Scientific Committee 2026
Anke Stöhr
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Anke Stöhr received her degree in Veterinary Medicine (med. vet.) from the University of Leipzig in 2008. She then worked multiple years as a small animal and exotics veterinarian in various animal hospitals and clinics in Germany and was certified as a Specialist for Reptile Medicine (Zusatzbezeichnung Reptilien) by the Veterinary Board of Baden-Württemberg, Germany in 2012. She also carried out multiple reptile-related research projects during this time. From 2017-2020, she performed a Zoological Medicine Residency (ACZM/ECZM) with a concurrent graduate program in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University (USA) and graduated with a Master of Science in May 2020. In April 2021, Anke passed the examination for board certification as a Diplomate of the European College for Zoological Medicine (Herpetology). She has authored multiple scientific publications, presented her work at national and international conferences, serves as a reviewer for scientific journals and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board, as well as the Chair of the International Committee of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). Currently, she is working in her own private practice for exotic pets near her hometown (Freiburg i. Brsg.) in Southern Germany.
Cathy Delaney
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Johnson-Delaney is a 1980 graduate of Washington State University and practiced avian and exotic animal medicine in the greater Seattle area. She was Exotic DVM 2003 and received the 2009 Oxbow Small Mammal Health Award. She is a past president of both the Association of Avian Veterinarians and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians and is currently serving as Chair, Welfare, Ethics and Legislative Committees on the AEMV Board as well as serving on the Scientific and Education Committees. She is a Member at Large on the Board of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians. She is the author of Ferret Medicine and Surgery, Manual of Clinical Procedures in Pet Birds, Exotic Companion Medicine Handbook for Veterinarians and lead author for the guinea pig and ferret modules for Vetstream/VetLexicon. She is a co-editor for the BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets: A Foundation Manual 5th and 6th editions. She is Medical Moderator for the ExoticDVM Forum (online), Manuscript Scientific Proceedings Editor (AEMV), Assistant Editor J Exotic Pet Med and serves on the AVMA Scientific Review Board and the AALAS Education Resource Committee. She is working with the Exotic Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation, JoJo’s Cavy Kingdom and the Washington Ferret Rescue & Shelter, all in Western Washington state, as well as the Oregon Tiger Sanctuary and the Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Frank Pasmans
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Frank Pasmans (DVM, PhD, Dip ECZM (herpetology is professor in veterinary bacteriology and mycology and reptile and amphibian diseases at Ghent University and PI of Wildlife Health Ghent. He has a profound interest in infectious diseases in amphibians and reptiles with a research focus on wild amphibian health.
Jules Simard
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Jules Simard graduated with honours from the faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, in 2016 where he received his Master of Science in Veterinary Medicine. He completed a rotating small animal internship followed by a ECZM residency training program and passed the examination for board certification as a Diplomate of the European College for Zoological Medicine (Herpetology) in 2021. He is an EBVS Veterinary Specialist in Herpetological Medicine and Surgery. He is currently serving on the ECZM Examination and Credential Committee and is the Resident Liaison for ECZM Herpetology residents. He is an assistant editor for the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, author of scientific publications and speaker on national and international conferences. He currently works in a small animal and exotic private practice in Belgium.
Dr. Kourtney Grimm
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Kourtney Grimm was born and raised in central Illinois and returned home after graduating with a DVM from University of Illinois in 2012. Dr. Grimm serves on the ARAV Board, currently as President Elect, and she actively pursues additional education in exotic animal medicine to provide high quality care to many different species of animals. She is currently working under her long-time mentor and friend, Dr. Nikki Johnson (ARAV past president), at Pekin Animal Hospital in central Illinois. There she provides high quality medical and surgical care to exotics and specifically enjoys her reptile patients. She is also the main veterinarian for Wildlife Prairie Park, an 1800-acre zoological park that is home to 60 different species and over 150 animals that are or were native to the area and provides medical care for their extensive reptile and amphibian collection.
