Bio: Lucy Hamilton Spelman, DVM, DACZM

Dr. Lucy H. Spelman is a veterinarian committed to the study and advancement of health care for wild animals.  She is also a world-renowned zoo and wildlife vet who has held several leadership positions.  Her patients include endangered animals in far-flung
parts of the globe-giant pandas in China, Asian elephants in Burma, giant river otters in Guyana, and mountain gorillas in Rwanda.  She is a former director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo and has just returned from central Africa after managing the field programs for the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project for nearly three years.  She has also worked as a consultant for Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel, and has been filmed at work for television.  During the 2009-2010 academic year, Lucy will be teaching at Brown University as a visiting Assistant Professor where she initially earned a B.A. in biology (1985).  After receiving her D.V.M. from the University of California at Davis (1990), she completed her post-doctoral training at North Carolina State University and passed her specialty boards the next year (1994), becoming the 43rd member of the American College of Zoological Medicine and the first to achieve this status right out of residency.  Her latest accomplishment is the publication of “The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes," a collection of heart- warming stories written by zoo and wild animal vets about their patients.  The book was published in hard cover last year and has just come out in paperback (June 23, 2009).  Lucy co-edited the book and contributed the story that gives the book its title about a rhino with sore feet.  
 
Lucy is also a dynamic speaker with amazing stories to tell about taking care of animals in every imaginable setting, from our pets at home to those remaining in the vanishing wild.  She speaks candidly of lessons learned, including the importance of understanding how the health of one species impacts another.  These days, she keeps one eye on her patients and the other on the bigger picture of global health.  To schedule a speaking event, please contact Lucy directly at lucy.spelman@gmail.com. 

Dr. Spelman’s clinical experience includes five years as staff veterinarian at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. She then became its first female director (2000)--the youngest person ever to hold this position, and the only female veterinarian among her zoo director colleagues. Six months into the job, she journeyed to China and returned with the now-famous giant panda pair, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. Faced with a substantial backlog of building and exhibit repairs, she initiated a major revitalization program for the historic Zoo, focusing on bringing the science of animal care and conservation to the public. During her four-and-a-half year tenure as director, new exhibits at the National Zoo were designed as living laboratories, tailored to the needs of each species. She secured the Zoo’s first multimillion dollar corporate partnerships, quadrupled its federal funding for capital renewal, and spearheaded its first strategic plan in over a decade.

While serving as regional veterinary field manager for the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, Dr. Spelman promoted a team-oriented one-health approach to gorilla medicine. The in-country field vets, who work in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, now meet regularly for rounds and training. Each has taken on greater responsibility for case management, including the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned gorillas. Together with the project director and support staff, she has also helped establish new strategic partnerships designed to help MGVP, Inc. raise public awareness, support, and funds.  She provided the content for the re-design of the project's new website, www.gorilladoctors.com, and started blogging.  Her blog drew thousands of online visitors each month on WildlifeDirect, Gorilla Doctors or on Discovery Channel's website, Gorillas in Peril.

Dr. Spelman has published two dozen scientific papers on various aspects of zoo and wild animal medicine (see below list.) She has been interviewed for national and international press coverage, and featured in various trade publications including People Magazine (2001); Cool Women, Hot Jobs, by Tina Schwager (Free Spirit Publishing, 2002); The Tiger Has A Toothache, by Patricia Lauber (National Geographic Children’s Books, 1999); I Want to Be a Veterinarian, by Stephanie Maze (Harcourt Paperbacks, 1999). She has been filmed working with animals cable television documentaries, including Animal Planet’s “Corwin’s Quest: Realm of the Yeti” (2006), “A Panda Is Born” (2005), “Meet the Pandas” (2001), and seven episodes of “Total Zoo” (2000); Discovery Channel’s “Kandula: An Elephant Story” (2003); Turner Broadcasting’s “Hidden Zoo” (1997).

In her words, “Our own health is connected to that of animals and the environment. The more we study these connections, the better we understand how to maintain or restore health to entire ecosystems. If we share this new knowledge in exciting ways, we can inspire others to care and take action. We’re all in this together.”

Scientific Publications

Book Chapters

line-height: 12pt"> Spelman, L.H., Janssen, D., Morris, P., Greenberg, M., Desheng, L., Mauroo, N. and Sutherland Smith, M. Medial Management of Captive Adult and Geriatric Giant Pandas (Ch 15). 2006. In: Wildt, D.E., Zhang, A., Zhang, H., Janssen, D.L., and Ellis, S (eds.). Giant Pandas: Biology, Veterinary Medicine and Management, Cambridge University Press.

Spelman, L.H. Medical Management of the Komodo Dragon (Ch 9). 2002. In: Murphy, J.B., Ciofi, C., La Panouse, C. and Walsh T. (eds.). Biology and Conservation of Komodo Dragons, Smithsonian Institution Press.

