Do you ever marvel in regards to the method sure wildlife veterinarians took to get to the place they’re at the moment? Properly, I used to be lucky sufficient to talk with Dr. Jennifer Bloodgood over espresso not too long ago to do exactly that. In November 2022, Dr. Bloodgood was employed as an Assistant Professor of Observe within the Division of Public and Ecosystem Well being within the School of Veterinary Drugs, and as a wildlife veterinarian with the Cornell Wildlife Well being Lab, a part of the New York State Wildlife Well being Program. Via these two positions, Dr. Bloodgood primarily will get to work on, “something and every thing wildlife well being oriented for the state of New York.” How cool! Since immersing herself within the CVM group virtually a 12 months in the past, she has had such a optimistic influence, particularly for college students who’ve desires of following in her footsteps. In penning this publish, I hope to convey her inspirational nature as I share about her pathway to turning into a wildlife veterinarian.
Dr. Bloodgood pursued a profession in veterinary drugs after acquiring each a Bachelor and Grasp of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology at Clemson College in South Carolina. After ending her grasp’s diploma, she labored on the College of Georgia as a analysis technician the place she received to check each dangerous algae administration and the illness of Avian Vacuolar Myelinopathy. Following her pursuits in wildlife well being and illness, Dr. Bloodgood additionally labored within the Aquatic Epidemiology Lab at North Carolina State College the place she studied endangered freshwater mussel species. Via this job, she not solely received to snorkel in native creeks, however she additionally realized learn how to handle and propagate endangered species. Dr. Bloodgood then received recruited to work as a veterinary assistant on the North Carolina Museum of Pure Sciences the place she assisted within the medical administration, well being care, and husbandry of a whole bunch of assortment animals. Whereas on the museum, she additionally developed and delivered teaching programs for undergraduate college students, interns, and volunteers. It was right here that Dr. Bloodgood realized how a lot she loves veterinary drugs, and that she actually enjoys educating.
Following her new-found ardour, Dr. Bloodgood attended the College of Georgia for 7 years to finish a twin DVM-PhD diploma. She completed her PhD throughout her first semester of vet college, which was accomplished in Integrative Conservation, a program targeted on integrating pure and social sciences with conservation. For her dissertation, Dr. Bloodgood evaluated the dietary standing of rehabilitated inexperienced sea turtles on the Georgia Sea Turtle Middle and in contrast it to that of a wild inhabitants in Florida. Via this analysis, she discovered that feeding squid and fish to captive inexperienced sea turtles, versus a vegetarian eating regimen, was related to weight problems and fatty liver illness, in addition to excessive ldl cholesterol and an inverted calcium/phosphorus ratio. She concluded that feeding a vegetarian eating regimen to rehabbed inexperienced sea turtles is best for his or her well being than feeding them seafood, which she phrases, “the mac and cheese of sea turtles.”
As soon as Dr. Bloodgood graduated from the College of Georgia, she received to mix her ardour for analysis and aquatic veterinary drugs by securing a job as a analysis veterinarian at Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) in Alabama (the identical place I did my first dolphin necropsy)! Right here, Dr. Bloodgood served as a community veterinarian concerned in reside animal response and necropsy of cetaceans and manatees with the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Community and Manatee Sighting Community. Throughout her time at DISL, Dr. Bloodgood labored with the ALMMSN group to check the results of freshwater on bottlenose dolphins that entered Cellular Bay, a close-by estuary. They found that it was a lower than best surroundings for them, typically inciting pores and skin lesions, and even loss of life. The group additionally studied the results of chilly stress on manatees in response to local weather change. Of their pure conduct, manatees ought to migrate from Alabama to Florida throughout chilly months, however on account of rising temperatures, they’re sticking round longer than they need to, which has sadly elevated their morbidity and mortality. Regardless of there being a whole lot of necropsy and pathology concerned in her first job, it’s the veterinary work that she is most happy with. At DISL, she developed her expertise as each a veterinarian and scientist and set to work with among the world’s most magnificent marine mammals, together with a sperm whale, which to her was a life-changing expertise.
Actually, Dr. Bloodgood was not even seeking to change jobs, however when she noticed that Cornell College was hiring, she thought, “it was me in a job description.” She actually appreciated on a regular basis she received to spend working with marine mammals, however she was excited for a chance to as soon as once more observe as a generalist by working with birds, reptiles, and mammals, along with marine mammals. She was additionally actually excited in regards to the schooling side of the job, afterall she loves instructing college students who share her drive to facilitate conservation and illness administration by the lens of veterinary drugs.
Dr. Bloodgood enjoys working in interdisciplinary groups to sort out real-world points, and she or he believes her present pos ition permits her to do exactly that. Although I solely met with Dr. Bloodgood for a short interval, I might inform that she is an ideal match for the roles she has acquired throughout the CVM and the New York State Wildlife Well being Program. Her ardour for wildlife and conservation is contagious, and her journey in direction of turning into a wildlife veterinarian is actually inspiring.
In parting methods, I requested Dr. Bloodgood what recommendation she has for college students fascinated about pursuing an identical profession path, and she or he stated, “don’t be afraid to open the door.” Dr. Bloodgood encourages all her college students to community – she stresses the significance of assembly folks within the discipline by attending conferences and searching for externships. And whereas doing so, she recommends following alternatives that one might have by no means considered earlier than. As an illustration, Dr. Bloodgood began her first job after vet college not figuring out quite a bit about marine mammals, however she was excited to strive it, and she or he believes that her curiosity and open-mindedness is what received her to the place she is at the moment – and we’re lucky that that’s right here with us on the CVM!
Maison Scheuer is the 2022-2023 WildLIFE Weblog Editor and a proud member of Cornell ZAWS. Her passions lie on the intersection of veterinary drugs and wildlife conservation. She likes to journey and has hung out in Canada, Thailand, Alabama, Belize, and Honduras the place she studied Columbian floor squirrels, elephant conservation, wildlife rehabilitation, and veterinary drugs. Although notably fascinated about One Well being and international medicine, she has additionally found a love for small animal drugs by her expertise working as a veterinary technician at a full-service exotics and small animal personal observe.
