Wildlife conservation medicine, clinical medicine and surgery of exotic species, Wildlife Conservation Medicine, Surgery, Disease and Management; Zoonosis and Epidemiology, Wildlife Anesthesia and Pharmacology

Auburn University College of Wildlife and The Environmental Institute, Eastern Indigo Snake Project Veterinarian, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, Association of Avian Veterinarians, Wildlife Disease Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, Species Survival Plan Veterinary Advisor for the Chinese Alligator (critically endangered)

Dr. Marie Rush is a 1995 graduate of Auburn University with a BS in Animal and Dairy Science, and a 1998 graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine with her DVM degree, both with honors. She continued her pursuit of a career in wildlife conservation medicine with an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City followed with a residency in clinical zoo and wildlife medicine and surgery at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s, Bronx Zoo, and an academic focus in ultrasound at the Animal Medical Center. She returned to Alabama in 2001 and began a wildlife medicine consulting business and private consulting practice, which she continues when she is in the United States, and later accepted a position at the Birmingham Zoo as the Director of Veterinary Services and Curator of Ectotherms.

In 2007, Dr. Rush returned to Auburn University to teach aspiring conservation veterinarians at the College of Veterinary Medicine, and concurrently served as the veterinarian for the Southeastern Raptor Center. Additionally, she voluntarily began working with the College of Wildlife and Environmental Institute at Auburn University, and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources/Fish and Wildlife Services with a project striving to repatriate populations of Eastern Indigo snakes to the southeastern United States, including southern Alabama. Dr. Rush continues in this position now officially, as well as serving the veterinary advisor for the international Species Survival Plan for Chinese Alligators; the planet’s most critically endangered species of crocodilian.

In early 2009, Dr. Rush accepted her current position as an Associate Professor in small animal medicine and surgery at St. George’s University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. She continues to enjoy the opportunity to mentor others, learn something new each day and inspire a passion for the natural world through conservation medicine, research and education.

Rush EM, Ogburn AL, Hall J, Rush D, Lau Y, Dillon AR, Garmon L, Tillson DM, and Kay GN.  Surgical implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy device in a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) with fibrosing cardiomyopathy. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. September 2010, 41(3):395-403

Rush, EM, Ogburn, AL, Nelms, S, Garner, MM. “Neurofibromatosis in a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) with ocular Amyloidosis” 2012. J Zoo Wildl Med 43(1):116-125.

Rush, EM. Yabapox. InNapier, J.E. and K. C. Gamble (eds). Infectious Diseases of Concern to Captive and Free Ranging Animals in North America, 1st ed. 2011. Infectious Disease Committee, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Yulee, Florida. 374 pp. Website address: http://www.aazv.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=754.

Rush, EM. Tanapox. InNapier, J.E. and K. C. Gamble (eds). Infectious Diseases of Concern to Captive and Free Ranging Animals in North America, 1st ed. 2011. Infectious Disease Committee, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Yulee, Florida. 374 pp. Website address: http://www.aazv.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=754.

Rush, EM. CANV. InNapier, J.E. and K. C. Gamble (eds). Infectious Diseases of Concern to Captive and Free Ranging Animals in North America, 1st ed. 2011. Infectious Disease Committee, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Yulee, Florida. 374 pp. Website address: http://www.aazv.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=754.

Eastern indigo snake re-patriation study (Auburn University, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) in collaboration with Project Orianne (the National eastern indigo snake initiative and Georgia/Florida DCNR)

Ectoparasitism and disease potential (zoonotic and clinical) in Grenadian domestic and wildlife species (felid, manicou, reptile, amphibian and avian species at present)

Conservation of Grenadian wildlife species
Identification and medical investigation and descriptive of clinical pathology in Grenadian wildlife species

Determination of physical examination parameters, morphology, microbiological parameters, behaviors and estimated complete blood counts (with differential), with evaluation for hemoparasitism in Grenadian Tree Boas (Corallus grenadensis). In collaboration with Dr. Nicole Stacy at the University of Florida and the Milwaukee County Zoo. SGU Small Grant.

Current research with ectoparasites and hemoparasites, potential rickettsial agents of Marine Toads in Grenada that will provide valuable data and potential public health information. In collaboration with SCWDS/UGA, Dr. Michael Yabsley.