Wildlife Veterinarian at PAWS Wildlife Center

Dr. Nicki Rosenhagen started her wildlife career as a rehabilitator with the PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood, Washington before attending the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She worked at the University’s Wildlife Medical Clinic throughout vet school and then spent an additional two years teaching at the clinic after graduating in 2015. Dr. Rosenhagen is now the full-time clinical veterinarian at PAWS, where she spends her time caring for injured and orphaned wildlife, training veterinary students and interns and traveling around the country to lecture and offer educational opportunities to other professionals in the field.

Seattle Aquarium Relief Veterinarian (and many, many more titles)

Brian Joseph graduated from San Diego State University with a BS in Zoology in December 1977, from the University of California, Davis with a DVM in June 1984, and completed his Master’s in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Florida in December 2020. He has been fortunate to work in in various positions in aquariums, museums, nature centers and zoos in the U.S. and Canada for nearly five decades in positions ranging from animal keeper, veterinarian, chief operating officer, and executive director. He most recently retired as State Veterinarian in Washington’s Department of Agriculture. He retired as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve Veterinary Corps, participating in missions over ten years in Afghanistan, Africa, Alaska, Central America, and the Middle East; focused on public health and disease control in cattle, chickens, pigs, sheep, goats, and horses, and provision of veterinary care for Military Working Dogs. Brian currently serves as Merlin Entertainment’s North American Lead Veterinarian, the Aquarium on the Boardwalk’s Consulting Veterinarian, the Dolphin Experience’s Consulting Veterinarian, the Seattle Aquarium’s Relief Veterinarian, is a LifeStock Int’l Board Member and is co-manager of the LifeStock Int’l farmer/veterinarian training initiative in Iraq, and Kurdistan.

Oregon Zoo Veterinarian 

Josie Rose, DVM DACZM, is a highly skilled veterinary professional with extensive experience in zoological medicine. Currently serving as an AZA Veterinary Advisor with the Gibbon Species Survival Plan since June 2023, Josie collaborates with veterinarians and husbandry experts in gibbon management. From March 2019, Josie has provided clinical veterinary services at Oregon Zoo and has been in a temporary full-time role since November 2021. Josie's experience also includes roles with the Wildlife Aquatic and Zoo Relief Network, Avian and Exotic Veterinary Care, and various internships at notable institutions like Indianapolis Zoological Society and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Josie earned a DVM from the University of California, Davis and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences from The Ohio State University. 

WSU College of Veterinary Medicine Professor Emeritus 

Dr. Tibary graduated with DVM from the Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassn II, Morocco. He earned an MS, and a PhD in Theriogenology from the University of Minnesota. He was certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists in 1991.

Dr Tibary worked as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Equine Theriogenology at the University of Minnesota from 1990-1992. He was the Scientific Director of the Veterinary Research Center in Abu Dhabi in the UAE where he helped develop a referral center for infertility and artificial breeding in horses and camels. In 1998, he joined the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State as the lead in Comparative Theriogenology service. Dr. Tibary is an Emeritus professor at WSU.

Dr. Tibary served as the veterinary consultant to the Royal stables, the National Stud Farms in Morocco and the Amiri stable in Abu Dhabi, and the National zoological park in Morocco. Dr. Tibary received several awards recognizing his excellence in teaching and clinical practice including the Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award (2001 and 2005), the faculty member award by the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association (2003), and the WSU Veterinary Continuing Education Award (2002). He was named the 2011 “Theriogenologist of the Year” by the American College of Theriogenologists. In 2019, He received the prestigious Bartlett Lifetime Achievement in theriogenology Award in 2019. Dr Tibary continues to collaborate on research programs and provide continuing education programs for veterinarians around the world. He is the author of over 80 peer-review scientific publications, 90 scientific abstracts, 8 books and over 150 book chapters on camelid, equine, and ruminant reproduction

Ed McLeary Distinguished Professor in Aquatic Animal Health

Thomas B. Waltzek studied marine biology at Florida State University and graduated with a BS in 1998. He then enrolled at the University of California, Davis, where he studied the functional anatomy and ecology of cichlid fishes and received an MS in 2002. Between 2002 and 2010, Thomas continued his studies in a dual DVM/PhD program at UC Davis focusing on fish health. He received a DVM in 2009 and finished his PhD dissertation on the evolution and ecology of viral diseases of aquatic vertebrates in 2010. In 2011, he joined the University of Florida as a postdoctoral research associate to begin the surveillance and characterization of emerging aquatic animal pathogens. He accepted the position of assistant professor in the UF College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. In 2018, he earned the rank of associate professor at UF. His research at UF focused on emerging pathogens impacting both aquatic wildlife and aquatic animal industries. In 2021, he joined the USDA aquaculture trade staff in support of the National Aquaculture Health Plan and Standards.

In the summer of 2023, Thomas joined the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University as an associate professor. Dr. Waltzek serves as the Ed McLeary Distinguished Professor in Aquatic Animal Health. In his spare time, Tom enjoys spending time with his two daughters and wife traveling, scuba diving and exploring this underwater world through photography.

Director of Animal Health at the Alaska SeaLife Center

Dr. Goertz was born in Washington DC and grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland. At Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, she received an Air Force ROTC scholarship and obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering. She was in the Air Force for seven years and obtained a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Dayton, Ohio. After leaving the Air Force she decided to pursue veterinary school. While picking up required prerequisites and a second bachelor degree in Biology at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, she volunteered at a local zoo and worked part time for the Wildlife Clinic at Tufts Veterinary School. She then attended veterinary school at Washington State University while also pursuing external aquatic animal experiences, attending AquaVet at Wood’s Hole and doing an externship at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. After graduation, she did a two year aquatic animal internship at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. At the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine she helped start a new stranding center for marine mammals and, later at the University of Southern Maine, developed marine mammal cell cultures and investigated the effects of heavy metals on those cells. Wanting to return to spending more time working with whole animals and not just their cells, Dr. Goertz crossed the country once again to accept a job at the Alaska SeaLife Centfrrrrrrrrrrrer. As the Staff Veterinarian she now assists with the preventative medicine program, research projects, and clinical care for birds, fish, and marine mammals including both captive and stranded animals.

