Email: ritamcmdvm@gmail.com
In August 1984, I was recruited as the new fulltime veterinarian at the then-Atlanta Zoo, which was undergoing a reorganization crisis. Worked with Dr. Terry Maple to build the zoo, veterinary and nutrition programs, and eventually supervised international field conservation, education and distance learning programs. After 21 years, I left Zoo Atlanta to join the faculty at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, while completing a postgraduate anatomic pathology residency. Then was Director of the UGA Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service (ZEAPS) until retirement October 2022. I continue to participate (volunteer) in selected zoo/wildlife patholgy projects, rare teaching and pathology consultations with colleagues in China. I am a co-pathologist with the Great Ape Heart Project (www.greatapeheartproject.org) studying heart disease in apes, and co-pathologist with the North American Orangutan Species Survival Program for the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA).
I am married to Ernie Parker (you may remember him from UCD VMTH Radiation Therapy !) for 48 years. We have had a series of pets (dogs, cats and a parrot) over the years, and currently live with a sweet rescue dachshund mix named Chula. We live in Decatur GA (a suburb of Atlanta). We recently returned from a crosscountry driving trip (Decatur-San Diego-Altadena) to celebrate my mom’s 95th birthday party in California. My “preferment” (= instead of retirement, I volunteer for projects that I prefer) keeps me pretty busy, and I also volunteer once-weekly at a food pantry that serves local folks. Ernie is re-discovering his love for watercolor painting, and we enjoy jazz concerts, art and natural history museums, and relaxing a bit (at last !)
I was lucky to receive the excellent training at UCD that prepared me for a career in zoo clinical medicine, pathology, and teaching. Tremendous advances in technology, and talented faculty, have continued to improve teaching effectiveness for veterinary students, and I am so glad that we support the UCD Class of 1984 Scholarship. But I am very concerned about the financial and “corporatization” pressures on our current graduates, as well as global climate pressures influencing animal and human welfare, in the face of limited resources. I hope that we can continue to recruit talented future veterinarians, increase their efficiency and ability to interact effectively with clients, and address these local and global challenges.
