I am currently working at Michigan State University as an Assistant professor. I am a critical care veterinarian with a strong interest in exotic species and wildlife. I received my PhD in 2020 at Colorado State University. During my 10 years at CSU I developed a protocol to grow mesenchymal stem cells from blood from elephants and giraffes and have treated multiple exotic species including elephants, giraffes, large felids, bears, monkeys, Sichuan takin and multiple other species. Over the past ten years I have been investigating the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as a therapeutic modality for various disease processes including multidrug resistant infections, immune-mediated disease and arthritis. I have worked with animal models trying to elucidate the mechanisms by which these cells exert a therapeutic effect and additionally have participated in several clinical trials in dogs and exotic species with a variety of inflammatory diseases including multidrug resistant infections and osteoarthritis. With systemically administered allogeneic (same species different animal) MSC adverse reactions are rare similar to what is documented in humans. My current research interests include investigating the potential anti-viral effects of mesenchymal stem cells and comparison of MSC and therapeutic effects between species.