Director of Veterinary Care, San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Dr. Lauren Howard is the Director of Veterinary Services at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. She leads a team of nearly 30 wildlife health professionals, including veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, two veterinary training positions, a veterinary assistant, wildlife care specialists, pathology drivers, a wildlife health registrar, and an administrative team. Dr. Howard’s primary responsibilities are to provide support and set her team up for success in providing the best veterinary care for our wildlife at the Safari Park and throughout our conservation programs, and to build and maintain connections within—and outside our organization—to advance San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s mission ensuring all life thrives.

Dr. Howard received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Miami (FL), and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Career highlights include Dr. Howard’s global work on EEHV—Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, a lethal virus in global elephant populations—including two federal IMLS grants to support EEHV research and establishing worldwide connections to combat this disease; contributing to the in situ recovery of the Houston toad; serving on the Executive Committee of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians; working with zoological medicine residents to develop the next generation of zoo veterinarians; leading the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance wildlife health team through the world’s first detection of SARS CoV 2 in gorillas; and working closely with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s conservation science team to on rhino conservation and stewardship of local wildlife.