Dr. Lionel Schilliger
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Lionel Schilliger is a French veterinary practitioner based in Paris, with a longstanding dedication to herpetological medicine and surgery. He is board-certified by both the European College of Zoological Medicine (ECZM, Herpetology) and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP, Reptile and Amphibian Practice). He currently serves as the director of the Argos Paris Village d’Auteuil Veterinary Clinic and the Argos SpéNac Veterinary Referral Center, and acts as France’s representative on the International Committee of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). He was one of the four organizers of ICARE held in Paris in 2015.
Prof. Dr. Michael Pees
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Prof. Dr. Michael Pees studied veterinary medicine at the Justus Liebig University Giessen in Germany. After graduating in 1999, he worked at the Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig. Since 2021 he has been the head of the Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Medicine and Surgery of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo), Germany. Dr. Pees is a diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (ECZM) in Avian and Herpetological Medicine, a specialist veterinarian (FTA) for Reptiles, Ornamental, Zoo, and Wild Birds, and Poultry, and an EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Avian Medicine and Surgery
Robert Ossiboff
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Robert Ossiboff, though known to most by Oz, is a veterinary anatomic pathologist, molecular diagnostician, and virologist who specializes in diseases of reptiles and amphibians. He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine where he serves as the director of the Aquatic, Amphibian, and Reptile Pathology Service. Oz graduated from a combined DVM/PhD program at Cornell University in 2010, followed by an anatomic pathology residency at Cornell (2010-2012), zoo and molecular pathology fellowships at the Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo (2012-2014), and a wildlife pathology postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell (2014-2016). He briefly was a member of the Zoo Pathology Program at the University of Illinois, before starting at the University of Florida in 2017. His research interests include identifying and characterizing reptile and amphibian pathogens, as well as more general pathogen discovery and disease characterization of captive and free-ranging wildlife.
Rachel Marschang
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Rachel Marschang qualified as a veterinarian from the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany in 1995 and has been working in reptile medicine and infectious diseases ever since. She received her doctorate in viruses of tortoises from the Justus Liebig University and her habilitation in Environmental and Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Virology from the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany. She is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Microbiology (ECVM) and of the European College of Zoological Medicine (ECZM) in herpetological medicine. She is a past president of The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) and of the ECZM. She is currently working as a consultant veterinarian for reptile diagnostics at Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG in Bad Kissingen, Germany and as an adjunct professor (Privatdozentin) at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery.
Sean Perry
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Sean Perry completed his undergraduate work at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He then earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Western University of Health Sciences in 2013. Following graduation, he completed internships in both emergency and critical care and small animal medicine and surgery and the University of Illinois and worked in private practice in the Florida Keys. In 2020, he completed his PhD at Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine focusing on reptile assisted reproduction. Since 2020, he has been the associate veterinarian at the Mississippi Aquarium, while providing relief veterinary services to Zoos and Aquariums along the United States Gulf Coast. He is currently the president of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians.
Stacey Leonatti Wilkinson
ARAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Stacey Leonatti Wilkinson graduated with her DVM from the University of Tennessee in 2006. Since graduation she has been treating exclusively exotic pets, first as an associate veterinarian at Avian and Exotic Animal Care in Raleigh, NC and then in 2015 she opened Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital of Georgia in the Savannah, GA area. In 2013 she became a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners certified in Reptile and Amphibian Practice. Dr. Wilkinson is also an adjunct assistant professor at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She has been published in scientific and non-scientific journals, written multiple textbook chapters, and lectures nationally on exotic animal medicine and care. She is Treasurer of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, and is also active in the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, Association of Avian Veterinarians, and Association of Fish Veterinarians.
