Dr. Briscoe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002 and completed a rotating small animal internship with the VCA Veterinary Referral Associates in Gaithersburg, MD. After her internship, she returned to the University of Pennsylvania for a residency in Special Species Medicine. After her residency, she remained at Penn as a lecturer and then joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2006. She became a diplomate of the American Board of American Practitioners (ABVP)-Avian in 2003. Serving as faculty advisor for the Special Species Symposium as well as the Special Species Club has been one of her most rewarding experiences. She is also the course organizer for the third year veterinary school electives Introduction to Companion Avian Medicine and Introduction to Reptile and Amphibian Medicine. As head of the Avian Welfare Committee for the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) she works to increase awareness in veterinarians on the status of birds in captivity and how we serve on the front lines in protecting that status. Her research interests focus on the effects of captivity on exotic pets, and she is currently evaluating the effects of human exposure on staphylococcal colonization of parrots and rabbits.

One of the most frustrating presenting complaints for veterinarians of exotic pets is a behavior problem. Much of this stems from a desire by the owners for the non-domesticated animal living in their house to act like a pet. Parrots, rabbits, and iguanas are NOT cats and dogs. This talk will be a case-based discussion of behavior problems in exotic pets and how to address them without losing your own mind.