The Zoo and Wildlife Society (ZAWS) on the Cornell College School of Veterinary Medication is so excited to welcome Dr. Matt Marinkovich because the keynote speaker for the 17^th biannual Particular Species Symposium, the aim for which is to foster college students’ academic expertise associated to non-traditional species by way of a sequence of lectures and hands-on labs led by consultants within the fields of wildlife, exotics, zoo, and conservation medication. Dr. Marinkovich obtained his veterinary diploma from Cornell College School of Veterinary Medication in 2014, and as soon as held a place on the ZAWS E-board planning the very same symposium the place he’ll now give his keynote deal with, “From LH2 to the San Diego Zoo: Classes from a Journey into Zoo Medication.”

One of many many features Dr. Marinkovich valued about his schooling at Cornell College was the depth and breadth. He acknowledged some college students’ need to specialize and slender their schooling to non-traditional species however confirmed that a lot extra can come from a various schooling. The truth is, Dr. Marinkovich confessed that he nonetheless regularly integrates data that he gained throughout his fourth-year giant animal inside medication rotation into his therapy plans on the San Diego Zoo. “A various schooling not solely presents ample alternatives to realize good doctoring abilities, but it surely permits one the chance to fall in love with a area of examine that maybe was by no means thought of previous to vet college.” Afterall, in zoological medication, he states, “all the pieces is relevant.”

Preserving an open thoughts has all the time been vital to Dr. Marinkovich as a result of, “chances are you’ll grow to be enamored by one thing you by no means knew you’ll.” The truth is, Dr. Marinkovich was a pure historical past main in undergrad, and it was not till he obtained a job as a veterinary assistant that he fell in love with medication. When requested about what motivated him to pursue a profession in veterinary medication, Dr. Marinkovich remembered being blown away by all of the problem-solving veterinarians get to do every day. He additionally latched onto the concept that veterinary medication wouldn’t solely allow him to assist animals, however the individuals who work together with them as effectively. From learning zoonotic illness, to counseling homeowners by way of a scientific case, Dr. Marinkovich loved how a lot veterinary medication would permit him to assist human and animal welfare.

Though Dr. Marinkovich stored his choices open all through vet college, he all the time had a particular curiosity for non-domestic species. He particularly had a ardour for wildlife and conservation and following a possibility to spend a summer season with a pathologist at SeaWorld, he knew that zoological medication was the profession for him. The extra publicity to unique species that Dr. Marinkovich bought, the extra he realized he loved the problem of developing with inventive options to handle their well being. Dr. Marinkovich additionally admired zoological medication as a scholar as a result of he acknowledged that it could provide an opportunity to stimulate a ardour for conservation amongst his neighborhood whereas nonetheless managing continual illness, in addition to high-pace, high-intensity scientific circumstances.

Whereas Dr. Marinkovich ultimately obtained his dream job working as a Scientific Veterinarian on the San Diego Zoo, a spot the place his grandparents took him since he may stroll, he desires to be clear that his highway to success was not a straight shot. He didn’t match with a zoo residency the primary time he utilized, which he acknowledged as a part of his triumph. As an alternative of turning into discouraged, Dr. Marinkovich seen this as a possibility, one which he took to finish two internships on the Animal Medical Heart, the world’s largest non-profit animal hospital. By means of his rotating small animal internship, Dr. Marinkovich gained scientific expertise and consumer communication abilities that he nonetheless makes use of immediately. Nevertheless, it was not till his second internship in emergency and demanding care medication that Dr. Marinkovich was pushed out of his consolation zone, the place he admittedly realized and grew essentially the most, and gained confidence in himself as a veterinarian. By means of this high-pressure expertise, together with his toes to the fireplace, Dr. Marinkovich realized that he had what it could take to be a zoological veterinarian.

