Brookfield Zoo Staff
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine Staff Biographies
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

Brookfield Zoo Staff

Stuart Strahl, Ph.D., Director of Brookfield Zoo and President of the Chicago Zoological Society, is a dedicated conservation leader with more than 20 years experience in nonprofit management, public policy, applied science, and restoration ecology. Dr. Strahl came to Brookfield Zoo in 2003 from Audubon of Florida, where he was President and CEO. One of his major accomplishments there was his leadership of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the largest ecological restoration initiative in history. In his varied work throughout the U.S. and Latin America, Strahl has helped develop partnerships that have resulted in the preservation of millions of acres of wildlife habitat and billions of dollars in conservation funding. 

Dr. Meehan came from Lincoln Park Zoo to head the zoo’s Department of Animal Health in July 1993.  He is responsible for a program of preventive medicine and clinical care for the zoo’s collection of 2,883 individual amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, fish, and invertebrates representing 456 species in 26 major animal exhibits.  He oversees the hospital staff, which includes two full-time associate veterinarians and several laboratory and veterinary technicians. His research interests include Vitamin D in primates, Diseases of Gorillas and emerging infectious disease. Dr. Meehan serves as veterinary advisor to the Gorilla and Spectacled Bear Species Survival Plans (SSPs). He serves on the Infectious Disease Committee of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians and the Animal Health Committee and the Nutrition Advisory Group of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.  He is chair of the Research Committee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago, a collaborative initiative of Brookfield Zoo, Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine, and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.  He received his B.S. in agriculture and his D.V.M. from University of Missouri.  Dr. Meehan is a member of the Steering Committee and Chair of the Research Subcommittee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago. 

Dr. Cadle came to Brookfield Zoo in 1999, after having spent six years as Associate Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Associate Curator in Herpetology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University.   He received his undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Georgia and his doctorate in zoology from the University of California at Berkeley.  Dr. Cadle’s research interests:  Tropical biodiversity, especially of amphibians and reptiles in South America and Madagascar; Evolution, systematics and biogeography of amphibians and reptiles; Phylogeny of snakes using inferences from morphological and molecular data; Field conservation biologyincluding the impact of  diseases on natural populations.  He has had extensive field experience in Central and South America, Africa, Madagascar and has current projects in Madagascar and South America.  Dr. Cadle is a member of the Research Subcommittee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago.     

Patricia McGill, Ph.D., Chair, Animal Collection and Curator of Birds 

Dr. McGill is Brookfield Zoo’s Chairperson for the Animal Collection Division and Curator of Birds. She is professionally trained in ornithology with specific research background in seabird breeding biology.  She is experienced in research design, field studies, and data analysis as well as in the management of captive bird populations.  Dr. McGill is also the Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP) Coordinator and works with the penguin management representatives of other institutions to develop the demographic, genetic, social, and husbandry management of Humboldt penguins in captivity. Other primary areas of current study include the effects of UV light on pair-bonds and mate choice in tropical forest birds; behavioral and stress endocrinology of Micronesian kingfishers; captive management and breeding of Hawaiian forest birds; and field conservation of Humboldt penguins in South America.  Patty received her B.A. in Biology from Colorado College and both her Master’s in wildlife science and her Ph.D. in vertebrate biology from Cornell University.  Dr. McGill is a member of the Steering Committee and a member of the Education Subcommittee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago.

Mr. Sullivan is Deputy Director of the zoo for conservation programs, which include animal management science, field conservation and education programs.  He came to the zoo in 1990 working with international conservation programs.  As Chair of the Department of Conservation Biology he is responsible for management of the conservation and research programs of the department.  Mr. Sullivan’s professional interest is in conservation policy and planning.  He has worked extensively with international treaties relating to wildlife conservation and on species conservation strategies.  He is actively involved with biodiversity recovery programs in the Chicago region.  Mr. Sullivan has an undergraduate degree in biology from Cornell University and a master’s degree in conservation biology from Yale University.  Mr. Sullivan is a member of the Steering Committee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago.

Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine Staff Biographies

Dr. Cera received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois, Urbana and completed a residency in Comparative Medicine and Pathology at the University of Chicago, Billings Hospital, Carlson Animal Research Facility, Chicago, Illinois.  Her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Pathology was received from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago.  She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Biology/Biochem at the University of Chicago, Cancer Research Center, Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology.  Presently, Dr. Cera is the Assistant Dean for Comparative Studies, Director, Animal Research Facility, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy and Department of Pathology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of medicine.  Research interests include animal models of human diseases; emerging zoonotic diseases and their effect on endangered species; animal models and infectious diseases.  Dr. Cera is a member of the Steering Committee and chair of the Education Committee of the Conservation medicine Center of Chicago.  

