Name:  Sharon Lynn Deem
SFS Program: Kenya Summer '85

What attracted to the SFS wildlife management program in Kenya?

From early childhood, I had a longing to travel to Africa to study and work with African wildlife and to meet the people of that fascinating continent. I grew up watching as many of the movies (from Tarzan to David Attenborough) and reading as many of the books (like those by Jane Goodall) and magazine articles (especially in National Geographic) as I could. Each opened my eyes to the beauty of Africa. But I also became increasingly aware of the political turmoil, human population explosion, disease and drought, and subsequent human suffering there; and the effects all these had on the conservation of African wildlife.

Reflecting back on your time in the program, what did you gain from the SFS experience?

At the time, the SFS program was working with the Hopcraft ranch in Athi River which harvested wild ungulate (hoofed animal) species for human consumption. The lessons I gained from this exposure to sustainable development and wildlife management have been invaluable.  I gained an appreciation of ecology at the individual and ecosystem levels and an understanding of field-based research. I also developed a sense of how wildlife conservation must fit within the larger reality of countries as they cope with human population growth and poverty. Lastly, the chance to camp and live with so many individuals from a variety of backgrounds taught me some of the most important skills of that summer; I learned how to play well with others under conditions that were very new and foreign and sometimes less than comfortable.

What is the most profound or lasting memory from your SFS program?

Two memories come to mind. The first was during the final safari when we were in our vehicle travelling across desert-like terrain. At the time, I was reading the book "Dune," which featured landscapes from a far-off planet. The comparison between the African scenery and the book’s images made me fully aware of how varied the ecosystems of Earth were and of how much I wanted to learn more about this fascinating planet, from its deserts to its oceans.

The other memory, which seems just like yesterday, was one afternoon when it was hotter than hot and we were all sitting around in our camp chairs just after lunch. I can picture all of us sitting there, and I remember the conversations we were having about what we wanted to do "when we grew up." During the following years I have often thought of that afternoon, feeling very happy that I have grown up to do exactly what I wanted.

What do you do for work?

Currently I am a wildlife epidemiologist with the WildCare Institute of the Saint Louis Zoo. I am based in Galapagos, Ecuador where I am studying avian diseases.  I have held veterinary positions with universities, zoos, and non-profit conservation organizations. For many years I travelled around the world as a field veterinarian conducting wildlife health and research projects, working closely with field ecologists in remote wildernesses. I have also worked for the Smithsonian Institution as a research veterinarian, living in Gabon Central Africa and working with elephants and sea turtles. My current job is focused on one geographic area, Galapagos, where I am part of a consortium between the Saint Louis Zoo, University of Missouri-Saint Louis, the Charles Darwin Foundation, and Galapagos National Park. My job includes a number of research projects directed at diseases of avian species in Galapagos as well as more clinical and pathology related tasks for ensuring the health of Galapagos birds.     

What does your work entail on a daily basis?

Every day is different in my job. I often travel the islands of the Galapagos to conduct field studies, and during these trips I am "on call" 24 hours a day for many days at a time. These trips differ from living and working on a boat while studying Galapagos penguins, camping on land while studying the health of passerines prior to a re-introduction program, or visiting chicken farms to determine diseases that domestic birds may carry and directly or indirectly expose to wild birds.  When in my home town of Puerto Ayora, I spend much of the time writing reports, offering advice on the health component of projects, performing diagnostic tests in the Galapagos National Park laboratory, and providing veterinary care for captive birds in ex situ conservation programs. I am very fortunate when in Galapagos to interact with many tourists either via formal talks or simply when they are visiting the Charles Darwin Foundation where my office is based. I spend a couple months a year back in the United States at the Saint Louis Zoo working on proposals, data analyses and from where I have a base so that I may travel in the states to give presentations on health and conservation issues.  

What advice do you have for other SFS alumni looking to get into your field?

As a wildlife veterinarian I feel I am playing my role in the emerging field of conservation medicine, an interdisciplinary field that studies the relationship between human and animal health and environmental conditions. There are a variety of disciplines that fit within the field of conservation medicine, including veterinarians, physicians, epidemiologists, political scientists, toxicologists, anthropologists, climate biologists, marine biologists, etc.  You get the picture.  For those SFS alumni that are interested in conservation and the health of our planet and its inhabitants, pursuing a career as a wildlife veterinarian would well prepare you to participate in this exciting young field. However, I would also suggest that you pursue the discipline that best fits your passion. One of life’s biggest tragedies is when one does not follow one's own bliss. If becoming a wildlife veterinarian is your dream, then work on achieving good grades, get into veterinary school, try to secure as many experiences with non-domestic animals that you can, and get active in conservation.