Tessa McBurney
Biography
Tessa McBurney, a recent Doctor of Veterinary Medicine graduate from the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, has joined the department as one of the new wildlife medicine interns. Her primary responsibilities will be clinical service at the Tufts Wildlife Clinic, but she will also contribute to teaching and research.
Prior to veterinary school, McBurney earned a Bachelor of Science Honours in Conservation Biology from Trent University and a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Drama, World Language Studies, and International Studies from Queen’s University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Veterinary Medicine in Pathology and Microbiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College. Her master’s research focuses on surveillance of zoonotic pathogens in wild bat populations within Atlantic Canada.
McBurney’s passion for bats led her to work for four years as the Atlantic Bat Conservation Project Technician with the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) before veterinary school. Her career interests encompass One Health, targeted wildlife surveillance, conservation medicine, and zoonotic diseases.
Originating from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, McBurney has also lived abroad in the United Kingdom and Japan. It’s no wonder that her hobbies include traveling, road trips, hiking, birding, reading, and aerial acrobatics. She spends most of her time with an 11-year-old mackerel tabby named Loki and her partner Alex. Since she’s new to the area (and the U.S. in general), feel free to say hello and recommend any favorite local spots if you see her!