Our Faculty Advisor

Mariana Sosa-Higareda, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, is an Assistant Professor in the Zoological Medicine Service at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, where she provides specialized clinical care, conducts research, and teaches the next generation of veterinarians. She earned her veterinary degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and completed advanced clinical training through an avian internship at The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota, a small animal rotating internship in New York City, and a residency in zoological companion animal medicine at the University of California, Davis. Board-certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM), Dr. Sosa-Higareda focuses her work on the health and welfare of exotic, zoo, and wildlife species, with academic interests centered on improving diagnostic and treatment approaches for zoological companion animals and advancing clinical research to enhance care across species

Sam Sander, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, is a Clinical Associate Professor in Zoological Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, where she serves as Service Head for the Zoo Ambulatory service and Director of the UIUC Zoological Medicine Specialty Internship. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois, where she earned both her undergraduate and veterinary degrees. Her post graduate training includes a small animal rotating internship in Connecticut, a zoo specialty internship at the University of Illinois, and a zoological medicine residency at Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine and currently serves as a veterinary scientific advisor for the AZA African penguin SSP and Penguin TAG.

Kenneth Welle, DVM, Dipl. ACVP (Avian) is a board-certified avian veterinarian and Clinical Assistant Professor in Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his DVM from the University of Illinois and spent several years in general practice before achieving specialty certification in Avian Practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. His career has included extensive private practice focused on birds and exotic companion animals, as well as work with zoological species.

Since joining the University of Illinois faculty, Dr. Welle has been dedicated to teaching avian, exotic, and wildlife medicine while providing specialized clinical care at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. He is actively involved in professional organizations, including the Association of Avian Veterinarians, where he has held leadership roles, and regularly contributes to the field through lectures and educational outreach at regional, national, and international levels.