Welcome Back to the Herd: Cristin Kelley, V12

“I was introduced to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic as a Cummings School veterinary student and later continued as an intern,” says Cristin Kelley, V12 (she/her/hers), appointed in June as a clinical assistant professor in wildlife medicine.

“Tufts Wildlife Clinic is a unique place in many ways, with its considerably large caseload and its specific focus on wildlife – not exotic pets or zoo animals,” she explains. “Exotic pets and zoo animals deserve the best veterinary care, but wild animals are my interest and passion. I love releasing healthy wild animals back into the wild to continue their journey.”

Kelley also points to the strength of the school’s atmosphere. “I am quite fond of the culture and community at both the Wildlife Clinic and the school overall,” Kelley contends. “It values people, diversity, equity, the environment, and animal welfare – all of which are highly important to me. I am so happy to be here.”

[Cummings School] values people, diversity, equity, the environment, and animal welfare – all of which are highly important to me. I am so happy to be here.

Cristin Kelley, V12

Through her position as a clinical instructor, Kelley has educated new interns and fourth-year students on rotation through the Wildlife Clinic. “I find that answering students’ questions and evaluating lessons and techniques to make them most accessible and applicable to students keeps me fresh and open minded and makes me a better clinician,” she says.

“I also think that I can best assist future wildlife patients by inspiring future veterinarians to value wildlife and, most importantly, to value keeping wildlife wild.”

She is eager to take on this new role. “I look forward to continuing to treat wild animals while simultaneously teaching and inspiring new veterinarians, seeing new faces on campus, meeting the community, and possibly teaching a lecture or two.”

Kelley earned a B.S. in ecology, ethology, and evolution from the University of Illinois– Champaign/Urbana and a D.V.M. from Cummings School and completed a small animal rotating internship at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston.