Symposium 2009 Speakers
Kim Ashby
Kim Ashby is a member of Wildlife Welfare, Inc. She rehabs most small mammals especially gray squirrels and opossums. She has a special interest in Virginia Opossums, especially their diet as it relates to preventing Metabolic Bone Disease. She is a Registered Nurse and held her Certificate of Emergency Nursing when she worked outside the home. Having graduated her oldest who is currently attending UNCW, she continues to home educate her 2 younger sons. She is the founder and President of the Board of Directors of GIFTSNC, Inc.
Randy Atkinson
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
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
five years, and became the Permits and Planning Supervisor last year, responsible
for controlled hunting preserves, damage control agents, special hunt opportunities,
captive cervid facilities, fawn rehab, and special permits.
Jeffrey Beane
Jeff Beane is Herpetology Collections Manager for the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. He has been employed with the Museum since 1985. He holds a B.S. in Zoology from North Carolina State University (1982). Jeff is an active member of the North Carolina Herpetological Society, Wake Audubon, the Sandhills Natural History Society, North Carolina Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and several other organizations. He is a frequent contributor to Wildlife in North Carolina magazine and has authored a number of other popular and scientific publications. His interests include virtually anything pertaining to natural history or conservation, especially Sandhills ecology and the natural history, zoogeography, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in North Carolina and the Southeast.
Linda Bergman-Althouse
Linda 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 thirteen years working clinic in rehabilitation, mentoring new volunteers and facilitating tour groups. Linda is a board member and past President of Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina. 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. She grew up in rural Macon County, Illinois 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.
Jean Chamberlain
Jean and her husband have been rehabilitators for 18 years, rehabilitating
raptors for more than 13 years. She is particularly interested in animal behavior
and involved in all aspects of education programs and training. She designed
and teaches WRNC's Refresher and Basic Courses and organizes the symposium each
year. Jean is past president for WRNC and is the web adminstrator for WRNC and
IWRC. She created the Raptor ID website for IWRC. She has a 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 from a second career in Information Technology.
Sathya Chinnadurai, DVM, MS
Sathya Chinnadurai completed his DVM and an MS in Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri. He is completing a three-year training program in Zoological Medicine at the North Carolina Zoological Park and North Carolina State University. His main interest is anesthesia and pain management of reptiles and birds.
Alicia Cawlfield
Alicia Cawlfield is a current 4th year veterinary student at NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, and has worked with wildlife through internships and volunteering at the Piedmont Wildlife Center and through school since 2004. She is currently the veterinary student representative for WRNC.
Nicki Dardinger
Carolina Raptor Center
Laurel Degernes, DVM, MPH, Diplomate ABVP
Laurel is an Associate Professor of Avian Medicine and Epidemiology at NC State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, and has been on the faculty there since 1992. She has been specializing in birds since 1985, and is board certified in avian practice. She completed an internship at The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota in 1986, and worked for another 4 years as staff veterinarian at that facility. She completed a residency at NCSU in companion avian medicine in 1992. She completed a Masters of Public Health degree in epidemiology at the School of Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill during a recent sabbatical leave.
She was one of the founding board members for Piedmont Wildlife Center, and is on the advisory board for the Carolina Raptor Center, the North Carolina Falconers Guild, and Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research (Newark, DE).
Dan Dombrowski, DVM
Dan is currently the Veterinarian and Coordinator of Living Collections at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. In 2006, he earned a DVM from NCSU with a focus in zoo medicine and advanced courses in reptile, fish, invertebrate, avian, and wildlife medicine. He received the WAAZM Class of 2006 Proficiency in Zoological Medicine Award. He also has an M.S. and B.S. in Biology from VCU in Richmond VA. He is the author and coauthor of several publications in pharmacology, natural history, and 2 book chapters focusing on topics in invertebrate medicine. His interests include wildlife conservation, education and of coarse veterinary medicine.
Kelly Douglass
Kelly graduated from NC State University in 2002 with a Bachelor's degree in
Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and began working with the Commission in 2000
in the Nongame Program permitting section. She became the Captive Cervid Program
Leader for the agency in 2004, though has been involved in captive cervid issues
since 2002. Recently, she was given the responsibility of managing the Fawn
Rehabilitation Program and enrolled at State to obtain a Master's degree in
Wildlife Sciences.
James R. Flowers, Ph.D.
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.
Andy Foshee
Andy Foshee has had the opportunity to carry his digital camera through Africa, Europe, China, and most recently the Amazon River in Brazil. He and his wife have taken over 15,000 photos at their favorite wildlife sanctuary, the Carnivore Preservation Trust in Pittsboro, NC - several of which have been used in local and regional publications. Since coming to North Carolina in 1992, Andy has been proud to have rolls of responsibility in several nonprofit organizations ranging from planning and participating in festivals and fundraising to black tie events. Andy and his wife reside in a log home of their own design in Chatham county and have two children - both of whom are four-footed, furry, and 'meow'!
Jennifer Gordon
Jennifer is a state and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator. She is the director of Carolina Waterfowl Rescue which takes in approx 1000 birds a year. Jennifer serves on the board of Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary and Wildlife Rehabilitators of the Carolinas (WRNC). Jennifer has helped 6 groups obtain their 501c3 status and is currently assisting two others. She is a student of Duke University Non Profit Management Certificate program. She is also currently finishing her degree as a Veterinary Technician.
Elizabeth Hanrahan
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. 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 and trip leader for Wings Over Water Birding Festival.