Spelman, L.H. and Halverson, J. Sex Determination in the Komodo Dragon (Ch 4). 2002. In: Murphy, J.B., Ciofi, C., La Panouse, C. and Walsh T. (eds.). Biology and Conservation of Komodo Dragons, Smithsonian Institution Press.

Spelman, L.H. Otter Anesthesia. 1998. In: Fowler, M.E., and E.R. Miller (eds.). Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, Current Therapy IV, W.B. Saunders.

Spelman, L.H. Vermin Control. 1998. In: Fowler, M.E., and E.R. Miller (eds.). Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, Current Therapy IV, W.B. Saunders.

Journal Articles

Spelman, L.H. and D. McTurk. 2005. Hand rearing and rehabilitation of orphaned wild giant otters, Pteronura brasiliensis, on the Rupununi River, Guyana, South America. Zoo Biol (24):153-167.

Sanchez, C.R., S. M. Murray, R.J. Montali, R.J., L.H. Spelman. 2004. Diagnosis and treatment of presumptive Pyleonephritis in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 35(3): 397-99.

Spelman, L. H. 2004. Reversible anesthesia of captive California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) with medetomidine, midazolam, butorphanol, and isoflurane. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 35(1):65-69.

Ollivet-Courois, F., A. Lecu, R. Yates, and L. H. Spelman. 2003. Treatment of a sole abscess in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) using regional digital intravenous perfusion. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 34(3): 292-5.

Deem, S.L., L. H. Spelman, R. Yates, and R.J. Montali. 2000. Canine Distemper in Terrestrial Carnivores: A Review. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 31(4): 441-451.

Tocidlowski, M.E., L. H. Spelman, P. Sumner, M. K. Stoskopf. 2000. Hematology and Serum Biochemistry Parameters of North American River Otters (Lontra Canadensis). J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 31(4): 484-490.

Sherrill, J., L. H. Spelman, C.L. Reidel, R. J. Montali. 2000. Common Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) Mortality at the National Zoological Park: Implications for Clinical Management. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 31(4): 523-531.

Spelman, L.H., W.J. Jochem, P.W. Sumner, D.P. Redmond, M.K. Stoskopf. 1997. Post anesthetic monitoring of core body temperature using telemetry in North American river otters (Lutra canadensis). J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 28(4): 413-417.

Spelman, L.H., P.W. Sumner, W.B. Karesh, M.K. Stoskopf. 1997. Tiletamine-zolazepam anesthesia in North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) and partial antagonism with flumazenil. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 28(4): 418-423.

Stoskopf, M.K., L.H. Spelman, W.J. Jochem, P.W. Sumner, D.P. Redmond and J.F. Levine. 1997. The impact of water temperature on core body temperature of North American river otters (Lutra canadensis). J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 28(4): 413-417.

Beck, K., M.R. Loomis, G. Lewbart, L.H. Spelman, M. Papich. 1995. Preliminary comparison of plasma concentrations of gentamicin injected into the cranial and caudal limb musculature of the Eastern Box turtle. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 26(2); 265-268.

Spelman, L.H., Fleming, W. J., Davis, G.S, Stoskopf, M.K. 1995. Effect of exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone administration on plasma corticosterone concentrations in America black ducks (Anas rubripes). J Wild. Dis. 31(2): 136-41.

Spelman, L.H., P.W. Summner, J.F. Levine, M.K. Stoskopf. 1994. Anesthesia of North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) with medetomidine‑ketamine and reversal by atipamezole. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 25(2):214-223.

Spelman, L.H., L.H. Khoo, M.R. Loomis. 1994. Case report: adenocarcinoma of the mandibular salivary gland in a crested barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii). J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 25(3):455-460.

Appel, M.G., R.Y. Yates, G.L. Foley, J.J. Bernstein, S. Santinelli, L.H. Spelman, L.D. Miller, L.H. Arp, M. Anderson, M. Barr, S. Pearce‑Kelling, B.A. Summers. 1994. Canine distemper epizootic in lions, tigers, and leopards in North America. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 6:277-288.

Roe, S.C., L.H. Spelman, G. Spodnick, and M.R. Loomis. 1994. Partial carpal arthrodesis in a warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus). V.C.O.T. 7:183-186.

Spelman, L.H., .P.W. Summner, J.F. Levine, M.K. Stoskopf. 1993. Field anesthesia in the North American river otter (Lutra canadensis). J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 24(1):19‑27.

Spelman, L.H., K.G. Osborn, M.P. Anderson. 1989. The pathogenesis of hemosiderosis in lemurs: the role of dietary iron, tannin, and ascorbic acid. J. Zoo Biol. 8:239‑251.

Spelman, L.H., Thompson, N.L., Fausto, N., Miller, K.R. 1986. A structural analysis of gap and tight junctions in the rat liver during a diet treatment that induces oval cell proliferation. Am J Pathol. 125(2): 379-92.