Scientific Committee 2026
João Brandao
AEMV Scientific Committee ChairJoão Brandão is a Professor of Zoological Medicine at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his veterinary degree from the University of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Vila Real, Portugal). He completed exotic animal medicine and zoological medicine internships at the Great Western Referrals (Swindon, UK), Tufts University (North Grafton, MA), and the University of Georgia (Athens, GA). Brandao completed a three-year zoological medicine residency and a Master of Science degree in Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Louisiana State University. He is a diplomate of the European and the American College of Zoological Medicine. He holds the Debbie and Wayne Bell Professorship in Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
Zoltan Szabo
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Zoltan Szabo is a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Exotic Companion Mammal and Avian Practice) as well as an RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. He serves as the Director of Exotic Services at Concordia Pet Care, Asia’s largest exotic animal referral center, and is an Adjunct Professor at the City University of Hong Kong.
Claire Grosset
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Claire Grosset is an associate professor in Zoological Medicine at the Université de Montréal, Canada. After a residency in Companion Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine at the University of California, Davis, she became a diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine in 2014. Her main research interests are about fish and reptile welfare and antinociception. Claire Grosset is an associate professor in Zoological Medicine at the Université de Montréal, Canada. After a residency in Companion Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine at the University of California, Davis, she became a diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine in 2014. Her main research interests are about fish and reptile welfare and antinociception.
Grayson Doss
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Doss completed his DVM at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and a zoological medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee County Zoo, and the International Crane Foundation. He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Zoological Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. His research interests include sedation, anesthesia, analgesia and imaging of zoological companion animals.
Peter DiGeronimo
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Peter M. DiGeronimo is an associate veterinarian at the Philadelphia Zoo and a diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine. After earning his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. DiGeronimo spent 5 years in private practice before completing an internship in zoological medicine at Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in ecosystem health from the University of Edinburgh. He later worked as a clinical instructor in exotic pet medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and as the veterinarian for Adventure Aquarium and continues to work in zoological companion animal private practice.
Krista Keller
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr Krista Keller is a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine, with a focus on companion zoological animals. As Associate Professor at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, she teaches the next generation of amazing veterinarians and veterinary specialists, she performs research in the field of reptile mycology and provides clinical service for small zoos and client owned zoological species.
Angela Lennox
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Angela M. Lennox is a graduate of Purdue University, where she serves as an adjunct associate professor. She has practiced exclusively exotic pet medicine for over 30 years. She is a diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine in Small Mammal medicine. and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioner (ABVP) in both Avian and Exotic Companion Mammal Medicine.
Victoria Bender
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Victoria Bender is the currently the immediate past-president of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV) after serving on the board of directors and scientific committee for several year. She is a 2016 graduate of University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and earned her BS in Biology from Duke University. After earning her DVM, she returned to North Carolina to complete an internship in avian and exotic animal medicine. Dr. Bender now works primarily in private practice with a caseload composed entirely of exotic mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and wildlife.
Miranda Sadar
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Miranda Sadar graduated from Colorado State University. After graduation, she completed an internship in zoological, zoological companion animal, and wildlife medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After finishing a two-year fellowship at the Wildlife Center of Virginia, she completed a zoological residency with a focus on zoological companion animals at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Sadar was an Assistant Professor at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine prior to moving back to Colorado State University, where she is an Associate Professor. In 2016, she became a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine.
Julianne McCready
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Julianne McCready received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Tufts University. She completed a small animal rotating internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey, followed by an avian and exotics specialty internship. She completed an American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM) residency at Ontario Veterinary College in Ontario, Canada. She also completed a concurrent Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) degree, with her research related to anesthesia and minimally invasive surgery in guinea pigs. She became an ACZM diplomate in 2023. She is currently Assistant Professor of Zoological Medicine at Oklahoma State University.
Sarah Ozawa
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Sarah Ozawa received her DVM from the University of Wisconsin. Following graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at the University of Tennessee and then a residency in zoological companion animal medicine at the University of California-Davis. She became board certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine in 2020. She is currently an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University. Her research interests include small mammal medicine and cardiovascular disease.
