@ People > Faculty > Dr. Sonia Hernandez-Divers

Dr. Sonia Hernandez-Divers, DVM, Dipl ACZM

Doctoral Student
Institute of Ecology
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7390, USA
Tel: 1-706-542-2968

Adjunct Professor of Exotic Animal, Wildlife & Zoological Medicine
Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7390, USA
Tel: 1-706-542-9384 ( Small Animal Department )
Fax: 1-706-542-6460
E-mail: shernz@aol.com

Education:

• Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine, September 2002.
• Residency in Zoological/Wildlife Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 2001.
• Internship in Small Animal Medicine/Surgery, Sonora Veterinary Specialists, 1997.
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1996.
• Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Minor in Chemistry, University of New Orleans, 1992.

Boarded Area of Specialization:
Zoological medicine (birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, fish, wildlife).

Clinical and Research Interests:

• Exotic pet medicine & surgery.
• Zoo & wildlife medicine & surgery.
• Research involving exotic, zoo, or wildlife species.
• Minimally invasive endoscopy and endosurgery.

Dr Hernandez-Divers is particularly interested in disease in wild animal populations, especially as how it relates to anthropogenic activity. Her current doctoral research investigates the relationship between the prevalence/diversity of pathogens in free-ranging birds in Ecuador and land use types. She is also interested in related topics such as avian, tropical and disease ecology. She continues to be interested in exotic animal medicine, in particular, the study of reptile physiology as it applies to clinical medicine.

Various opportunities exist for veterinary students, fellow academicians, and veterinarians to visit, observe and train at the veterinary college.

Professional Curriculum Courses:

• SAMS 5415, Senior Clinical Course in Exotic Animal, Wildlife, and Zoological Medicine and Surgery.
• SAMS 5218, Reptile and Avian Medicine.
• SAMS 5217, Small Mammal and Aquatic Medicine.
• SAMS 5116, Zoo & Wildlife Medicine.

Graduate Instruction:

• SAMS 7500, Exotic Animal, Wildlife and Zoological Medicine Intern Training.
• MSc (Masters degree course) in Wild Animal Health, Zoological Society of London and The Royal Veterinary College, University of London.

Selected Publications:

Aguilar RF, Hernandez-Divers SM and Hernandez-Divers SJ (2005). Atlas de Medicina, Terapéutica y Patología de Animales Exóticos (Atlas of Medicine, Therapy and Pathology of Exotic Animals). Editorial Inter-Médica, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pp 1-375.

Hernandez-Divers SM. Keeping Unusual Pets: Geckos. Textbook for children ages 8-10. Hernandez-Divers, S.M. Heinemann Library, Oxford, UK. 2002.

Hernandez-Divers SM. Keeping Unusual Pets: Snakes. Textbook for children ages 8-10. Heinemann Library, Oxford, UK. 2002.

Hernandez-Divers SJ and Hernandez-Divers SM (eds.). The Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice. Internal Medicine. Vol 6(1). 2003.

Hernandez-Divers SM, Aguilar RA, Leandro-Loria D, Foerster CR. Health evaluation of a radiocollared population of free-ranging Baird's tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) in Costa Rica. Accepted to the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, July 2004.

Hernandez-Divers SM, Schumacher J, Read MR, Stahl S, Hernandez-Divers SJ. Comparison of isoflurane and sevoflurane following premedication with butorphanol in the green iguana (Iguana iguana). Accepted to the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, August, 2004.

Hernandez-Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, Stedman NL, Hernandez-Divers SM, Schumacher J, Hanley CS, Wilson GH, Vidyashankar AN, Zhao Y and Rumbeiha WK. Renal Evaluation in the green iguana (Iguana iguana): Assessment of plasma biochemistry, glomerular filtration rate, and endoscopic biopsy. Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine, accepted August 2004.

Hernandez-Divers SM, Orcutt, CJ, Stahl, S, Garner, M, Keating J and Schiller, C. Lymphoma in lizards. J Herp Med and Surg 13 (1): 14-22. 2003.

Hernandez-Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, Hernandez-Divers SM, Read MR, Hanley C, Martinez F and Cooper TL (2004). Coelomic endoscopy of the green iguana (Iguana iguana). J Herpetological Med & Surg, 14:10-18.

Hernandez-Divers SJ and Hernandez-Divers SM (2004). Xenogeneic skin grafts using porcine small intestinal submucosa in two barn owls (Tyto alba), an umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua alba), and a common crow (Corvus brachyhynchos). J Avian Med & Surg, 17:224-234.

Hernandez-Divers SM, Hernandez-Divers SJ and Wyneken J (2002). Angiographic, anatomic, and clinical technique descriptions of a subcarapacial venipuncture site for chelonians. J Herp Med & Surg, 12:32-37.

Hernandez-Divers SM, Kollias, GV, Abou-Madi, N, Hartup, B Surgical Technique for Abdominal Radiotransmitter Placement in North American River Otters (Lutra Canadienses). J Zoo Wildl Med 32 (2): 202-205. 2001.

Hernandez-Divers SM. Capture and Immobilization of Free-Ranging Baird's Tapirs in Costa Rica. In: Zoological Restraint and Anesthesia, Heard D. (ed.) Ithaca: International Veterinary Information Service, B0184:1201. 2000.

Foerster, Sonia H. (previous name), James E. Bailey, Roberto Aguilar, Danilo L. Loria and Charles Foerster. Butorphanol/Xylazine/Ketamine Immobilization of Free-Ranging Baird's Tapirs. J Wildl Diseases, 36 (2), 2000.

Professional Services:

• American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Chair, International Committee, 2002-present.
• American College of Zoological Medicine, Education Committee, 2002-present.

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