I think helping endangered species is one of the most important contributions we can make to the world, and I'm so fortunate to have the opportunity to work on black-footed ferret recovery. I have practiced medicine and conducted research in zoos, conservation centers, and in the field for over 25 years, working for the National Zoo, North Carolina Zoo, the Wilds, the Columbus Zoo and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and teaching at North Carolina State University and Ohio State University’s Colleges of Veterinary Medicine prior to my appointment at CSU. I received my BS in molecular genetics from the University of Calilfornia, Davis and my DVM and PhD in reproductive physiology from Texas A&M University. I have over 150 scientific articles, proceedings and book chapters in zoological medicine and reproduction, and have participated in species conservation and assisted reproduction projects in Thailand, Laos, Ecuador, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, China, and here at home in the US. I've been working with black-footed ferrets since 1994, and am currently also studying the impact of the gastrointestinal microbiome on immunity to plague in this incredible species.