Dario d’Ovidio
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dario is a Referral Veterinarian for Exotic Pets in Naples, Italy and Scientific Advisor for CD-VET Laboratorio Analisi Veterinarie, Rome, Italy. He graduated in 2003, summa cum laude, from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Naples Federico II. In 2004 he received his master’s degree in wildlife conservation and in 2008 completed a 3-year degree (SpecPACS) in the pathology of avian, rabbit and wild species. In 2012 he was awarded his doctoral degree (PhD) from the University of Naples Federico II. In 2013 he became a Diplomat of the European College of Zoological Medicine and a European Board of Veterinary Specialisation European Veterinary Specialist in Small Mammal Medicine and Surgery. Dario is a frequent speaker at both national and international conferences on exotics. He is a visiting Professor in avian and exotic animal medicine and surgery at the Universities of Naples, Parma and Bologna, Italy. He is the author of over 60 clinical and research articles, and several chapters on exotic pets. His current research interest areas include exotic animal anesthesia, dermatology, parasitology, and zoonotic diseases.
Natalie Antinoff
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Antinoff is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, after which she completed a small animal internship, and an exotic pet medicine and surgery residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York. In 1997 she opened Gulf Coast Avian and Exotics as part of Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists. She has authored chapters in several texts, lectured nationally and internationally, and served as a consultant on the Veterinary Information Network small mammal board. She has served on the editorial boards of several veterinary journals. Dr. Antinoff currently is the medical director for Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital.
Cathy Johnson-Delaney
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Johnson-Delaney is a 1980 graduate of Washington State University and practiced avian and exotic animal medicine in the greater Seattle area. She was Exotic DVM 2003 and received the 2009 Oxbow Small Mammal Health Award. She is a past president of both the Association of Avian Veterinarians and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians and is currently serving as Member at Large/Chair, Welfare, Ethics and Legislative Committees on the AEMV Board as well as a Director at Large on the ARAV Board. Author of Ferret Medicine and Surgery, Exotic Companion Medicine Handbook for Veterinarians and lead author for the guinea pig and ferret modules for Vetstream/VetLexicon, and Manual of Clinical Procedures in Pet Birds. She is Medical Moderator for the ExoticDVM Forum (online), Manuscript Scientific Proceedings Editor (AEMV), Assistant Editor J Exotic Pet Med and serves on the AVMA Scientific Review Board and the AALAS Education Resource Committee. Works with: Exotic Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation, JoJo's Cavy Kingdom, NW Zoological Supply, Washington Ferret Rescue & Shelter, Oregon Tiger Sanctuary and the Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Nico Schoemaker
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Nico Schoemaker graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht 1994. He then followed an internship in Companion Animal Medicine and a residency in Avian Medicine and Surgery at Utrecht University, resulting in certification as an avian specialist in the Netherlands, Europe (Dip. ECAMS) and the USA (Dipl. ABVP –Avian). In 2003 he defended his PhD entitled: Hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets. Since 2009 he is a founder diplomate of the small mammal specialty of the ECZM, and is thereby a recognized European specialist. He is a past-president of the ECZM and is still employed at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
Molly Varga
AEMV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Molly graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1992. Molly gained her Certificate in Zoological Medicine in 2001 and her Diploma in Zoological Medicine (Mammalian) in 2007. Molly is the author of the Textbook of Rabbit Medicine (2nd and 3rd Editions). She has also contributed to the BSAVA Manuals of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery, Guinea Pig Medicine and Surgery, Reptile Medicine and Surgery (2nd and 3rd Editions) Wildlife Medicine and Practical Welfare. She has contributed also to the Textbook of Ferret, Rabbit and Rodents, Medicine and Surgery, as well as the Manual of Exotic Pet Practice.
