Gretchen Kaufman, DVM
Assistant Professor, Wildlife and International Veterinary Medicine; Director TuftsCCM
Gretchen Kaufman, a graduate of Tufts Veterinary School, has been on the faculty since 1989. She is currently the Director of Tufts Center for Conservation Medicine and is responsible for much of the academic program in zoo and wildlife medicine. Over the years, she has worked in both the exotic companion animal service in the main hospital and the Wildlife Clinic and can still occasionally be seen in the hospital backing up the regular clinical staff. She is also chair of the Greening the Grafton Campus Committee which tries to promote more environmentally friendly practices on the campus. Dr. Kaufman enjoys international travel both for pleasure and work. She is currently involved in wildlife research in Nepal. Faculty Profile

Mark Pokras, DVM
Associate Professor, Wildlife Clinic
Mark Pokras is one of the old timers at the Clinic, having been a veterinary student at tufts from 1980-84, a resident in zoo and wildlife medicine (under Dr. Charles Sedgwick, the Clinic's first director) from 1985-87, a faculty member since 1988, and Clinic Director from 1995 - 2008. Mark is also one of the founders of Tufts TCCM. Mark grew up in New York, New Jersey, New England, Mexico and Venezuela, and did his undergraduate work at Cornell University. Next he (and wife Martha) worked in marine biological research from 1971-1974, and then taught ornithology and marine biology at Stockton State College in New Jersey until Mark entered TCSVM. He regularly consults for a variety of private, state and federal wildlife and environmental agencies on issues of environmental health and policy. Mark's professional interests include working with students, medicine and surgery of native wildlife (especially birds and reptiles), aquatic birds and environmental health, allometric scaling and conservation biology. He has been doing mortatilty research on loons since 1987 and is widely recognized for his work on lead poisoning. Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, a variety of outdoor activities, and playing music. Faculty Profile

Flo Tseng, DVM
Director, Wildlife Clinic; Assistant Professor
As Director of the Wildlife Clinic, Flo Tseng oversees Clinic operations and instructs students during their rotations at the Clinic. Before joining the Clinic in 2000, she received her D.V.M. from Cornell University in 1981, worked in small animal and exotic private practice and then completed an internship in wildlife medicine at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. After her internship, she was the Director of Veterinary Services at a large rehabilitation center near Seattle until 1996.  At that time she became the Research Director and Staff Veterinarian for International Bird Rescue Research Center in Berkeley, California. IBRRC is internationally renowned for their expertise in treating wildlife suffering from the effects of oil spills.  Flo’s expertise lies in seabird rehabilitation and the effects of petroleum on these species. She is one of the principal investigators of Tufts CCM's Seabird Initiative, which has established SEANET, a regional seabird population and mortality monitoring program. In addition, she has interests in the use of analgesics in wildlife species and the ecological factors contributing to wildlife morbidity and mortality.  When she is not running around after students and wild animals, she is kept very busy by her daughter, Rosie! Faculty Profile

Maureen Murray, DVM
Staff Veterinarian, Clinical Assistant Professor
Maureen Murray is a 2003 graduate of Tufts Veterinary School. She is currently doing research on rodenticide poisoning in birds of prey at the Clinic. She also has a strong interest in turtle medicine and conservation and avian orthopedics. Faculty Profile

Carolyn Corsiglia
Wildlife Clinic Coordinator
Carolyn has been with the Clinic since its beginnings in 1983. She has a degree in Natural Science from Worcester State College. She has worn many different "hats" in her career with Tufts but her main job now is insuring the smooth operation of the Clinic in her capacity as Wildlife Clinic Coordinator. She is especially fond of opossums, and has been raising babies for almost 20 years. She is an avid gardener and bird watcher, loves to travel and loves interacting with her 9 grandchildren. email Carolyn

Karen Donahue, CVT
Wildlife Technician
Karen began as an intern for the clinic during her senior year at Mount Ida College in 2004. This internship turned into a career at the clinic as a wildlife technician. She graduated from Mount Ida College where she obtained a bachelor degree in animal science. Along with being a certified veterinary technician, Karen has been a registered pharmacist in Massachusetts since 1981. Animals have always been her passion and were the primary motive behind her career change. Her hobbies include silversmithing, traveling, spending time with her family, and taking care of her menagerie of pets. email Karen

Paula McCarthy
Wildlife Technician
Paula McCarthy has been at the Clinic since 2004, first as a volunteer and then as a veterinary technician. She received her BS degree from the University of Minnesota in 1982 and obtained an associates degree in veterinary technology from the Medical Institute of Minnesota in 1985. She has a special interest in birds, especially raptors, and is fond of turtles. When not at the Clinic, Paula assists with the management of her husband´s surgery practice, Veterinary Surgery of Central MA, acts as a part-time taxi driver for her 14 year old daughter Sara, keeps her 17-year old son Nick in line, and spends as much time playing tennis as possible.

Robin Shearer
Wildlife Program Assistant
Robin is the voice of the Wildlife Clinic. She arrived in October of 1998 and has become an invaluable member of our team. Robin is the first person you see upon entering the building and the voice you hear at the other end of the phone when you call the Clinic. She solves all sorts of animal problems for the many callers we hear from daily. Before accepting the Wildlife position, Robin worked as an anesthesia technician, but wanted new challenges and saner hours so she could spend more time with family, two and four footed. We couldn't function without her! email Robin

Ian Ashpole, BVSc, MRCVS
Wildlife Intern
Ian Ashpole is serving as the Wildlife Clinic intern from July 2009 through June 2010. He graduated from The University in Liverpool, England, in 2008 and has a passion for zoo animal and wildlife work. To this end he has gained experience working at a number of zoos and wildlife parks in the UK, Taronga Zoo in Syndney and Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa. Ian's particular interests include reptiles in general, avain orthopaedics and Australian mammals. email Ian

Percy
Eastern Screech Owl, Resident patient and Clinic mascot
Percy arrived at the Clinic in 2003 as a juvenile with a severely injured eye.  Unfortunately Percy lost his vision in his injured eye. Also, because Percy arrived at the clinic so young, he has never learned to hunt.  Percy cannot be released or kept as a pet, so he has become a permanent member of the clinic helping teach veterinary students and acting as the Clinic mascot.  He enjoys perching on shoulders and heads, crickets and quiet times in the Clinic with his friends.

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