Wildlife Disease Laboratories

The Wildlife Disease Laboratories are the diagnostic specialty group for the San Diego Zoo. The goal is to help ensure the health and well being of captive and wild populations through multidisciplinary disease investigations and innovative studies. 

They consists of two clinical pathology laboratories, a molecular diagnostics lab, and a pathology lab. They are the only zoo-based group in the world with complete in-house molecular diagnostic capabilities. 

Together, they carry out disease surveillance efforts, diagnostic test development, targeted research, and outbreak investigations for the animals at the Zoo, Wild Animal Park, and in the field. In addition to these diagnostic service and research functions, they offer postdoctoral training programs through a joint pathology residency program with the University of California at Davis, the Marshall Steel Pathology Fellowship program, and a fellowship in molecular diagnostics.

Wildlife Disease Laboratories Staff

• Bruce Rideout, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate, A.C.V.P., Director of Wildlife Disease Laboratories
• Ilse Stalis, D.V.M., Diplomate, A.C.V.P., Senior Scientist
• Rebecca Papendick, D.V.M., Diplomate, A.C.V.P., Senior Scientist
• Allan Pessier, D.V.M., Diplomate, A.C.V.P., Scientist
• Mark Schrenzel, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate, A.C.V.P., Scientist
• Rebecca Kagan, D.V.M., Diplomate, A.C.V.P., Pathology Fellow
• Megan Jones, D.V.M., Pathology Resident
• Simon Anthony, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow
• Carmel Witte, M.S., Research Associate
• Laura Keener, MT (ASCP), Senior Laboratory Manager
• Yvonne Cates, HT (ASCP), Research Coordinator
• April Gorow, Research Coordinator
• Eric Becht, MLT (ASCP), Senior Research Technician
• Kim Bush, CLS (ASCLS), Senior Research Technician
• Julie Albright, Senior Research Technician
• Elizabeth Jezier, RVT, Senior Research Technician
• Leslie Nielsen, RVT, Senior Research Technician
• Tammy Tucker, M.S., Senior Research Technician
• Marc Hammond, Research Technician
• Isamara Navarrete, Research Technician
• Kimberley Williams, RVT, Research Technician
• Wayne Eisner, Senior Construction and Maintenance Worker
• Mark Forror, Senior Building and Grounds Attendant
• Jamie Koyama, Senior Administrative Assistant
• Julie Medlock, Senior Administrative Assistant