Scientific Committee 2026
Tom Tully
ECZM ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. Tully is a Professor of Zoological Medicine in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department at Louisiana State University-School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU-SVM). He also serves as Service Chief of the Zoological Medicine Service. Dr. Tully graduated with his DVM degree from the LSU-SVM in 1986 and obtained is MS degree in epidemiology and public health from the LSU-SVM in 1991. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian Specialty) and the European College of Zoological Medicine (Avian Specialty). His research has centered on infectious disease and applicable clinical investigations that advance veterinarians’ knowledge of disease diagnosis and treatment of companion exotic animal patients. He has co-edited six books (including 1 second edition), co-authored one (second edition published) as well as authoring and co – authoring numerous chapters in other veterinary medical texts. Most recently published, Current Therapy in Exotic Pet Practice, Mitchell and Tully. He was CoEditor-In-Chief of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine from 2005-2018. He is now Scientific Editor for the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery.
Dean Konjević
ECZM ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dean Konjević was born on October 26th, 1974 in Zagreb. In 1993 he was enrolled in the Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb where he have graduated in 2000. During the study he was awarded a prize for the best student of the 5th year. After graduation, he was employed as scientific novice at the Department for Game Biology, Pathology and Breeding. He received his PhD in 2009 at the Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, with the topic ‘’Non-invasive monitoring of adrenocortical gland in fallow deer’’. During that period he spent 4 months at University of Veterinary Medicine Košice (Slovakia) and 2 months at Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph (Canada). In 2010 he was board certified by the European College of Zoological Medicine and awarded the title European Veterinary Specialist in Zoological Medicine (Wildlife Population Health). In 2013 he was elected as Assistant Professor at Department of Veterinary Economics and Epidemiology. In 2023 he was elected as Full Professor. He was elected as scientific advisor in 2011. His research area currently includes wildlife diseases, management and conservation, with special emphasis on pathology, epidemiology and public health. Besides mentioned he is actively involved in the research on the field of comparative odontology and dental pathology. Dr. Konjević has published as author and co-author more than 100 scientific and professional articles and three books. He has also presented more than 70 conference papers and was several times invited lecturer. He is assistant editor of BMC Veterinary Research and European Journal of Wildlife Research.
Yedra Rambaud
ECZM ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr Yedra Feltrer Rambaud is an EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Zoo Health Management passionate about ethics and animal welfare, the veterinary role as part of the One Health approach, and conservation of zoo animals and wildlife. Throughout the years she has worked in several European zoos and collaborated with conservation projects abroad and primate sanctuaries in Africa. She has presented papers at many national and international conferences and is widely published.
She is highly interested in reproduction and reproductive management as part of ex-situ captive breeding integral to the zoo community conservation efforts. She co-founded the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Reproductive Management Group (RMG).
She is also co-founder and director of the International Primate Health and Welfare Group (IPHWG), and co-founder and lead veterinary advisor for the IPHP (International Primate Heart Project). She is also co-chair of the EAZWV Ethics and welfare Working Group, veterinary advisor for the Mangabeys and the Afro-Eurasian Monkey TAG and reproductive advisor of the Hyenid and Canid TAG. She is also a member of the ECZM (European College of Zoological Medicine) Scientific committee.
Hana Bandouchova
ECZM ICARE Scientific Committee 2026MVDr. Ph.D., DipECZM (Wildlife Population Health)
I graduated from the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno in 2006 and obtained a Ph.D. in Diseases of Wildlife and Zoo Animals in 2010. Since 2015, I have been recognized as a European Specialist in Zoological Medicine (Wildlife Population Health). At the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, I am involved in both education and research in the fields of wildlife medicine, infectious disease ecology, and ecotoxicology. My main research interests include establishing haematology and blood chemistry reference values in wildlife, as well as studying infectious diseases and other stressors affecting wild mammals and birds. I am the author or co-author of more than 80 articles published in peer-reviewed journals with an impact factor and have presented on a wide range of wildlife-related topics at both national and international conferences.
