Dr. Mark Stetter takes veterinary medicine to new heights – from drones to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

From the loudest zoo animals to a caterpillar’s quiet cocoon, Dr. Mark Stetter cares for animals great and small. In my latest episode of #OnPurpose, the Dean of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine shares his riveting stories of working with 350-pound gorillas, drones that hover over a whale’s blowhole, and more. It’s a remarkable journey filled with purpose and passion.

“The public knows a little bit about what we do…but I think there’s a lot more that can be done…to use storytelling…to elevate our purpose and bring greater value to veterinary medicine, to animal health, to human health, and how we can improve society in so many ways.”

Dr. Stetter’s stories mesmerize people of all ages. When he worked as a veterinarian for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, he sought ways to combine entertainment and education to give the public a fresh perspective.

“We would mic ourselves up and say, ‘Hey, this is Gino, a 350-pound silverback gorilla who’s here today for a full cardiac examination. He’s going to have blood tests and an echocardiogram…. We’re going to make sure he’s healthy in every way. And let me tell you about gorillas in the wild.’ It was a phenomenal way for us to care for the animals and show the public how cool these animals are – and how veterinary medicine keeps them healthy.”

Over the years, technology has allowed Dr. Stetter and his teams to take veterinary medicine to new heights – including over the Pacific Ocean.

“Using innovative techniques – drones – we can actually fly over killer whale pods, and as they exhale through their blowholes, we collect samples…and do a variety of tests to determine the normal bacteria and what their respiratory health should be. There’s just a tremendous amount of ways we can look at the health of wild populations and domestic animals using fancier technologies.”

Along his journey, he’s made a clear connection between animal health and human health – and why using a One Health approach is best for solving complex health issues.

“I was able to visit some of our researchers in Tanzania…. Rift Valley fever is a terrible disease that’s been the scourge of many countries in Africa for centuries…. Our team has been able to deliver an effective vaccine for livestock…and they’ve just been given the first approval for phase 1 studies for the Rift Valley vaccine for people. It’s a great example of how a One Health approach doesn’t work if just the veterinarians are working in the laboratory, but how you use a team of professionals – from the lab to the wilds to the livestock to the communities – all are critical to be able to solve a centuries-old disease.”

Dr. Stetter’s fascination with animal health began at an early age. He had the usual pets – dogs, cats, guinea pigs – along with some not-so-common ones.

“I remember distinctly finding some caterpillars and was able to move them into a tank across my bed. I fed them leaves and watched them turn into a cocoon…and come out as butterflies. Experiences like that really embedded in me a deep feeling that animals are just incredible, and that I wanted to work with them as a career.”

Thank you, Dr. Stetter, for your lifelong devotion to all kinds of animals. You’ve made an incredible impact on animal health and to the veterinary profession.