Sharon Deem is a wildlife veterinarian and epidemiologist. She has conducted conservation medicine projects in 30 countries around the world, including 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.

Dr. Deem is board certified in the American College of Zoological Medicine with a professional focus on diseases shared between domestic animals, wildlife, and people, and the impact of environmental change and human interactions on the health of wildlife populations. 

During her veterinary career she has been fortunate to work as a clinician, epidemiologist, and wildlife field veterinarian. Sharon has worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society, Smithsonian National Zoo, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute, and currently is the Director of the Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine.  

She is the author of over 160 referred articles, 30 book chapters, and numerous non-referred papers. Her text book, Introduction to One Health: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Planetary Health, co-authored with Drs. Kelly Lane-deGraaf and Elizabeth Rayhel, was published by Wiley Press in January 2019. Order your copy here

While a passionate love and respect for all animals, Sharon has a special fondness for elephants, turtles and jaguars. Read about her adventures and learnings in conservation and public health, and all things wildlife.