Tariq Abou-Zahr
ECZM ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Tariq graduated from the University of Bristol in veterinary science in 2014 and after a year in small animal general practice with some exotics, he embarked on a combined 4 year internship and residency program at Great Western Exotics in Swindon. He gained his RCVS certificate in zoological medicine in 2018 through the University of Edinburgh and passed the final synoptic exam with distinction. He passed the ECZM(Avian) exams in 2021. He presently works in 100% avian and exotic practice, doing 1st opinion and referral work at Valley Veterinary Hospital in Cardiff, Wales, UK. A keen aviculturist, Tariq has been keeping birds since the age of 7 when he got his first pets, a pair of budgerigars! He has exhibited poultry, raced pigeons and bred a whole range of different psittacine species over the years. Tariq also treats a large number of small mammals and reptiles as part of his exotics caseload and as well as birds, keeps reptiles at home too.
Scientific Committee 2026
Tom Dutton - Scientific Chair
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026BVM&S, CertAVP (ZooMed), DipECZM (Avian), MRCVS
Tom graduated from Edinburgh University in 2011 and then completed a one-year rotating internship working extensively with exotic species (raptors and reptiles in particular), before starting his Residency in Avian Medicine at Great Western Exotics in 2012.
In January 2014 Tom successfully gained his RCVSCertAVP(ZooMed) and completed his Residency in Avian Medicine in 2015. He obtained his European diploma DipECZM(Avian) and European specialist status in 2017. Tom regularly lectures on all aspects of exotic animal medicine and care to both veterinarians and nurses, and supervised a European College of Zoological Medicine avian residency programme at Great Western Referrals for several years. Recently, he started his own, independent consultancy firm under the name The Avian Vet.
Yvonne R. A. van Zeeland - Senior Scientific Chair
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026DVM, MVR, PhD, DipECZM (Avian, Small Mammal), CPBC
Yvonne van Zeeland graduated with merit from Utrecht University in 2004. Having worked briefly in private practice, she returned to academia to successfully complete an internship in Companion Animal Medicine, residency in Avian Medicine and PhD on feather damaging behavior in Grey parrots. Yvonne currently works as an Associate Professor at the Division of Zoological Medicine in Utrecht, and actively contributes to the (inter)national development and advancement of avian and exotic animal medicine through lecturing, publishing and membership of various professional organizations and committees, including having served as Past President for the Association of Avian Veterinarians. For these ongoing and outstanding contributions to the field, she received the T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year Award in 2021.
Tariq Abou-Zahr - Junior Chair
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026BVSc, CertAVP (ZooMed), DipECZM (Avian), MRCVS
Tariq graduated as a vet in 2014 from the University of Bristol and, following a year in practice, embarked on a combined internship/residency programme in avian/exotic medicine and surgery at Great Western Exotics. He obtained his RCVS certificate in zoological medicine in 2018 and his ECZM diploma in zoological medicine (Avian) in 2021, and currently leads the exotics service at Valley Exotics, part of Valley Veterinary Hospital in Cardiff.
A keen aviculturist and herpetoculturist, Tariq has been keeping and breeding birds and reptiles since he was a child, and currently keeps toucans, aracaris, parrots and pythons for a hobby, which certainly keeps him very busy!
Gunther Antonissen
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026DVM, PhD, DipECPVS
Gunther Antonissen has a life-long passion for birds. He is a veterinarian and appointed as chairholder of the Chair Poultry Health Sciences at Ghent University, Belgium. The poultry research of the group of prof. Antonissen is multidisciplinary, focusing on a better understanding of the pathogenesis of infectious and non-infectious diseases, improving diagnostics, improving animal welfare and demonstrating the efficacy and safety of prevention and treatment strategies. Research on companion birds focusses on the epidemiology of multiple infectious diseases, animal welfare, physiology and pharmacology. Gunther is currently the secretary of EAAV.
