T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year

Julia Ponder, DVM, MPH served as Executive Director of The Raptor Center from 2007-2021 and Associate Dean for External Partnerships and Engagement at the University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Veterinary Medicine from 2021 until she retired in 2024.

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Lauren Powers, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) is Specialty Service Chief of the Avian and Exotic Pet Service at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in the greater Charlotte area of North Carolina.

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Michelle Hawkins, VMD, DABVP (Avian Practice) is a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California (UC),Davis, an Associate Director of the UC Davis One Health Institute Leadership Team, and the Director of the California Raptor Center.

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Sharman Hoppes, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (Avian Practice) is the owner of Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital in Grapevine, Texas and Professor Emerita (2019- ) of the zoological medicine service at Texas A&M University (TAMU).

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Yvonne R.A. van Zeeland, DVM, MVR, PhD, Dipl. ECZM (Avian Practice, Small Mammal) has served as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Zoological Medicine at Utrecht University Department of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht, Netherlands since 2013.

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Lorenzo Crosta med vet, PhD, GP Cert (Exotic Animal) is a Diplomate ECZM, EBVS European Veterinary Specialist in Zoo Health Management. He has served as an Associate Professor of Avian and Zoological Medicine at the University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Australia since 2018. He is the Director of the Avian, Reptile, and Exotic Pet Hospital.

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Robert Doneley, BVSc, FANZCVS is an Associate Professor and Head of the Avian and Exotic Pet Service at The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Australia.

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Dr. Michael Lierz, DZooMed, DECZM(WPH), DECPVS is a Full Professor in Avian Medicine and the Director of the Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish at the Justus-Liebig University of Giessen in Giessen, Germany.

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Dr. Gregory Rich is the owner of the Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital of Louisiana in Metairie, Louisiana. Dr. Rich earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental Health in 1977 and Medical Technology in 1980 from Louisiana State University. Dr. Rich also earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. His work with avian species began in his fourth year during a preceptorship at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida under the tutelage of Dr. John Olsen.

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Dr. Patrick Redig is a Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. He is also the Founder and Director Emeritus of The Raptor Center at the University. Dr. Redig earned his Bachelor of Science degree from St. Cloud State University and his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota. He also completed a PhD in physiology at the University of Minnesota.

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Dr. Joanne Paul-Murphy is a Professor in the Department of Medicine & Epidemiology and Chief of the Companion Avian and Exotic Pets Medicine Program at the University of California at Davis (UC Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine. She is also the Director of the Richard M. Schubot Parrot Wellness & Welfare Program at UC Davis.

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Dr. Susan Clubb is the owner of Rainforest Clinic for Birds & Exotics and Hurricane Aviaries in Loxahatchee, Florida. Dr. Clubb is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian). Dr. Clubb also serves as an associate adjunct professor at the University of Florida and a staff veterinarian for Jungle Island in Miami, where she has worked since 1988. She also consults for a variety of local and international preserves, rehabilitation and rescue centers, and zoological parks. Dr. Clubb has consulted for Kaytee Products, Inc. since 2003, and she also serves as a Board member of the Kaytee Avian Foundation. Dr. Clubb has authored or coauthored over 70 articles and 25 books on avian and exotic animal medicine. She has also presented at a variety of national and international meetings.

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Dr. James Carpenter is a Professor and service chief of Exotic, Wildlife and Zoo Animal Medicine at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

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Dr. Thomas N. Tully, Jr. is a professor in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences department and section chief of the Bird, Zoo and Exotic Animal service at Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Tully is a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian) and the European College of Zoological Medicine (Avian).

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Dr. Keven Flammer is a professor of Companion and Wild Avian Medicine at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine where he has mentored and inspired many veterinary medical students, interns, and residents. He also currently serves as the College’s acting Associate Dean and Director of Academic Affairs.

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Dr. David Phalen currently serves as an associate professor at the University of Sydney. He is the director of the Wildlife Health and Conservation Centre in New South Wales, Australia where he established the Avian Reptile and Exotic Pet Hospital, the only university-based facility in Australia dedicated entirely to the care of birds, exotic pets, and wildlife.

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Dr. Robert Dahlhausen has practiced 100% avian and exotic animal medicine for the past 25 years. His current practice, opened in 1992, is called the Avian and Exotic Animal Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bob received his DVM from the Ohio State University in 1983.

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Dr. Susan Orosz received her PhD in human neuroanatomy from the University of Cincinnati in 1980 and her DVM degree from the Ohio State University in 1984. During her senior veterinary medical year, Dr. Orosz did an anatomical study on the limbs of the California condor at the San Diego Zoo.

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A native of El Salvador, Dr. Jaime Samour graduated with honors as a veterinarian from Veracruz University, Mexico in 1978. After graduation, he worked at a practice in El Salvador from 1978 to 1980. Dr. Samour then obtained a Wildlife Management Diploma from the post-graduate school at Chapingo University, Mexico. Soon after, Jaime crossed the Atlantic to study at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). As a visiting research fellow at ZSL, Jaime worked on a series of projects involving birds and reptiles. While still based at ZSL, Dr. Samour earned a master’s degree and PhD in avian reproductive physiology through the Royal Veterinary College, University of London in 1987.

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Dr. M. Scott Echols practices throughout the United States working in various hospitals and veterinary schools. Dr. Echols is an adjunct professor at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. He is also the creator of several educational DVDs including Captive Foraging, Avian Blood Collection, Avian Necropsy and Cytology, Basic Non-Surgical Procedures, and The Expert Companion Bird Care Series through Avian Studios.

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Dr. Neil Forbes practices at Great Western Referrals in Swindon, United Kingdom. Dr. Forbes qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1983. After a period in large animal practice in Cumbria, he settled in mixed practice at Lansdown Veterinary Surgeons in Gloucestershire. Since that time Neil has developed a large avian and exotic animal practice.

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Dr. Brian Speer is the owner and the director of the Oakley Veterinary Medical Center and the Medical Center for Birds in northern California. Brian received his DVM degree from the University of California at Davis in 1983. Board specialty status was earned through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 1996, and certification in the European College of Avian Medicine and Surgery (ECAMS) in 1999. Brian is also the recipient of the Speaker of the Year award for the North American Veterinary Conference, 2006.

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Dr. Teresa Lightfoot received her DVM from the University of Missouri in 1980. She completed an externship at the St. Louis Zoo, and has been practicing in Florida since 1980. Dr. Lightfoot currently practices at Blue Pearl Specialty & Emergency Medicine for Pets in Tampa, Florida. She has also served as the staff veterinarian for the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary since 1987. Dr. Lightfoot is a charter member of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners—avian specialty and she currently serves as regent for this specialty. Dr. Lightfoot served on the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine from 1995 to 1999, and served as Chair from 1997-1999.

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