EAAV Scientific Committee

Yvonne van Zeeland (DVM, MVR, PhD, Dip. ECZM) graduated with merit at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Utrecht, the Netherlands) in 2004. After having worked briefly in private practice, she returned to Utrecht University to successfully complete an internship in Companion Animal Medicine, residency in Avian Medicine and PhD on feather damaging behavior in Grey parrots. Aside from her recognition as a specialist in Avian medicine, she also became de facto recognized in Small mammal medicine. Yvonne currently works at the Division of Zoological Medicine, devoting her time to research, teaching and patient care of birds and small mammals. She furthermore actively contributes to the international development and advancement of avian and exotic animal medicine through lectures, publications and membership of various professional organizations and committees, including having served as President of the Association of Avian Veterinarians for 2018-2019.

Gunther Antonissen graduated from Ghent University, Belgium in 2011. He received a PhD in Veterinary Sciences at Ghent University in 2015, having studied the predisposing effect of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and fumonisins on necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. Gunther Antonissen is appointed as chairholder of the Chair Poultry Health Sciences at Ghent University. The poultry research of the group of prof. Antonissen is multidisciplinary, focusing on a better understanding of the pathogenesis of infectious and non-infectious diseases, improving diagnostics, and demonstrating the efficacy and safety of prevention and treatment strategies. Gunther also works as avian and poultry veterinarian at the clinic for birds and exotic animals of Ghent University. Together with his undergraduate and PhD students he is also investigating the renal physiology in different avian species, and the usage of NSAIDs in psittacines. Gunther is currently the secretary of EAAV.

John Chitty is RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine. Qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1990 and gained RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine in 2000. Co-Director of a small animal/ exotics practice in Andover, Hampshire with a 100% avian/ exotics/ small mammal caseload- referral and first opinion. Consultant to seven zoological collections, a commercial laboratory and the Great Bustard Reintroduction project. Co-editor of three texts on avian medicine, one on rabbit surgery and co-author of a textbook of tortoise medicine.  Author of various book chapters and papers on a range of species. President of European Association of Avian Veterinarians 2015-17 and on editorial board of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association 2017-18.

Tom graduated from Edinburgh University in 2011. After his degree, he completed a one-year rotating internship, working extensively with exotic species (mainly raptors and reptiles) before starting his residency in Avian Medicine at Great Western Exotics (GWE) in May 2012. Tom gained his RCVS CertAVP (ZooMed) in 2014 and completed his Residency in Avian Medicine in 2015. He obtained his European diploma DipECZM (avian) and both European and RCVS specialist status in 2017.

Tom regularly provides lectures on all aspects of exotic medicine and care, nationally and internationally, to vets and vet nurses. He supervises the only UK-based European College of Zoological Medicine avian residency programme, helping to train the specialists of the future. Residents are qualified and experienced exotic animal vets, who take three years’ further training at GWE before becoming eligible to sit their specialist examinations. Tom regularly publishes articles in the veterinary press and is conducting a number of research projects, with studies investigating ‘viral infections in falcons’ and ‘parrot cholesterol’ taking up most of his non-clinic time.

Dr. Luisa Fischer, neé Ziegler (DVM, DipECZM(WPH), FTÄ Zier-, Zoo, und Wildvögel) graduated at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University Leipzig, Germany in 2012. Between 2012 and 2019 she worked at the Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany.  and. During her time at university she got head of the laboratory department (pathology, parasitology, microbiology), successfully finished her doctoral thesis on Mycoplasma spp. in falcons, and completed her training as German specialist for birds. Recently she successfully completed a 3-years residency training at the European College of Zoological Medicine (Wildlife Population Health) and earned the EVBS® Specialist status as Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (Wildlife Population Health) by examination. Luisa currently works at the Wildlife Research Institute (State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection North Rhine-Westphalia) as head of the department for wildlife diseases.

Deborah is an Australian and European recognised Avian specialist, running a busy avian and exotics practice in Brisbane, Australia.  She is interested in the human-animal bond, practice processes, animal behaviour, and professional development of upcoming colleagues.  She has co-edited two books and is working on a third.  She regularly peer-reviews, speaks at conferences, is on several committees, and has been a VIN consultant for a number of years.  Apart from veterinary medicine, her other obsession is rowing, and she competes regularly in regattas.   In her spare time, Deborah is a slave to a houseful of chronically problematic pets.

