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2025 Special Species Symposium
presented by Zoo and Wildlife Society at Cornell
Meet the Lab Leaders
Jenny Bloodgood, MS, DVM, PhD
Marine Mammal Necropsy
I am the Wildlife Veterinarian with the New York State Wildlife Health Program based at the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab and an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to this, I was the Research Veterinarian at Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Alabama where I oversaw stranding response, necropsies, and health and disease research for marine mammals for the state. I hold BS and MS degrees in Wildlife Biology from Clemson University, and a PhD in Integrative Conservation from the University of Georgia. I also completed my DVM at UGA with a focus on research and wildlife health. As both a wildlife veterinarian and biologist, I have a broad interest in free-ranging wildlife health and disease. I have particular interests in pathology, infectious disease, and the interface of human and wildlife health, and enjoy mentoring students and working in interdisciplinary teams to tackle real-world issues.
Carmen Smith, DVM, DACVP
Exotic Animal Clinical Pathology Cases
Carmen's pathology training was through the Eddie Gould Residency in Zoo and Wildlife Pathology, a collaboration between Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo, a program which emphasized disease investigation in domestic animals as well as in free-ranging and captive wildlife. His previous research experience spans terrestrial and aquatic species, including projects related to Mycobacterium in marine species and isosporosis in passerine birds. As a veterinary student, Carmen worked alongside pathology faculty at IPB University in Bogor, Indonesia to help summarize the causes of mortality of free-ranging Javan and Sumatran rhinoceroses.
Chris Champion, BVSc, DACVP
Avian Necropsy
​Dr. Chris Champion is an anatomic pathologist currently working as the dermatopathology fellow at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. After obtaining his veterinary degree at Massey University in 2019, Dr. Champion was appointed as a locum lecturer in veterinary pathology at Massey University. In 2021, Dr. Champion began his anatomic pathology residency at Cornell University. After completing his residency in 2024, he began his dermatopathology fellowship. During all of his roles, Dr. Champion has been heavily involved with curriculum development and teaching gross anatomy and microanatomy to pre-clinical veterinary students. Dr. Champion enjoys all facets of veterinary pathology but has strong interests in dermatopathology, oncologic pathology, neoplasm grading schemes, and poultry pathology.
Rodman Getchell, PhD
Fish Clinical Skills/Necropsy
Coming to Cornell in 1990, I earned my Ph.D. while doing research and diagnostic work in several different labs, focusing on retrovirus-induced tumors in fish using walleye as a model species. I eventually landed in the Bowser Lab, where I have contributed to research on a variety of fish diseases, as well as independent projects studying koi herpes virus, largemouth bass virus, and type E botulism. Most recently, I’ve been investigating the effects of ultrasonic devices on fish, and conducting target animal safety studies for AQUI-S 20E and AQUAFLOR in marine finfish. On the non-academic side, my wife Janice and I live along the shore of Cayuga Lake and love to be able to spend as much time as the weather allows in our 1962 Boston Whaler. My buddy Steve and I donate platelets once a month, which I guess is really just an excuse to eat barbeque in Johnson City. I would love to talk to students about maintaining that balance between your work life and personal life...and about anything else, for that matter. I have been a student and employee at several of the world’s leading aquatic-immersion learning programs, including Sea Education Association, the Shoals Marine Lab, and AQUAVET® itself as a 1994 alumnus of AQUAVET® II. I am really excited to be able help during the 2025 Special Species Symposium.
Mary Smith, DVM
Alpaca Castration
Dr. Mary C. Smith is currently a professor in the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at Cornell. She has been a clinician in the Ambulatory and Production Medicine Clinic at Cornell since graduation from the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1972. This involves teaching senior veterinary students while providing service on farm calls. Although all large animals are fascinating, her special interests include the ‘miscellaneous species’ (camelids, sheep and goats, swine), gross pathology, and poisonous plants. Distribution courses taught include Llama Tutorial, Sheep and Goat Medicine, Poisonous Plants, Food Animal Welfare, and Overview of Complementary Medicine. Dr. Smith has coauthored two books: Goat Medicine, now in its third edition (with David Sherman) and Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of the Sheep and Goat (with Karl Linklater).
Jimmy Guan, DVM
Wildlife Comparative Necropsy
Jimmy Guan, DVM is from Chicago, IL and received his DVM from Western University of Health Sciences in 2023. He is currently the second year zoo and wildlife anatomic pathology resident at Cornell University. He will spend his third year of training at the Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo) receiving subspecialized training in zoo and wildlife pathology. His main interests are reptile/amphibian pathology as well as molecular diagnostics. He hopes to contribute to the field of wildlife conservation through disease investigations and development of molecular diagnostic modalities. In his free time, he likes to go to the gym, bake sourdough, and taking care of his houseplants, tortoises, and dart frogs.
Christopher Tollefson, DVM
Exotic Animal Clinical Pathology Cases
I grew up in Minnesota. I went to Ross University for veterinary school. I spent my clinical year at Oklahoma State University followed by a rotating small animal internship at BluePearl in Michigan. Then I went to Mississippi State University for a diagnostic imaging internship followed by a diagnostic imaging residency. After completing my residency, I joined Cornell University as a diagnostic imaging faculty member. I have been with Cornell for approximately 3 years. I have had a variety of pets including dogs, horses, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, poison dart frogs, and countless fish.
