Symposium 2012 Speakers

Randy Atkinson
(Rehabilitation of Eastern Cottontails, Rehabilitation of Opossums)
Randy has kept domestic rabbits for thirty years and started rescuing them in 2000.  He began wildlife rehabilitation in 2004, and he specializes in small mammals, especially the critical patients and those with special needs.

Daron Barnes
(Wildlife Rehabilitation - Permits & Laws, Introduction to Fawn Rehabilitation)
Daron graduated from NC State University in 1996 with a Bachelor's degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences. He has been an employee of the Commission for eight years, and is currently the Permits and Planning Supervisor, responsible for controlled hunting preserves, damage control agents, special hunt opportunities, captive cervid facilities, fawn rehab, and special permits.

Dr. Javier Benito
(Keynote address at banquet - Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers in Spain: a Gate from Europe to Africa,
Raptor Rehabilitation Projects in Spain)
Javier Benito is a native of Madrid, Spain. After graduating from the veterinary program at Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) in 2004, he worked in the Dept. of Animal Medicine and Surgery-UCM for five years, directly involved in clinical and research studies including wildlife species. He earned a Master’s degree in Laboratory Animal Science and Animal Welfare and he completed his European College of Laboratory Animal (ECLAM) residency program from Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) in 2009. He is currently working at the Comparative Pain Research Laboratory at the CVM-NCSU. Javier became passionate about wildlife rehabilitation medicine after working for four years with GREFA (Native Fauna and its Habitat Rehabilitation Group), one of the biggest wildlife rehabilitation centers in Spain. He is presently collaborating with Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers on several different clinical projects involving anesthesia and pain management in raptors.

Linda Bergman-Althouse
(When Rocky's Down for the Count - Squirrel Ailments, Hazards of Rehabilitation)
L inda Bergman-Althouse is a certified wildlife rehabilitator who has served the down east coastal communities of North Carolina and the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter for fifteen years working clinic in rehabilitation, mentoring new volunteers and facilitating tour groups. Linda is a board member and President of Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina, Inc. In addition, she serves the WRNC general membership on the Cage Grant, Chimney Swift Tower Grant, Emergency Disaster Fund, Newsletter, Website and Board Nominating committees. Proactively concerned with loss of wildlife habitat due to progressive development throughout the United States, Linda continually rallies support for the protection and stewardship of America's extraordinary natural resources by guest speaking at events held by civic or environmentally conscience organizations. She grew up in rural Macon County Illinois with lots of chickens and is an author, Eastern Illinois University Alumna, a retired U.S. Marine, College Psychology Instructor, Industry Training Employee Development Specialist and a staunch advocate for animal rights and conservation. She resides in Onslow County, North Carolina with her husband, John, and five (indoor only) cats; Cybill, Kitty, Pearl, Seven and Frizbee.

Halley D Buckanoff, BS, CVT, CWR
(Ethical Considerations in Wildlife Rehabilitation, Non Releasables Kept for Education, Record Keeping for Wildlife Rehabilitation)
Employed at the North Carolina Zoo at the helm of the Valerie H Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center overseeing rehabilitation practices, center operations, and mentoring of more than 150 volunteers and interns; Halley is a graduate of Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, she is also a Certified Veterinary Technician with 10+ years of emergency, exotic, zoo and wildlife medicine and husbandry experience, in addition to becoming a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator through the International Wildlife Rehabilitator’s Council.  Halley is a board member for WRNC. She has completed graduate level course work in animal population management and animal nutrition.  Her experiences include work as a field biologist mist-netting, trapping, banding, tracking and radio-collaring birds; currently she holds a USFW banding permit and is conducting post-release survival studies on common rehabilitated backyard birds in conjunction with Guilford College. 
Halley believes that the wildlife rehabilitation community are entrusted professionals and as such stewards for wildlife and wild places, relied upon to stay up-to-date on practices and provide conservation education.

Dr. Alicia Cawlfield
(Triage Considerations When a Natural Disaster Hits, Mammal Bandaging / Splinting Lab)
Dr. Alicia Cawlfield completed an internship and a fellowship at Piedmont Wildlife Center and served as a volunteer for 2 years prior to veterinary school. While earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University, she was an active member of the turtle rescue team and served as the veterinary student liaison to the Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina. Upon graduation in 2009, she joined the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, in which she serves as a Captain.