After, moving to Edenton in March, 2006 she opened WREN- Wildlife Rehabilitation of Edenton.
The Center serves an area from the Outer Banks to the Virginia State line. WREN has a large group of wildlife transporters and volunteers. As of August 1, 2007 the WREN had received and treated more than 375 birds (including 1 baled eagle and an albino red tailed hawk), small mammals, turtles and 1 garter snake.
She has a B.S. in Business Administration, a M.Ed. in Marketing Education and an Ed. S. in Vocational Education Administration. 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 and recently moved to Edenton from Ocracoke.
Elizabeth is the current President of the Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina.
The Hanrahan’s plan to move back to Ocracoke in approximately 3 years & 8 months.
Cheryl Hoggard, DVM
Cheryl received her DVM from NCSU in 2001. She is the former staff veterinarian at Piedmont Wildlife Center, Durham, NC.
Tricia Hoover
Tricia has been rehabbing since 1987 and is state and federal permitted.
In 1991, she was a founder for Wildlife Welfare, Inc, a home rehabilitation network in the Triangle area and has remained strongly involved in the organization ever since. She also has taught yearly training classes in Raleigh, North Carolina, for wildlife rehabilitation since 1991; and helped put together training materials through the years. Tricia is currently Executive Director for Wildlife Welfare, working mostly with small mammals.
Pat Isaacs
Pat has been rehabilitating wildlife for the past 40 years, however, considers
that her real rehabilitation experience didn't start until 1993 when she joined
ARC, IWRC and NWRA and started doing wildlife rehab full time. She has completed
IWRC's 1AB certification and 5 additional IWRC advanced Skills Seminars plus
other wildlife rehab workshops, seminars, and conventions. She has presented
at IWRC conferences, and teaches the Eastern Cottontail and Hotline Classes
for ARC.
Pat served on the board of directors for ARC for 5 years and currently remains
active as a supply point, hotline coordinator, and assists with all their printing
needs in addition to rehabbing and being available as a mentor for other members.
She also has worked as an advisor on IWRC’s hotline committee and as a
state representative for them.
A home-based rehabilitator; Pat currently rehabilitates approximately 150-180
mammals a year, as part of the 1500-2000 that ARC members rehabilitate annually.
Carla Johnson
Carla has been rehabbing for nearly 20 years, is on the board of WRNC and Wildlife Rehab, Inc., her local rehab group. She coordinates wildlife rehabilitation classes through the local community college in Winston-Salem, NC and presents countless environmental education programs to the surrounding community for Wildlife Rehab, Inc. each year. Carla is responsible for maintaining WRNC’s membership records and for producing the membership directory. She is also on the symposium committee and helped put together and teach the refresher course for WRNC.
Beth Knapp-Tyner
Beth holds both state (NC/SC) and federal rehab & possession permits, including a special Fawn rehab permit. She averages 150-160 rehab admits per year. Some of them her favorite species to rehab; mid-to-large size mammals (otters, beavers, fawns) and birds including; owls, hawks & hummingbirds. She also presents education programs using live, non-releasable raptors for local clubs, summer programs, schools & groups.
She is the current vice president for WRNC and served for two years as their treasurer. She believes strongly in networking with other rehabilitators to promote both, the best care and situations for the animals and support for and by fellow rehabbers.
She has attended several rehab conferences, classes and special workshops and has also been a speaker/teacher at a few. She went back to school in her thirties to attain a specialized AS degree, is a certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist (ESMT), and was a certified Childbirth Educator and doula for several years. She says she is extremely fortunate to have a husband who is 110% supportive of, and helps whenever asked with, her rehab and education "habits".
Betty O'Leary
Betty has been working with raptors for 23 years, working at Carolina Raptor Center. 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
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.
Martha Petty
Martha Petty is a licensed home rehabilitator in Chapel Hill. She started rehabbing in 1994 when she received two baby gray squirrels from a WRRN class. Martha is a full time artist, when she is not rehabbing baby squirrels. She is also a member of WRNC, NWRA and IWRC, and volunteers with the Piedmont Wildlife Center.
Lauren Powers, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian)
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, nature museums, and a raptor rehabilitation facility. She frequently speaks at local and national veterinary conferences and has published numerous scientific papers and book chapters.
Mimi Rieth
Mimi Rieth is a licensed veterinary technician. She has been volunteering with the Piedmont Wildlife Center for over 5 years.
Ann Rogers
Ann has been a licensed home rehabilitator of small mammals since 1988. She
has been federally permitted since 1991. She is a founding member and volunteer
with the Piedmont Wildlife Center of NC. She works both in their clinic and
helps with fund-raising.
Liz Schmid
Liz Schmid has been an avid birder for over 10 years and has been an active member of the Audubon Society of Forsyth County, the North Carolina Bluebird Society, and Piedmont Bird Club. Liz is also a member of Wildlife Rehab Inc, where she works with the education committee as a presenter. She graduated from High Point University in 2003 with a BS in Business Administration. She and her husband Tom own a Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in High Point.
David Scott, DVM
David graduated from the CVM at the University of Illinois in 1997. He was involved in small animal practice and he volunteered for many years with several wildlife\avian groups including International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) in San Francisco and Raptor Rehab of Kentucky in Louisville. He is currently employed as the first staff veterinarian at the Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte were he works exclusively with birds of prey. His interests include orthropedic and soft tissue surgery as well as hematology.
Additional speaker info will be added as it becomes available.