by Beth Chittick, DVM, MS, DACZM

About Her Story

"Maybe there is more to these animals than we give them due. As for me, I’ll never again see fish as just a meal, or a pet in a bowl on a shelf, or something to watch at the local bar."

About the Author

Born and raised in Connecticut, Elizabeth Chittick Nolan dreamed initially of becoming a field biologist in the wilds of Africa but set her sights on veterinary medicine while at Haverford College. After earning her biology degree, she attended Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. In her fourth year, a month-long rotation at New England Aquarium piqued her interest in aquatic medicine. Dr. Nolan completed two internships in Boston, one in small animal medicine and surgery at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, the second in aquatic animal medicine at New England Aquarium.

To specialize further in non-domestic animals, she accepted a zoological medicine residency at North Carolina StateUniversity and later became board-certified through the American College of Zoological Medicine. She spent the next five years as a staff veterinarian at SeaWorld Orlando, where she gained valuable experience in the aquatic animal field. In 2006, Dr. Nolan decided to broaden her horizons again by accepting a veterinary position with Disney's Animal Programs—“a job I’m thoroughly enjoying!”