John Chitty
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026BVetMed, CertZooMed, MRCVS
Graduated from London University 1990. RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine 2000. RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine 2015. Until recently practice owner (100% avian/ exotics/ small mammal/ zoo caseload) in Hampshire. Currently providing consultancy and advisory services to vets, zoo collections and Local Authorities. Past Board member of AAV and founding chair of AAV International Committee. Past president of Veterinary Invertebrate Society, EAAV and also of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association. Numerous publications on a variety of species including writing/ editing five textbooks (sixth on the way!). Currently Hon Secretary and trustee of Vetlife.
Luisa Fischer
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026DVM, DipECZM (WPH), FTÄ Zier-, Zoo, und Wildvögel
Dr. Luisa Fischer (neé Ziegler) graduated at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University Leipzig, Germany in 2012. Between 2012 and 2019 she worked at the Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany and successfully finished her doctoral thesis on Mycoplasma spp. in falcons and completed her training as German specialist for birds. She successfully completed a 3-years residency training of the European College of Zoological Medicine (Wildlife Population Health) and earned the EVBS® Specialist status as Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (Wildlife Population Health) by examination. Luisa currently works at the Wildlife Research Institute in Bonn, Germany (State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection North Rhine-Westphalia) as head of the department for wildlife diseases.
Cornelia Konicek
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. med. vet., DipECZM (Avian)
Dr. Konicek received her veterinary degree from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria, in 2012, and completed her doctoral thesis there in 2016. After two years at a small animal clinic, she returned to her alma mater, joining the Service for Birds and Reptiles at the Clinic for Small Animal Medicine. From 2018 to 2022, she completed an alternative avian Residency program at the University of Leipzig, Germany, receiving her specialty degree, DipECZM (Avian), in 2023. Throughout her academic journey, she gained international experience through externships in Australia, the USA, UK, Dubai, and Germany. Dr. Konicek currently remains at the Service for Birds and Reptiles, Clinic for Small Animal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria.
Deborah Monks
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026BVSc (Hons), CertZooMed, DipECZM (Avian), FANZCVS (Avian Medicine and Surgery)
Deborah runs an avian and exotic practice in Brisbane, Qld, having returned home to start the practice after obtaining her specialist qualifications in 2006. Her clinical interests include avian behaviour, all aspects of guinea pig medicine, and reptile welfare. She is the coeditor of two books, with a third to be published next year, and has contributed to the profession via work on many committees, research collaboration, presentation and publications. Her spare time is spent rowing, and being slave to her Pet Horde.
Jaime Samour
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026MVZ (Hons), PhD, DipECZM (Avian), FRSB
Jaime graduated with honours from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veracruz University, Mexico in 1978, where he became an Associate Professor after briefly working in private practice. In 1981, Jaime moved to London to work at the Institute of Zoology. After receiving his Doctorate degree in Avian Reproductive Biology, he moved to the Middle East to teach and consult on medicine and management of falcons, bustards and wildlife. In 2004, Jaime became recognized as a specialist in avian medicine, and was appointed as Professor of Raptor Medicine at Parma University and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology in London in 2018. For his outstanding contributions to zoological medicine, he received the BVZS-Parke-Davies-Upjohn award in 1998 and the T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year award in 2006.
Peter Sandmeier
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026Dr. med. Vet, DipECZM (Avian)
Peter Sandmeier graduated from Zürich university in Switzerland in 1988. He has been a diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine since 1999. He is owner and medical director of the small animal and avian practice in Baden-Dättwil, Switzerland.
Thomas N. Tully, Jr.
EAAV ICARE Scientific Committee 2026DVM, MS, Dipl. ABVP (Avian), DipECZM (Avian)
Dr. Thomas N. Tully, Jr. is a Professor of Zoological Medicine in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine where he also serves as Service Chief of the Zoological Medicine Service. Tom received his DVM degree in 1986 and MS degree (Epidemiology and Community Health) in 1991, and is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian) and European College of Zoological Medicine (Avian). Over the last 30 years, Tom has been active in organized veterinary medicine and amongst others co-edited six books on avian and exotic medicine, was Co-Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine (2005-2018) and currently serves as Scientific Editor for the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery.