About
The ZAHP Operations Committee was established by AAZV leadership and staff in late 2022 to oversee program operations and develop a strategic plan for ZAHP’s longevity under AAZV. The Committee Committee consists of 5 voting members including the Committee Chair, Vice Chair, Executive Committee Liaison, and 2 at-Large members.
Current Committee Members
Gretchen Cole, DVM DACZM DECZM (ZHM) – Committee Chair
Dr. Gretchen Cole is a veterinarian at the Oklahoma City Zoo. She is a graduate of Kansas State University and is board certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine and European College of Zoological Medicine, Zoo Health Management specialty. Gretchen is an active participant in several professional organizations, currently serving on the board of the American College of Zoological Medicine (Treasurer), European College of Zoological Medicine’s Education Committee, Elephant Manager’s Association Veterinary Advisory Committee, and as an AZA Accreditation Inspector. A past Chair of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarian’s Animal Health and Welfare Committee, Gretchen has twice been recognized as a recipient of AAZV’s Presidential Service award, both for her leadership and contributions to the Infectious Disease Manual. She has a special interest in disaster medicine and response planning and is a member of the US National Veterinary Response Team.
Carrie Ullmer, DVM – Vice Chair
Dr. Carrie Ullmer is the head veterinarian at Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, TX. A 2007 graduate of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, she worked in small animal private practice after graduation, then served as the attending veterinarian at Mesker Park Zoo in Indiana from 2014 to 2021 before starting in her current role at Texas State Aquarium. In addition to serving on the ZAHP operations committee, Dr. Ullmer is also a member of the AAZV Member Services Committee and is a coauthor of the recently published Zoo and Aquarium Veterinary Medical Program and Hospital Guidelines, 7th Edition. She also serves on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and is an accreditation inspector for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Her current position allows her to engage in all the things she loves about veterinary medicine, including wildlife rehabilitation, teaching, and continuing to learn as the profession advances. When not at work, she enjoys cooking as well as gardening and other outdoor activities.
Julie Swenson DVM, DACZM – Executive Committee Liaison
Dr. Julie Swenson was born and raised in Roanoke Virginia, and went to undergrad and veterinary school at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. While in vet school she was given the opportunity to travel several times to Africa for free range wildlife work. After graduation, she did a small animal rotating internship just outside DC followed by a one-year temporary faculty position at Virginia Tech in Laboratory Animal Medicine. Julie did a Zoological Medicine Internship at Kansas State University before beginning her career in Zoological Medicine. She became a boarded diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine in 2015. She is currently the Associate Veterinarian at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas where she spends most days working with large exotic ungulates maintained in large semi-free-ranging herds and an extensive exotic felid/canid breeding program.
Diana Boon, DVM – Member at-Large
Dr. Diana Boon is a zoo and wildlife veterinarian with over 21 years of experience. As Director of Conservation Medicine for the International Crane Foundation, she oversees the avian health program for 15 species of cranes on site and provides guidance on health-related issues for wild crane populations globally.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she participated in an African in-country 4-month training program in Wildlife Biology and Management and used this training as a wildlife technician on projects around the US and overseas until she applied to veterinary school. She graduated from NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine followed by a large animal medicine & surgery internship at Texas A&M University. She has since worked at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Denver Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, and spent seven years as a full-time contract veterinarian and zoo relief professional (adding 15 more zoos to her knowledge base).
Christie Hicks, DVM – Member at-Large
Dr. Christie Hicks obtained a B.S. in Zoology/PreVet from N.C. State University and is a Ross University Veterinary School graduate. She started her Veterinary career working with marine mammals and aquatics with small animal medicine on the side. She was then given the opportunity to help out at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and after 8+years in the marine mammal and aquatic fields shifted her focus over to zoo medicine. She completed a 1+year internship at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and Wildlife Safari Park before becoming the first on-site Staff Veterinarian at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dr. Christie is currently a Relief Veterinarian for the Wildlife, Aquatic, Zoo Relief Vet Network. She is a member of AAZV, IAAAM, WDA, organizations to name a few and is licensed in many states. She is excited to be a member of the ZAHP Committee and looks forward to helping other institutions where she can!
Past Chairs
Staff
Dr. Rob Hilsenroth – AAZV Executive Director Emeritus
Dr. Hilsenroth did his pre-veterinary course work at Oklahoma State University for three years, and then went on to veterinary school at the University of Georgia, where he received his Doctor of Veterinary medicine degree in 1971. He practiced in a four-person small animal hospital in Baltimore, Maryland for one year before moving to Colorado. He opened a small animal practice in Wheat Ridge, Colorado in 1972, which he operated for 20 years. Dr. Hilsenroth joined the staff of Morris Animal Foundation in 1991 as their Staff Veterinary Spokesperson and served as Executive Director from 1992 until 2004. He was recruited to be the Executive Director of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians in 2005, and is happy to contribute what he can to both the members and the animals they serve.
Ashley Zielinski – ZAHP Director
Ashley manages the Zoo and Aquarium All Hazards Partnership’s operations, including cooperative agreements with USDA. She first began supporting ZAHP in 2015 as a Program Specialist at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, where she was later promoted to Director of the program. Ashley works closely with stakeholders from the zoo community, State and Federal agencies, and NGOs to achieve program goals and support partner initiatives aimed at increasing resiliency to disease events, natural disasters, and other emergencies; serving on various committees for aligned organizations. She formally joined the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians in 2023 after successfully transitioning ZAHP to its new home.