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Faculty/Staff Focus
Dr. Sharman Hoppes selected as president-elect of AAV
Dr. Sharman Hoppes, associate
professor at the Texas A&M College
of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences (CVM), was recently selected
as the president-elect of the Association
of Avian Veterinarians (AAV). Her
tenure as president will be three years.
Hoppes joined the CVM in 2006 in
the Zoological Medicine Department
of Small Animal Medicine where her
research focuses on Avian Bornavirus,
proventricular dilation disease, and
behavior, training, and enrichment of
exotic pets and birds.
The AAV, established in 1980, has a
membership composed of veterinarians
from private practices, zoos, universities
and industry, as well as allied
personnel, technicians, and students.
Its mission is to advance and promote
avian medicine and stewardship
throughout the veterinary profession.
The AAV is one of the American Veterinary
Medical Association’s (AVMA)
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Dr. Hoppes with Angel
help initiate an education outreach
program and an action plan for ocelot
management.
“Ocelot conservation is occurring
on several fronts,” Tewes said. “I have
formed a group of ranchers who are
interested in learning about ocelot
ecology or surveying for ocelots on
their property. The key to ocelot
recovery will be private landowners
who own most of the land occupied by
major resources on bird-related issues
and educates veterinarians on avian
care.
Originally, Hoppes did not see
herself specializing in a particular field
of veterinary medicine. “When I first
started my veterinary career, I wanted
to treat everything. But in my first practice,
we saw dogs, cats, birds, and exotic
pets, and birds were the most challenging
because no one knew much about
them at the time,” Hoppes said. “If they
needed surgery, we couldn’t really find
anyone unless we sent clients out of
state.”
Hoppes said the AAV began as a
dialogue between veterinarians who
treated birds in mixed practices but
needed more information on specific
avian medical cases. “There was simply
very little information out there on
avian veterinary care. Everyone was
struggling,” Hoppes said. Now the AAV
is one of the leading exotic organizations,
and one of two with representation
within the AVMA.
Hoppes received her DVM from
Oklahoma State University in 1993.
She attended her first AAV meeting in
1995, and completed an avian medicine
and surgical residency in 1999, at
North Carolina State University. Perhaps
one of the most pivotal moments
in becoming an avian veterinarian
was when Hopes became a bird owner
herself.
“I adopted a cockatoo named Angel
from a client who couldn’t take care
of her anymore. The owner simply
couldn’t handle her,” Hoppes said.
“Adopting Angel completely changed
my life and inspired me to be more
involved with avian research and education.”
Hoppes said she believes that
most difficulties with birds originate
with behavioral issues, much like those
ocelots. We continue to document new
ranches where ocelots occur, a process
fundamental to their recovery. And we
are monitoring their population size
and change over different conditions
such as drought. Eventually, we believe
it is important to augment the existing
ocelot populations in Texas in order to
alleviate the problems associated with
low genetic diversity identified in our
collaborative research.”
This research indicates that the extinction
rates in Texas have exceeded
Dr. Sharman Hoppes
experienced between Angel and her
first owner. Hoppes attributes this difficulty
to the intelligence of the animals;
that, combined with the general lack of
education in avian behavior and medicine,
makes veterinary care for birds
challenging. Angel inspired Hoppes to
become residency-trained and boarded
in avian medicine, which led to her being
an active member in AAV.
Hoppes’ first position within the
AAV was as chair of the Avian Rescue
and Sanctuary Ad Hoc Committee. She
later served on the Board of Directors.
“I am so excited to serve as presidentelect.
Over the last six to seven years,
I really hoped I might reach this position,
and I am so excited about what
I can contribute to the association,”
Hoppes said.
the rate of colonization, as populations
have become reduced in abundance
and distribution. Janecka and his
team understand that the ocelot is an
important part of the natural history of
Texas. Janecka hopes that, with the research
of his team, the work of the Caesar
Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute,
and the cooperation of the landowners,
the ocelot’s majestic beauty will be
visible for Texas generations to come.
CVM Today • Winter 2012 • 55