary Pathobiology. He has also been a speaker for the AAAP, discussing the efficacy of immunogen delivery sites in chickens.

Dr. Sharman Hoppes

Dr. Sharman Hoppes

Texas A&M

Dr. Hoppes earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1993 from Oklahoma State University. In 1999, she completed her residency in Avian Medicine and Surgery at North Carolina State University. Dr. Hoppes is a Diplomate of AVBP, specifically focusing on Avian Practices. Her scholarly interests lie primarily in Avian and exotic analgesia, proventricular dilation disease and aflatoxins in birds. She is a collaborator on the Tambopata Macaw Program, as well as being an active member of both the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians and the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians.

Dr. Michelle Hawkins

Dr. Michelle Hawkins

UC Davis

Dr. Hawkins earned her Bachelors Degree in 1993 from Georgia State University in Atlanta Georgia. She went on to earn Veterinary Medicine Doctorate in 1997 from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She is certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, with a specialty focus on Avian Practices. Dr. Hawkins' research focus is anesthesia, analgesia and critical patient care of companion exotic animals.

Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo

Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo

UC Davis

Dr. Gallardo earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 from the University of Chile in Santiago, Chile. In 2011 he earned his PhD in Avian Infectious Diseases from Auburn University. He is the 2010 recipient of the A.S. Rosenwald Poster Award of the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP). Dr. Gallardo earned his board certification in the American College of Poultry Veterinarians (ACPV). He is a well-regarded researcher in the area of avian virology, with a number of influential research papers focused on infectious bronchitis virus and its treatment in avian populations.

Dr. Michael Jones

Dr. Michael Jones

University of Tennessee

Dr. Jones earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in 1992. He completed his Internship and Residency in Avian and Zoological Medicine at the University of Tennessee in 1996. He is a Diplomat of the AVBP, specifically focusing on Avian Practices. As a professor, his courses include Raptor Medicine and Management, as well as Avian Medicine and Surgery. He has a special interest in birds of prey, and has recently published in reference to the intraocular lens power of the bald eagle.

Dr. Marcy Souza

Dr. Marcy Souza

University of Tennessee

Dr. Dr. Souza earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2004 from North Carolina State University. She is board certified through both the American College of Veterinary Preventative Medicine (ACVPM) and the ABVP, with a focus on Avian Practice. She teaches courses on wildlife diseases, infectious diseases, and avian medicine and surgery. In 2013, she was the featured speaker at the Comparative and Experimental Medicine and Public Health Research Symposium, discussing the connection between human, animal and environmental health.

Methodology

  1. Publication: All professors on this list are published in a number of peer-reviewed journals. Speaking engagements are also considered as publication methods.

  2. Notoriety of University: The selected individuals are all working at one of the top 100 veterinary schools in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report. The notoriety of the individual, in some cases, overshadows a less superior veterinary program.

  3. Leadership Positions:Each member of the list is a leader in their field and has contributed top-level research to various organizations. Many of them are leaders within the Avian community, being members of various veterinary associations and holding leadership positions within those said organizations.

  4. Currently teaching: Each member of this list is an active professor, and manages students in addition to their publication and association duties.

Barry Franklin (Co-Founder)

Before co-founding Sechel Ventures Partners LLC, Barry Franklin was a VP at a Silicon Valley software company. Currently, he is an investor and advisor for Impellia. Barry believes that education and lifelong learning are paramount. Barry met his wife at Carnegie Mellon University and they have two beautiful daughters. He also volunteers for various committees at his kids’ high school.