Dr. Marie Rush is a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine.
After graduating from Auburn University with a BS in Animal and Dairy Sciences and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree, she completed a rotating medicine and surgery internship at the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in New York City. She completed a residency in clinical zoo and wildlife medicine and surgery at the Wildlife Conservation Society, with focus training in diagnostics imaging at AMC. Following this, she served at the Birmingham Zoo as the Director of Veterinary Services and Curator of Ectotherms until late 2007. She then joined Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine as an Assistant Professor of zoo, wildlife, and exotic animal medicine. She was the veterinarian for the Southeastern Raptor Center. Dr. Rush partnered with the Environmental Institute at Auburn University and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources/Fish and Wildlife Services on a ten-year research project to repatriate Eastern Indigo snakes to the southeastern United States, including southern Alabama. Dr. Rush serves as veterinary advisor for the SSP for Chinese Alligators.
In 2009, Dr. Rush joined the faculty of St. George's University's School of Veterinary Medicine as Associate Professor in pathobiology/small animal medicine and as Coordinator of wildlife research: teaching zoo and exotic animal medicine and disease. After nearly ten years, she retired from full-time faculty but continues to serve as a visiting professor and works with student research in conservation/wildlife fields. She is a senior research fellow at the Winward Islands Research and Education Foundation and continues to work on field conservation research in Grenada. Dr. Rush joined the ANtech Imaging Services staff team, working full-time in telemedicine and diagnostic imaging interpretation in early 2015, where she specializes in zoo, wildlife, and exotic animal species. Marie serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine and is a reviewer for multiple peer-reviewed journals in the veterinary field. She has authored and co-authored over 25 publications, 2 book chapters, and 15 peer-reviewed presentations in her field. She continues to work in private practice and teaches at multiple veterinary schools, in addition to working as a consulting clinical veterinarian at multiple zoos. Dr. Rush enjoys the opportunity to mentor others. She sees each day as an opportunity to learn. Dr. Rush is committed to inspiring passion for the natural world through conservation medicine, research, and education.
In her free time, Dr. Rush enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, observing and photographing wildlife in the rainforest and wilderness, art, and attending cultural events. She also enjoys Auburn football and basketball games.