Jean Chamberlain
(Enrichment: Every Animal Deserves a Toy, Rehab Math, Avian Vision - What do Birds See?)
Jean and her husband have been rehabilitators for 20 years, rehabilitating raptors for more than 15 years. She is particularly interested in avian behavior.
She presents many wildlife education programs each year. She is also involved in wildlife rehabilitation training. She helps organize and teach the wildlife rehabilitation course at her local community college. She designed and teaches WRNC's Refresher and Basic Courses and organizes the symposium each year.
Jean is past president for WRNC, is on WRNC's Board and is the web administrator for WRNC and IWRC. She created Raptor ID on IWRC's website and is on the Curriculum Development Committee for IWRC's online courses.
Jean has an undergraduate degree in mathematics and completed 2 years of post graduate work in human information processing (learning and perception). She taught high school mathematics for several years and is now retired after a 20 year career in Information Technology.

Emily Christiansen, DVM, MPH
(Mammal Necropsy Lab)
Emily Christiansen received her DVM degree along with a Masters in Public Health from Tuft University in 2008. This was followed by a 1-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery, then a wildlife medicine internship at Tufts Wildlife Clinic. She joined NCSU as a Zoological Medicine Resident with an aquatics focus in July 2011. Prior to veterinary school, Emily worked at several wildlife rehab facilities in Maryland and Florida, and has always had a special interest in rehabilitation of stranded marine mammals and sea turtles.

Laura Ellsaesser
(Sub-Q Fluids Lab)
Laura Ellsaesser is a third year vet student at NCSU and the Avian Representative of WAAZM (the Wildlife, Avian, Aquatic and Zoological Medicine Club). She has two Bachelor of Science degrees in Wildlife Sciences and Zoloogy from Auburn University, where she was also a very active volunteer at the Southeastern Raptor Center. After graduation she plans on pursuing a career in avian and exotic animal medicine while maintaining a close tie to her wildlife background.

Dr. Elsburgh (Tres) Clarke
(Turtle Shell Repair Lab)
Tres Clarke has a Bachelor of Science degree in Small Animal Science from Delaware Valley College Doylestown, Pa and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine St. Kitts, West Indies. He performed his clinical year of study at the University of Tennessee School of Veterinary Medicine. He is the Zoological/ Aquatic Medicine Resident at North Carolina State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
During his undergraduate years he worked at the Philadelphia Zoo for 4 years as an animal presenter/keeper. After graduation from Veterinary school, he was employed as one of the veterinarians at the Virginia Beach Aquarium
and Gloucester Veterinary Hospital, working with a large varied of exotic and domestic species, ranging from seals to cobras.
He has a very strong interest and alot of experience in reptile and marine fish husbandry and medicine. He has also had the great experience to travel for extended periods of time to South Africa and Australia to work with their country's diverse exotic animals.

Nicki Dardinger
(Professionalism in Wildlife Education, Raptor Natural History, Non Releasables Kept for Education)
Nicki received her undergraduate degree in Animal Science from Cornell University where she focused on wildlife and exotics.  While at Cornell, she participated as a volunteer at the Cornell Raptor Program where she first experienced working with captive raptors.  As a graduate student, she served as the Education Director for the Cornell Raptor Program where she taught undergraduate students how to handle captive raptors, and managed the education programs at the center.  In 2006, Nicki moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and joined the team at Carolina Raptor Center as Director of Education.  She led a team of seven educators that presented over 600 education programs annually to over 50,000 people.  As the Director of Education, Nicki developed a consulting program, and traveled nationally to assist nature centers and wildlife rehabilitators incorporate best practices in raptor husbandry and training into their management program. Currently, Nicki works in the office of Government Relations and Grants at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte where she works with a team that manages the college’s federal, state, and private foundation grants.  She also serves on the Board of Directors for Hounds4Heroes, a Charlotte-based non-profit that works to place companion animals from shelters and rescue organizations with military veterans who suffer from mental health issues relating to combat experiences.  She volunteers with the North Carolina Zoo’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and assist with their permanent resident raptors, and serves on the board and the Symposium Committee for the WRNC. 

