MVSc, ACVP, DVM, BA(Hons) Dr. Kirstin Cook was born in Buffalo NY USA and has always had a deep love for animals, particularly wildlife (especially cetaceans). In 2013 she earned a Bachelors of Arts with Honors, majoring in biology. Followed by veterinary school at the University of Florida, earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2017 along with an additional certificate in Aquatic Animal Health. She then worked as a clinical veterinarian for 2 years in Baltimore before beginning a 3 year residency in veterinary anatomic pathology at the University of Illinois Zoological Pathology Program in Chicago IL. In 2022, she became a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. In conjunction with her residency she completed a Masters of Science Degree. She then worked as a clinical instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine before fulfilling a lifelong dream by moving to Australia in 2023 to work as the veterinary pathologist for Taronga Zoo for a year. She is now returning to academia and beginning a new chapter at CSU as a senior lecturer in veterinary pathology. Dr. Kirstin Cook’s expertise lies in the field of veterinary anatomic pathology (general pathology and systemic pathology) including necropsy (autopsy), and surgical pathology (biopsies). She is further specialized in the pathology of zoo/wildlife/exotic species and its applications in conservation. She has taught all levels of veterinary students and pathology residents in didactic and clinical (necropsy) settings on a variety of topics spanning domestic, zoo, production, and wildlife species in multiple academic and field settings. Dr. Kirstin Cook earned a MS degree by completing a project utilizing RNAscope® to detect elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1A in archival tissue and publishing her research. She is also an author on several other papers including the first report of disease in the Atlantic blue marlin, and a review of histopathology findings in African giant millipedes, among others. She has a particular interest in diseases of wildlife, especially anything aquatic, and its applications to species conservation. She has also contributed illustrations to several scientific journals and textbooks.
Veterinary Science
Dr Kirstin Cook