Buttonwood Park Zoo Welcomes New Vet

Dr. Whitney Greene is taking the helm of the Zoo’s veterinary hospital.  Buttonwood Park Zoo Director, Keith Lovett stated that “we are very excited for Dr. Greene to lead the veterinary programs at the Zoo.  She brings a great mixture of education, experience, and energy to this position.”

Greene who grew up in both South Dartmouth and on a farm in northern New Hampshire and attended Friends and Tabor Academy.  She was first exposed to the world of veterinary medicine while interning at the Living Seas in Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort and holds an undergraduate degree in Biology from Connecticut College and a Masters of Science in comparative immunology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Dr. Greene attended Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine in California, which emphasizes problem based learning and hands-on experience.  She has spent time at the San Diego Zoo, Mystic Aquarium, San Diego Zoo Wild Safari Park, Georgia Aquarium, Denver Zoo, Angell Memorial, The Marine Mammal Center (Sausalito, CA), the US Navy Marine Mammal Program, and specialty hospitals throughout California.  Additionally, Dr. Greene interned at the Buttonwood Park Zoo veterinary hospital in the summer of 2013.

Dr. Greene moved back to Massachusetts after completing her studies and recently celebrated her marriage to Josh Huntsman.  She has served as a teaching assistant in Anatomy and Physiology at UMASS Dartmouth and has published research papers on dolphin cognition and behavior and comparative immunology.  Dr. Greene is excited to join the team at Buttonwood Park Zoo and states that she “is eager to bring more research and educational programs to the zoo and is excited to work with rescue, rehabilitation and conservation”

In her role as the Buttonwood Park Zoo Veterinarian, Dr. Greene will lead all of the Zoo’s veterinary activities including programs focused on general veterinary care, preventative animal medicine, animal nutrition, wildlife rehabilitation, and animal wellness.  Additionally, Dr. Greene will be highly involved in developing a conservation for the Zoo’s endangered species and research science programs.

With additional reporting by Sal Lopez