I am a wildlife disease ecologist interested in the health of wildlife populations and associations with human and domestic animal activities and diseases. Most broadly, I focus on conserving free-ranging species for current and future generations use and enjoyment. This involves a multi-disciplinary approach involving risk analysis, field studies, human dimensions, and laboratory experiments.
Since 2011, I have worked with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on the cooperative New York State Wildlife Health Program. Prior to relocating to New York, I served as a field epidemiologist with the U.S. Geological Survey – National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, investigating wildlife mortality events and training biologists in wildlife health around the country.
My current projects are diverse in scope and species. My research projects range from moose to bald eagles and many species in between. Working across jurisdictions and systems to streamline efforts related to data collection and analysis is critical to move wildlife health forward with new databases and tools. I am dedicated to assessing risks on the landscape to promote sustainable wildlife populations.
I am involved in a number of efforts around chronic wasting disease, most notably the Surveillance Optimization Project for Chronic Wasting Disease (SOP4CWD.org), and have testified before Congress on the threat that CWD poses to our native North American wildlife.
I also have collaborations with agencies and universities outside of New York, and I'm willing to consult on interesting projects, including diagnostic testing, test development, statistical analysis, and field studies. Some of the themes I’m interested in exploring are the public trust responsibilities of agencies in addressing wildlife health as part of their mandate to protect both present and future resources.
I enjoy educating students, wildlife professionals, and the public about wildlife health and understanding the contributing factors to disease outbreaks.
In general, I think wildlife health needs to move from an attitude of helplessness or apathy to a precautionary principle (prevent introduction of new pathogens that may represent a risk for wildlife without delaying action until scientific consensus is available) that involves all affected parties and examines a suite of options for risk mitigation.