Dr. Clancy has been a Professor and Chair of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy since 1986.  His laboratory studies the mechanism(s) of cell and whole organ transplantation rejection and transplantation tolerance.  He has also studied extensively the role of heat shock proteins in immunity and the influence of serotonin on the immune response.  Dr. Clancy is a member of the Steering Committee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago.

Richard Kennedy, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean of Research and VP for Health Science Research at the Stritch School of Medicine, provides a strong research emphasis to the CMCC. Dr. Kennedy joined Loyola in August of 2004. He previously served as Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. In his role as Senior Associate Dean at Loyola, he oversees the establishment of a new research infrastructure that will facilitate continued expansion of nationally and internationally recognized collaborative biomedical research that will readily translate scientific discover and technology to patient care. His research interests include the pathophysiology of cardiac remodeling, the role of mast cells in cardiac pathophysiology; sex differences in cardiac aging, and acute and chronic cardiac effects of combined burn trauma and acute alcohol intoxication. Dr. Kennedy chairs the CMCC Steering Committee, and is a member of the CMCC Research Committee.   

Dr. Andrews received his D.V.M. from Iowa State University and both his M.S. and Ph.D. from Michigan State University.  He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.  His research interest in pathogenesis of respiratory diseases with a particular emphasis on the development of diagnostic techniques for the detection of agents in respirator tissues.  Dr. Andrews is a member of the Steering Committee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago.  

Dr. Haschek-Hock received a B.V.Sc. (Honors) from the University of Sydney in 1972 and a Ph.D. in Veterinary Pathology from Cornell University in 1977.  She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) in  1977 and a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology in 1980. She has over 100 scientific publications in the fields of toxicology and pathology, with emphasis on pulmonary toxicology and mycotoxicoses, and is the senior editor of two textbooks on toxicologic pathology.  She is currently President of the Society of Toxicology’s Comparative and Veterinary Specialty Section and a Councillor for the ACVP.  She has served as a member of the FDA Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee, Councillor for the Society of Toxicologic Pathologists, Associate Editor for  Toxicological Sciences and on the Editorial Boards of Toxicologic Pathology and  Veterinary Pathology.  Her interests in research and higher education center on toxicologic and diagnostic pathology.      Dr. Haschek-Hock is a member of the Steering Committee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago.

Dr. Jackson received his M.A. from the University of Missouri at Columbia and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.  Research in his laboratory deals with two aspects of neuroendocrine control of gonadotropin and prolactin secretion.  A primary area of study is the relationship between gonadal steroids, neurotransmitters, and secretion of hypothalamic and pituitary hormones in response to environmental and physiological stimuli.  The techniques of in situ hybridization, microdialysis, push-pull perfusion, and portal vessel cannulation are used to study temporal changes in secretion of hypothalamic compounds and pituitary hormones in animals subjected to endocrine and environmental manipulations.  Another major goal is to understand the relative roles of putative endogenous circannual oscillators, photorefractoriness, and photoinduction in regulating annual cycles of reproduction and prolactin secretion.  Dr. Jackson is a member of the Research Subcommittee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago.  

Uriel Kitron, M.P.H., Ph.D., Professor of Epidemiology and Professor, Department of Pathology  

Dr. Kitron received his M.P.H. from the University of Michigan and his doctorate from the University of California at Santa Barbara.  His research and teaching interests center around the epidemiology and ecology of infectious diseases, particularly those carried by mosquitoes and ticks (vector-borne), and the zoonoses (diseases that are common to humans and other animals).  He applies tools such as geographic information systems and remote sensing to gather and manage environmental data that can explain the spatial distribution of disease and vectors, and assess risk of transmission.  Following quantitative spatial analysis, maps can then be produced to target further research efforts, as well as in support of surveillance and control efforts by public health agencies.  Dr. Kitron is a member of the Research Subcommittee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago.   

Dr. Goldberg earned his Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from Harvard University.  He became a Post-doctoral Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at the University of Illinois where he earned his Master of Science in Epidemiology and his D.V.M.  Dr. Goldberg’s current research interests include molecular epidemiology and evolution; molecular investigation of viral pathogens, including application of molecular genetic techniques to the investigation of patterns of transmission and risk factors for infection; molecular epidemiology and evolution of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, pseudorabies virus and primate immunodeficiency viruses; quantitative epidemiology and statistics; primate evolutionary genetics; molecular evolution, population genetics; systematics; behavioral ecology of African primates, with an emphasis on chimpanzees; development of laboratory and analytical techniques for the genetic testing of hypotheses about old world primate evolution.  Dr. Goldberg is a member of the Research and Education Subcommittees of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago.

Dr. Pijanowski received his D.V.M. from Cornell University and his master’s and doctorate from Purdue University.  His research focus is anatomy:  biomechanics of themusculoskeletal system, interaction between the mechanical environment of the musculoskeletal system and the biological structure.  Current research:  analysis and modeling of external skeletal fixator frames.  Dr. Pijanowski is a member of the Education Subcommittee of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago