Conservancy of Southwest Florida Hires First Full Time Wildlife Veterinarian

Jan. 6, 2012 - PRLog -- NAPLES, Fla.  Dr. Rachel Goldfarb has joined the Conservancy of Southwest Florida as staff veterinarian for the new von Arx Wildlife Hospital. The veterinarian position is a new one for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and made possible in part to an endowment raised at the “Fund-A-Vet” live auction at the 2010 “Magic Under the Mangroves” fundraiser.
   
Dr. Goldfarb grew up in Oklahoma and obtained a BS in Biology from the University of
Missouri, Columbia. Her interest for wildlife and conservation medicine became a passion while volunteering for an endangered species rehabilitation program in Queensland, Australia during her undergraduate studies.  Dr. Goldfarb attended Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, West lndies and graduated with high honors in 2007.

“We are very excited to have Rachel accept our offer to become our first full time veterinarian.  This is a major milestone for the Conservancy and we are looking forward to providing on-site care for more critically injured wildlife, said Andrew McElwaine, Conservancy of Southwest Florida president.

“The entire wildlife hospital team is thrilled to have Dr. Goldfarb on board.  Her enthusiasm and technical skills will benefit every animal cared for at our facility,” said Conservancy of Southwest Florida von Arx Wildlife Hospital Director Joanna Fitzgerald.

Dr. Goldfarb is very excited about joining the wildlife rehabilitation team.  “My experience in trauma, critical care medicine, pain management, and anesthesiology will help to provide immediate care to the wildlife that crosses our doorstep every day,” Goldfarb commented.

Dr. Goldfarb’s wildlife experience also includes St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network, an intensive training course studying wildlife conservation medicine in South Africa, studying elephant veterinary medicine in Thailand, and volunteering at the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation and with a wildlife rehabilitation group in the Hamptons.  Her other veterinarian experience includes interning in small animal medicine and surgery in Brooklyn, acting as veterinarian in Syracuse and two years as an overnight emergency veterinarian at a specialty and referral animal hospital in eastern Long Island.

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Since 1964, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has focused on protecting water, land and wildlife through environmental education, policy, science and wildlife rehabilitation. 1450 Merrihue Dr., Naples, FL , (239) 262.0304, www.conservancy.org.