Laurel Degernes, DVM, MPH, Diplomate ABVP
(Ethical Considerations in Wildlife Rehabilitation)
Dr. Degernes graduated from University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, and worked in private practice for four years. She then did an internship in Raptor Medicine and Surgery and worked another four years as staff veterinarian at The Raptor Center, at the University of Minnesota. Wanting to expand her expertise in avian medicine, she came to NC State University and completed a two year residency in Companion Avian Medicine. She is currently an Associate Professor of Avian Medicine at NC State University, and is board certified in avian practice through the American board of Veterinary Practitioners. She has been specializing in avian medicine for over 26 years, and has special interests with raptors and waterfowl species. Dr. Degernes is a current board member of WRNC.

James R. Flowers, Ph.D.
(Wildlife Parasitology Lab)
Dr. Flowers graduated with a Ph. D. in Parasitology from the Zoology Department of North Carolina State University in 1994. He has been a member of the Parasitology Group at the College of Veterinary Medicine since 1997. His main research and interest is in Wildlife Helminth Parasites, their identification, distribution, taxonomy, evolution and ecology.

Tim Gaffrey
(Mammal Physical Exam Lab)
Tim Gaffrey is a third year vet student and the president of WAAZM (the Wildlife, Avian, Aquatic, and Zoological Medicine Club).  He is originally from California and earned his bachelor's degree in forestry and natural resources management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.  After graduation, Tim plans on working in private practice with both domestic and exotic small animals.

Dr. Vanessa Grunkemeyer
(Avian and Reptile Radiology, Soft Tissue Wound Management in Wildlife)
Dr. Vanessa Grunkemeyer graduated with distinction from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. She completed a small animal rotating internship and an avian and exotic animal residency at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Grunkemeyer is a board-certified avian specialist whose primary clinical interests include wound management and captive waterfowl medicine. She is currently a research associate in the Avian Research Laboratory at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Elizabeth Hanrahan
(Renesting, Natural History & Rehabilitation of Killdeer, Fishing for Wildlife)
Elizabeth Hanrahan began working in wildlife rehabilitation in 1985 while serving as Executive Director of the Hall County, Georgia, Humane Society. She received her initial training from veterinarians and has taken classes through IWRC, NWRA, Carolina Raptor Center and the Wildlife Center of Virginia. In addition she frequently presents papers, workshops and classes and has published for NWRA, IWRC, and WRNC and teaches at three campuses of College of the Albemarle.  Elizabeth and her husband live in Ocracoke. Elizabeth supports Wildlife rehabilitation by providing private birding and eco tours in Eastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks. She and her husband, Dr. Calvin Hanrahan, a Physical Therapist, have two grown sons  Volunteer activities while on Ocracoke included Sea Turtle rescue, and transport, first responder for the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, tour leader for NPS summer birding programs, volunteering for Ocracoke Preservation Society and providing Environmental Education curriculum and classes at Ocracoke School.

Dr. Jay Harrington
(Wildlife Ophthalmology)
Dr. Jay Harrington is a native of Toledo, Ohio, USA and received his bachelors and veterinary degrees from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. After completing a 1-year internship at North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Raleigh, NC, he enrolled in a 3-year ophthalmology residency at NCSU. Dr. Harrington is currently in his third year of residency and his clinical interests include corneal disease, glaucoma, and intraocular surgery. His main research interest is laser therapy for the treatment of equine glaucoma.

Christina Hildreth
(Stretching the Point – Physical Therapy in Raptors)
Christina is a Registered Veterinary Technician employed by Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Huntersville, NC. She has been working with Dr. Lauren Powers as the avian/ exotics service technician for 2+ years. Christina is a current board member of WRNC. Past work and volunteer experiences have been at Virginia Wildlife Center in Waynesboro, VA;  Professional Wildlife Internship at Disney's Animal Kingdom Veterinary Hospital in Orlando, FL; Small Animal Oncology/Nutrition Technician at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL; Community Practice Technician at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, VA; and the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville, NC.

