About

Dr. Sharon Deem is a wildlife veterinarian and epidemiologist. Sharon has conducted conservation medicine projects in 30 countries around the world. A few of her research projects include a health-monitoring program for gorillas in central Africa, health assessments of sea turtles in Africa and the Americas, health and ecological studies of maned wolves in Bolivia, health care of working elephants in Myanmar, and avian and giant tortoise studies in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

Her interests in wildlife veterinary medicine focus on the spread of disease between domestic animals and wildlife and the health impact of environmental changes and human contact on wild species.

During her veterinary career, she has been fortunate to work as a private practitioner, zoo vet, wildlife veterinarian, and epidemiologist. Sharon has worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society, Smithsonian National Zoo, and the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute prior to her current position as the Director of the Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine. She is the author of 1 textbook, over 145 referred articles, 30 book chapters, and numerous non-referred papers. Her first textbook,  Introduction to One Health: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Planetary Health, was published this January 2019.

Sharon has a special fondness for elephants, sea turtles and jaguars!

Learn more about Sharon from the NAVC community 2018 profile in leadership piece. Profiles in Leadership - North American Veterinary Conference