Senior Veterinarian at Gladys Porter Zoo

Dr. deMaar has been a wildlife and zoo veterinarian for 30 years embracing the practice of ecosystem health across multiple species. During his career he worked with several zoos in the United States; operated a wildlife conservation medicine practice in Kenya for 8 years; cared for domestic livestock in Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Uganda, and the USA; consulted for federal and state wildlife agencies; taught at Tufts University, the University of Nairobi, and the University of Texas; and mentored students from numerous countries ranging from high school to graduate school. Along the way Dr. deMaar has rehabilitated thousands of mammals, birds, and reptiles in many settings.  He is currently the attending veterinarian for Sea Turtle Inc. on South Padre Island, Texas. 

Aquatic Veterinarian for Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife 

Dr. LeClair graduated from WSU in 2025 and was an integral part of ZEW and Aquatics clubs during his veterinary student career. Having been on the other side of ZEW Symposium planning, he has decided to return as a speaker. He now works as an Aquatics Veterinarian for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in Spokane. 

Associate Veterinarian for Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium 

Dr. Soehnlein earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine.

After receiving her DVM, she completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery in Tampa, Florida followed by a yearlong internship in zoological medicine at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. During her time at the Zoo, she also spent time working with the veterinary team at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. She fell in love with the staff, the collection, and the Pacific Northwest. She is grateful to have joined the team after her internship as an associate veterinarian for both Point Defiance Zoo and Northwest Trek.

Dr. Soehnlein is originally from Florida, but has gladly exchanged palm trees and sunshine for mountains and rain. She loves spending time outside including hiking, kayaking, or longboarding. She has her own little zoo at home with two dogs, three cats and two red-footed tortoises.

WSU CVM Associate Professor Pathologist 

Dr. Taylor oversees the Master of Veterinary Anatomic Pathology program and training in Anatomic Pathology Residency at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL). As a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, he holds a joint appointment as faculty in the College of Veterinary Medicine and as Pathologist in WADDL. In his faculty role, Dr. Taylor teaches in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum and collaborates with universities, state wildlife agencies, and tribes in research concerning wildlife disease, such as hoof disease in elk, elaeophorosis in moose, and toxoplasmosis in bighorn sheep. As part of his role as a Pathologist, he performs diagnostic and investigational pathology for a wide variety of domestic and wildlife species with special interests in wild ungulates (Cervidae and Caprinae in particular) and carnivores. Diagnostic work by Dr. Taylor has led to the documentation of the first cases of deer ocular plague in Idaho and deerpox in Washington, among others. 

Exotics Veterinarian at One Love Animal Hospital and Emergency Pet Care

Dr. Balderrama is an exotics veterinarian that splits his time at One Love Animal Hospital and Emergency Pet Care (Post Falls, ID). Dr. Balderrama graduated with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. He has a passion for providing medical care for exotic companion animals with a particular love for reptiles and amphibians. Along with practicing medicine, Dr. Balderrama has a passion for education! He has a YouTube channel where he creates educational videos about exotic animal health and husbandry. He also has a mini zoo of lots of creepy crawlies, including snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, amphibians and insects! He performs reptile shows to schools, libraries, and to private birthday parties.

Board-Certified Specialist from the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine 

Dr. Ernesto is Board-Certified Specialist from the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine that provides medical care to all types of pets including exotic pets (small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates) in the Richmond area.Dr. Ernesto Dominguez grew up in Mexico City. Dr. Ernesto studied medicine for two years but left to pursue his real passion: veterinary medicine. He graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. After getting his degree, he completed multiplepostgraduate training programs in hospitals, wildlife centers, and zoos around the world. In 2016 he completed an internship in Raptor Medicine and Surgery at the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota. He was the Hospital Director at The Wildlife Center of Virginia until 2020. For the last five years he has focused on providing excellent medical and surgical care to dogs, cats, and exotic pets in Richmond, VA. Dr. Ernesto has multiple scientific publications and book chapters in his curriculum. He is active in several veterinary associations like the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV), Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV), the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV), and the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians. Dr. Ernesto strives to give the best care for dogs, cats and exotic pets, offering a gold standard of care. 

2026 AAZV President and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Julie Swenson was born and raised in Roanoke Virginia, and went to undergrad and veterinary school at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.  While in vet school she was given the opportunity to travel several times to Africa for free range wildlife work.  After graduation, she did a small animal rotating internship just outside DC followed by a one-year temporary faculty position at Virginia Tech in Laboratory Animal Medicine.  Julie did a Zoological Medicine Internship at Kansas State University.  Following her internship, she was offered a job as a staff veterinarian at the Phoenix Zoo, where she stayed for the next 6 years.  From there she spent a short period at the Dallas World Aquarium before settling in to her current position as an Associate Veterinarian at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas where she spends most days working with large exotic ungulates maintained in large semi-free-ranging herds and an extensive exotic felid/canid breeding program.  Her husband and her have a small 12 acre farm just outside town where they are in the process of growing their own dairy goat herd.

Dr. Swenson served as the Secretary for the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians in 2021 and will serve as the President of the national organization in 2026.