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Jonathan Sleeman

Jonathan Sleeman is the Center Director for the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center.

Dr. Sleeman leads a team to advance wildlife health science for the benefit of animals, humans, and the environment through multidisciplinary research and technical assistance to federal, state, and tribal agencies as well as internationally as a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Collaborating Centre. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters all on the topics of wildlife and ecosystem health. He is active in various scientific organizations, including the Wildlife Disease Association and Ecohealth International, and serves on the OIE’s Working Group on Wildlife. He is board certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine and received his veterinary degree and master’s degree in zoology from the University of Cambridge, England. Previous positions include Director of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Center in Rwanda and Wildlife Veterinarian for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Professional Experience

  • Aug. 2015 - Present Adjunct Professor, Seoul National University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul, Korea

  • Sept. 2009 - Present Adjunct Professor, Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin

  • May 2009 - Present Center Director, USGS, National Wildlife Health Center

  • March 2005 - May 2009 Wildlife Veterinarian, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

  • Sept. 2003 - Present Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee

  • Aug. 2001 - Oct. 2009 Adjunct Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic and State University

  • Feb. 2001 - March 2005 Director of Veterinary Services, Wildlife Center of Virginia

  • Nov. 1997 - June 2000 Postdoctoral Fellow/Clinical Instructor, Zoological and Wildlife Medicine, Colorado State University

  • June 1997 - Feb. 1998 Interim Project Director, Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, Morris Animal Foundation

  • May 1997 - Oct. 1997 Clinical Instructor/Senior Veterinarian for Knoxville Zoo, Zoological Medicine, The University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine

  • July 1995 - April 1997 Field Director, Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Center, Kigali, Rwanda

Education and Certifications

  • 2004 Master of Arts, Zoology, Churchill College, University of Cambridge

  • 1997-2000 Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates Certification (DVM equivalency), American Veterinary Medical Association

  • 1989-1992 Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Distinction in Pathology, Microbiology and Avian Medicine), University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine

  • 1986-1989 Bachelor of Arts, Zoology (Awarded first class honours), Churchill College, University of Cambridge

  • Special Zoological Medicine Training

    1993-1995 Resident, Avian and Zoological Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee

    1992-1993 Intern, Exotic/Zoological Medicine, Coll

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