Page 13 - Outlook - Volume 17 Issue 3
P. 13
Buttonwood Park Zoo, founded in 1894, is relatively
small. Dr. Greene is responsible for the care of all the 250
animals, most of them North American species, housed
within its seven-acre campus. The zoo is located in a
100-acre park.
“One of the great things about the job is I can get backup
support whenever needed,” Dr. Greene said. “I have
worked with veterinary eye specialists in the area on our
seals and blind fox. The director brought in a dental
specialist for Ursula and flew in Dr. Susan Mikota – an
elephant legend -- to help with Ruth.”
Dr. Mikota had acted as a consultant and program
evaluator for the Zoo in the past, zoo director Lovett
said.
“Dr. Greene is a very young vet, but she has a mature
approach and knows her strengths and weaknesses,”
Lovett said. “She knew she would benefit working with
a seasoned, more experienced vet.”
“Getting to work with Dr. Mikota was amazing,”
Dr. Greene said. “She has so many incredible stories
and is a great mentor. I’m currently working on three
separate papers with her about elephants we are hoping
to publish and present at future American Association of
Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) conferences.”
Dr. Greene grew up on a farm in northern New
Hampshire with chickens, cattle, donkeys, dogs “and a
blind pony we rescued,” she said. “We never ate any of
the animals. My dad just loved all of them.”
She grew up visiting Buttonwood Park Zoo and during a summer internship at
Walt Disney World, she decided to be a veterinarian. She enrolled at CVM
because of the problem-based learning approach and the ability of fourth-year
students to set their own curriculum.
“I was able to do a lot of zoo, aquatic, and wildlife work,” she said. “No other
vet school can give you that freedom.”
In addition to her preceptor rotations, Dr. Greene did an internship at the
Buttonwood Park Zoo in 2013. When the staff vet left for another job, her
husband, Josh Huntsman, urged her to apply for the vacancy.
“I never thought it would be possible to get a job straight out of school without
having done a residency, but I am very glad he pushed me to apply,” she said.
“This is a very tough job to get right out of veterinary school, but there are
various reasons we chose her,” Lovett said. “We thought her positive
personality was a very good fit, and she has tons and tons of energy.
“She also had a lot more practical experience than most young vets. We were
very impressed with her skills set and with the well-grounded approach of the
program she came out of at WesternU.”
Dr. Greene’s practice may soon grow. Lovett said the zoo has a $25 million, 15-year
expansion plan that will greatly increase the zoo’s population of animals from around the
world.
“This job is a dream come true,” Dr. Greene said.
Veterinary Outlook 11
small. Dr. Greene is responsible for the care of all the 250
animals, most of them North American species, housed
within its seven-acre campus. The zoo is located in a
100-acre park.
“One of the great things about the job is I can get backup
support whenever needed,” Dr. Greene said. “I have
worked with veterinary eye specialists in the area on our
seals and blind fox. The director brought in a dental
specialist for Ursula and flew in Dr. Susan Mikota – an
elephant legend -- to help with Ruth.”
Dr. Mikota had acted as a consultant and program
evaluator for the Zoo in the past, zoo director Lovett
said.
“Dr. Greene is a very young vet, but she has a mature
approach and knows her strengths and weaknesses,”
Lovett said. “She knew she would benefit working with
a seasoned, more experienced vet.”
“Getting to work with Dr. Mikota was amazing,”
Dr. Greene said. “She has so many incredible stories
and is a great mentor. I’m currently working on three
separate papers with her about elephants we are hoping
to publish and present at future American Association of
Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) conferences.”
Dr. Greene grew up on a farm in northern New
Hampshire with chickens, cattle, donkeys, dogs “and a
blind pony we rescued,” she said. “We never ate any of
the animals. My dad just loved all of them.”
She grew up visiting Buttonwood Park Zoo and during a summer internship at
Walt Disney World, she decided to be a veterinarian. She enrolled at CVM
because of the problem-based learning approach and the ability of fourth-year
students to set their own curriculum.
“I was able to do a lot of zoo, aquatic, and wildlife work,” she said. “No other
vet school can give you that freedom.”
In addition to her preceptor rotations, Dr. Greene did an internship at the
Buttonwood Park Zoo in 2013. When the staff vet left for another job, her
husband, Josh Huntsman, urged her to apply for the vacancy.
“I never thought it would be possible to get a job straight out of school without
having done a residency, but I am very glad he pushed me to apply,” she said.
“This is a very tough job to get right out of veterinary school, but there are
various reasons we chose her,” Lovett said. “We thought her positive
personality was a very good fit, and she has tons and tons of energy.
“She also had a lot more practical experience than most young vets. We were
very impressed with her skills set and with the well-grounded approach of the
program she came out of at WesternU.”
Dr. Greene’s practice may soon grow. Lovett said the zoo has a $25 million, 15-year
expansion plan that will greatly increase the zoo’s population of animals from around the
world.
“This job is a dream come true,” Dr. Greene said.
Veterinary Outlook 11