Excitingly, and with persistence, Dr. Marinkovich matched with the UC Davis San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Sea World Zoo Residency, an intense 3-year program providing scientific competency in unique, zoo, aquatic, and wildlife medication. Throughout his first 12 months, he spent a variety of time on the Sacramento Zoo and the Marine Mammal Heart the place he bought to review lactate clearance in stranded pinnipeds. His second 12 months was spent with a number of the 12,000 uncommon and endangered species dwelling inside the 100-acre wildlife park on the San Diego Zoo, in addition to the big range of aquatic animals cared for by SeaWorld. Throughout his third and remaining 12 months, he used his cultivated data to offer modern, state-of-the-art take care of the magnificent animals on the San Diego Safari Park, together with elephants, rhinos, and cheetahs.

After finishing his residency, Dr. Marinkovich was happy to remain on the San Diego Zoo working as a aid veterinarian. Then, a lot to his delight, he was provided a full-time place on the San Diego Zoo, the place he expects to remain for all times. Some might surprise how somebody could possibly be so keen to remain in the identical work surroundings for therefore lengthy, however no day is ever the identical for Dr. Marinkovich on the San Diego Zoo. There are nonetheless occasions when he’s introduced with a brand new drawback or a brand new species, providing a possibility to study one thing new daily. The fixed mental stimulation provided by the San Diego Zoo is complemented by the wonderful staff of veterinarians who work there. When requested what he most enjoys about his job, Dr. Marinkovich talked about the inspiring group of veterinary professionals that he will get to work with daily who assist each other’s development and wellbeing. Moreover, he appreciates how interdisciplinary and collaborative the efforts of the San Diego Zoo are, recalling a time when the veterinary staff labored intently with human medical doctors to resolve an advanced renal abscess on an older beloved orangutan.

One other side of the San Diego Zoo that Dr. Marinkovich significantly appreciates is the myriad alternatives to become involved with conservation initiatives. He has been everywhere in the world, investing time and vitality in direction of making it a extra sustainable place to reside, for each people and animals. The San Diego Zoo has 8 completely different conservation hubs situated all through the world that share duties corresponding to illness investigation, biodiversity banking, and restoration ecology. In an uplifting effort by way of a captive breeding and launch program designed by the San Diego Zoo, Dr. Marinkovich and his staff are serving to save the San Clemente loggerhead shrike, an endangered passerine chicken. Dr. Marinkovich tells readers to remain tuned for extra thrilling conservation tales provided throughout his keynote deal with on the Particular Species Symposium!

Dr. Marinkovich is thrilled to return again to Cornell College and appears ahead to seeing the way it has modified since graduating in 2014. He’s actually trying ahead to reconnecting together with his vet college mentors, specifically Dr. Noha Abou-Madi and Dr. Karen Kerns, who each play such an vital function within the lives of scholars all for pursuing zoological medication. However, maybe most notably, Dr. Marinkovich is raring to work together with vet college students who share his drive to make a distinction on the planet by way of the lens of veterinary medication. It was not that way back that Dr. Marinkovich was an aspiring zoo vet like many people, so he acknowledges the stress and onerous work that goes into actualizing that dream. By means of his lecture, he hopes to convey pleasure, ambition, and peace of thoughts, being an enormous proponent for psychological well being in veterinary medication. I felt so impressed by Dr. Marinkovich in simply the brief whereas I bought to spend interviewing him for the WildLIFE Weblog, an interplay I take into account myself fortunate to have had. You’ll want to register for the 17^th biannual Particular Species Symposium with the intention to relish in his journey in direction of turning into a Scientific Veterinarian on the San Diego Zoo, a narrative that can fill you with admiration, motivation, and awe.

Maison Scheuer is the 2022-2023 WildLIFE Weblog Editor and a proud member of Cornell ZAWS. Her passions lie on the intersection of veterinary medication 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 medication. Although significantly all for One Well being and international medicine, she has additionally found a love for small animal medication by way of her expertise working as a veterinary technician at a full-service exotics and small animal personal observe.