Carla Johnson
(Education Permits, Introduction toWildlife Rehabilitation, If you can’t see them, are they there?: Zoonoses, Handling Wildlife Calls)
Carla has been rehabbing for over 20 years, is on the board of WRNC and Wildlife Rehab, Inc., her local rehab group. She has coordinated wildlife rehabilitation classes through the local community college in Winston-Salem, NC and presented countless environmental education programs to the surrounding community. Carla is responsible for maintaining WRNC's membership records, is on the symposium committee and helped put together and teach the refresher course for WRNC. She is currently the vice president for WRNC.
In her spare time, she rescues dogs from puppy mills and natural disaster situations, is the NC/SC and VA coordinator as well as one of the board of directors for Chihuahua Rescue & Transport, a national 501(c)3 organization and enjoys working to place unwanted Chinese Crested dogs.

Dr. Leslie Martin
(Songbird Emergencies – Triage to Transport Lab)
Dr. Leslie Martin received her DVM from the University of California at Davis. Following graduation, she worked in exotics and small animal practices, seeing dogs, cats, exotic pets and wildlife. She also has training in population medicine. Dr. Martin worked for Triangle Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic (TWRC) in Durham, NC for 2 years, before starting a new position in RTP. Dr. Martin volunteers as staff veterinarian for TWRC. She is a current board member of the Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina.

William D. Nicely
A North Carolina native, Dan holds Associate degrees in Fish and Wildlife Management, and Criminal Justice. He is retired from North Carolina Marine Patrol and is a reserve officer with Atlantic Beach Police Department.  He is an active volunteer with Carteret County’s Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter (OWLS).  He has resided in Carteret County for over 40 years.

Betty O'Leary
(Avian Physical Exam Lab, Feather Imping)
Betty has been working with raptors for 25 years. She worked 23 years at Carolina Raptor Center, and is now volunteering at Tuft's Wildlife Clinic in MA. She has cared for both the permanent resident birds used for education, and the birds in rehabilitation. She has a raptor banding permit and for 4 years she operated a hawk watch and raptor banding station during fall migration at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. She enjoys teaching others on raptor rehabilitation and care, and performing necropsies.

Toni O'Neil
(Introduction to the Rehabilitation of Eastern Gray Squirrels, Fluid Therapy and Emaciation Protocols, Hazards of Rehab, Open Forum)
Toni holds a B.S. in Zoology with a minor in Wildlife Management from the University of Maryland . She has been  rehabilitating since 1991and holds both state and federal permits, specializing in songbirds and waterfowl.  Toni has held administrative positions with ARC and has taught classes for CRC, ARC, and Carolina Wild Care, as well as teaching the Basic and Advanced Wildlife Rehabilitation courses through the local community college.  She gives many presentations to schools, scout troops, and civic groups in her community.  Toni believes in a strong state-wide networking system to assist rehabilitators at all levels, and encourages them to participate and become involved in reaching out to others.  She believes that communication between rehabilitators is vital to further education, share ideas, and keep up-to-date on the changes in wildlife medicine.  Currently, she is the Director of Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary in Hubert, NC, and enjoys working closely with the coastal residents of Onslow County. Toni is a board member of WRNC.

Lauren Powers, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian)
(Humane and Timely Euthanasia)
Dr. Lauren Powers is a 1994 graduate of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.  She completed a residency in avian medicine and surgery at North Carolina State University in 1997 and became board-certified (American Board of Veterinary Practitioners-Avian Practice) later that year.  She has been a staff veterinarian at Carolina Veterinary Specialists and service head of the Avian & Exotic Pet Service since 2002 and regularly offers services to wildlife rehabilitators and nature museums.  She frequently speaks at local and national veterinary conferences and has published numerous scientific papers and book chapters. 

David Scott, DVM
(Raptor Orthopedics)
Dr Scott graduated from the veterinary school at the University of Illinois in 1997.  He is currently the staff veterinarian at the Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte. He recently published “The Handbook of Raptor Rehabilitation” and is the developer of the RaptorMed patient management system. Dr. Scott is a current board member of WRNC.

Dr. Sandra Tou
(Wildlife Cardiology)
Dr Sandra Tou attended veterinary school at the University of Florida, followed by a rotating internship in private practice then a residency in small animal internal medicine which was completed in 2005.  She came to NC State in 2008 for a cardiology residency and joined the cardiology faculty after completing her residency in 2010. Dr. Tou is a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and is a specialist in small animal cardiology and internal medicine.