Araceli Lucio-Forster, PhD
Comparative Parasitology
Dr. Lucio-Forster earned her PhD in Microbiology from Cornell University in 2007, where she studied zoonotic waterborne and soil-transmitted parasites under the tutelage of Dr. Dwight Bowman. After graduation, she accepted a position in Cornell’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, where her main focus as a Senior Lecturer remains teaching Clinical Diagnostic Parasitology to 4th year veterinary students, tutoring in the Problem Based Learning curriculum, and providing teaching support in the 2nd year Veterinary Parasitology course. Additionally, she serves as the Assistant Director, and Instructor for a number of courses, in the Masters in Professional Studies in Veterinary Parasitology program. Dr. Lucio-Forster has authored a number of manuscripts on parasite detection and identification in collaboration with clinicians, students, alumni, and industry partners. She has also co-authored chapters for the new editions of Georgis’ Parasitology for Veterinarians, Infectious Disease Management in Animal Shelters, and Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat.
Robin W. Radcliffe, DVM, DIPLOMATE ACZM
Wildlife Darting Lab
One of twin brothers, both veterinarians, Dr. Robin Radcliffe's life and work encompasses the conservation of endangered species. With more than 20 years of professional experience with species conservation, he directs the Cornell Conservation Medicine Program at Cornell University. Dr. Radcliffe works on diverse species from the honey bee to the rhinoceros. His work with rhinoceroses includes programs in both Indonesia and Africa where he partners with other scientists and organizations to conduct research that has direct conservation impacts. His team in Namibia won the 2021 Ig Nobel Prize for their innovative research to support the safe movement of rhinos upside down. Most recently, Dr. Radcliffe teamed up with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and The Peregrine Fund to better understand Gyrfalcon health as a sentinel for climate change in the Arctic. Robin has joined with Dr. Jane Goodall to help train the next generation of conservation scientists and help save the great apes and rhinos as icons of the rainforest. Together with Jane, he authored a children’s book about the Indonesian rhinos entitled, The Hornless Rhinoceros, and developed a unique dance program for the children of Sumatra. Dr. Radcliffe was awarded a Diplomate in the American College of Zoological Medicine, and earned Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from the University of Minnesota in St. Paul.
Noha Abou-Madi, DVM, MSc, DACZM
Wildlife Darting Lab
Dr. Noha Abou-Madi is a zoological veterinarian, as well as an Associate Clinical Professor of Zoological Medicine at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her primary responsibilities include teaching didactic and experiential courses in zoological medicine to veterinary students and residents, providing veterinary care to the animals at the Belize zoo (central America), consulting with veterinarians and zoological institutions around the country, and collaborating on research projects nationally and internationally. She is an academic coach and faculty advisor for veterinary students. Her research interests are clinical and seek to answer a specific problem encountered during the treatment or diagnosis of a disease. She is also a member of the North American Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus Advisory Board.
Dahihm Kim, DVM, MS, PhD
Lab Animal Techniques and Necropsy
I went to veterinary school in South Korea, where I obtained my DVM and completed a Master’s in Veterinary Physiology. I then moved to Cornell University to pursue a PhD in the Biomedical and Biological Sciences (BBS) program, where I studied how tumor-associated macrophages contribute to the development of therapeutic resistance in melanoma, using in vivo mouse models. This research experience led to my interest in the field of laboratory animal medicine. I am currently a second-year laboratory animal resident at the Center for Animal Resources and Education (CARE).
Margret Lenfest, VMD, DACVSM
Intro to PT and Rehab in Non-Traditional Species
Dr. Lenfest is a Pennsylvania native where her interest in sports medicine developed from involvement with high performance horses as a breeder and competitor. This interest flourished during vet school at the University of Pennsylvania when she worked at the Working Dog Center helping with the research, training, and development of working dogs for search and rescue, law enforcement, and single purpose occupations. Margret completed a rotating internship in south Florida at Coral Springs Animal Hospital followed by a three-year residency at Cornell University in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation. Her residency training included travelling to Alaska to work as a veterinarian for the Yukon Quest sled dog race and serving as part of the veterinary team for the Westminster Dog show. Margret became a board certification diplomate of the American College of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2024 while working at Guardian Veterinary Specialists in Brewster NY. She joined the faculty at Cornell University as an Assistant Professor in the section of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2024. Margret’s clinical interests include musculoskeletal ultrasound and regenerative medicine to manage a variety of conditions.
Jillian Western, DVM
Fish Clinical Skills and Necropsy
Dr. Western is currently a Wildlife Health Intern at Cornell University’s Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital, where she medically and surgically treats native avian, mammalian, amphibian, and reptilian species. Since graduating from Mississippi State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she has worked as an emergency clinician and general practitioner for small animal and exotic pets, and a small animal medicine and surgery rotating intern. Much of her experience in veterinary school was aquatic based, from aquarium settings to marine mammal rescue facilities. Her current research is investigating serum cholinesterase levels in bald eagles. She enjoys mentoring the many veterinary students that come through the wildlife hospital, and although she loves all aspects of wildlife medicine, she has a special interest in human interactions and conservation.