Jaime graduated with Honours from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veracruz University, Mexico in 1978. After a brief period of time in El Salvador, working in private practice, he returned to Veracruz and became an Associate Professor. In 1981, Jaime traveled to London to study and conduct research projects in reptile and avian medicine at the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London. He received his Doctorate degree in Avian Reproductive Biology from the Royal College of Veterinary Medicine, University of London in 1987. Immediately afterwards, Jaime moved to the Middle East where he has worked ever since, first in the Kingdoms of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and finally in the United Arab Emirates. Jaime has edited five textbooks, written 17 chapters in different textbooks on exotic animal and avian medicine, and more than 170 articles in Magazines and International Journals.

Jaime received an Award for his outstanding contribution to the field of Zoological Medicine from the British Veterinary Zoological Society – Parke-Davies – Upjohn in 1998 and the Veterinarian of the Year Award by Ted Lafeber in 2006. Jaime earned the status of Specialist from the European College of Zoological Medicine in the specialty of avian medicine in 2004 and became Professor of Medicine of Raptors at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Parma, Italy, in 2018. Jaime became a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society of Biology based in London, England in 2018.

Peter Sandmeier graduated in 1988 from the University of Zürich. After writing his dissertation at the Zürich Zoo, he spent a year in an internship program at Washington State University, Pullman, USA. Following further periods at the Institute of avian pathology in Zürich and in private practice he started his own small animal and avian practice in 1994. In 1999 he passed the exam of the European College of Avian Medicine and Surgery to become a de facto ECAMS diplomate. He is the long-time owner and medical director of the small animal and avian practice and is an active member of the avian speciality of ECZM.

Steve graduated in 2002 from the Royal Veterinary College, London, and spent 2 years in small animal practice in Hampshire. In 2004 he started a 4 year European College of Zoological Medicine internship and residency program run jointly between Great Western Exotics and the University of Bristol. In 2006, Steve gained the RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine. In 2008 he completed his residency program and joined a large independent mixed practice in Buckinghamshire to set up an avian and exotics service. In 2011 he gained the ECZM Diploma in Zoological Medicine (Avian). In 2016 he became the sole charge, full-time vet at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital, one of the busiest wildlife hospitals in Europe. Steve has lectured at multiple conferences to vets and nurses and has published in various texts and journals including BSAVA Manuals. He enjoys all aspects of avian medicine, especially work with birds of prey and pigeons, and he also has an enthusiastic interest in backyard poultry medicine and legislation.

Brian Speer received his DVM degree from the University of California at Davis in 1983. Board specialty status was awarded through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 1996, and he was certified in the European College of Avian Medicine and Surgery (ECAMS – now ECZM) in 1999.  He is in private practice; director of the Medical Center for Birds in northern California. He has served the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) as chair of the Aviculture Committee, as a director of the board, and as president.  He has served the ECZM as scientific committee chair, and as a member of the examination committee. Brian is currently a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network for avian medical topics. He is a co-author of The Large Macaws (1995), Birds for Dummies (1999, second edition 2021), and editor for Current Veterinary Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery, (2015; co-editor of the second volume anticipated 2022).

Dr. Tully, is a Professor of Zoological Medicine in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department at Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine.  He also serves as Service Chief of the Zoological Medicine Service. He has co-edited six books (including 1 second edition), co-authored one (second edition published) as well as authoring and co – authoring numerous chapters in other veterinary medical texts. Most recently published, Current Therapy in Exotic Pet Practice, Mitchell and Tully. He was CoEditor-In-Chief of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine from 2005-2018. He is now Scientific Editor for the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery.

Endre graduated at the University of Veterinary Science in Budapest in 1995 and immediately started as a zoo veterinarian in the same year at the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, where he is currently the Director of Veterinary Services and Conservation. Together with his team they are the official veterinarians in numerous current and former Life Plus conservation programs, dealing with the Hungarian meadow viper, Imperial Eagle and endangered rodents of Hungary. He is also involved in the conservation medicine of other high profile species, such as the Przewalski’s horse, Eurasian otter and the Eurasian beaver. He is one of the vet advisors in the Elephant TAG, Przewalski’s horse EEP and Red panda EEP. Currently, he is the Vice-Chairman of the Hungarian Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV Hungarian Section) and the EAZWV itself. He owns a DESMAN (Diploma on Endangered Species Management, issued by the University of Canterbury, Kent and completed in Durrell Wildlife Preservation Trust), and have the titles of a Hungarian Specialist in Companion Animal Medicine and a Hungarian Specialist in Exotic Animal Medicine. He completed a PhD in Great Bustard medicine and became a Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (Zoo Health Management) in 2012.
Endre is liaison to the ECZM and EAAV Committee and the ICARE Steering Committee.