A Behind-the-Scenes Visit at the Minnesota Zoo
Staff veterinarian Dr. Susie Garity, left, and Director of Animal Health Dr. Annie Rivas, right, in the animal hospital’s one treatment room.
Zoological medicine has evolved significantly over the past 50 years, and our recent MVMA staff visit to the Minnesota Zoo was an eye-opening glimpse into just how much, as well as a window into how unique the field is.
Dr. Annie Rivas, the Director of Animal Health at the Minnesota Zoo, leads a team of three staff veterinarians, one intern, four technicians, two assistants, an animal nutritionist, a nutrition technician, and rotating externs. Together, they make up the zoo’s Animal Health team and work in conjunction with teams in three other areas: animal care, conservation, and behavior.
The Hospital: MN Zoo’s First Building
We began our visit with a tour of the animal hospital, which was the first building constructed on campus in 1974. More than 50 years later, it’s still in use in its original layout and size, despite significant changes in zoo medicine and the growth of the zoo’s collection from 1,200 animals when it opened in 1978 to nearly 5,000 today.
Located about a mile from the animal habitats, the hospital was originally built as a quarantine facility. At that time, Dr. Rivas explained, zoo medicine was primarily reactive—focused on disease control and understanding causes of death—and the size, design, and layout of the facility reflect that. She walked us through the lab, treatment room, surgery suite, necropsy room, pharmacy, ICU, caging, and loading dock where animals are transferred into and out of the hospital, pointing out numerous space-related challenges. In what is already a high risk work environment, spaces designed for what zoo medicine was in the 1970s mean that a lot of creativity and adaptability are needed for the Animal Health team to do their work. Excellent communication, team work, and trust are imperative, and Dr. Rivas leads with that in mind.
Thankfully, the Minnesota Zoo has been fundraising for a much-needed hospital upgrade. They also received some of their requested state funding this legislative season, which will fund key upgrades though won’t allow them to realize their full vision. (Fun fact: the Minnesota Zoo is one of only two state-owned/supported zoos in the United States!)
Veterinary Work at a Zoo: More Varied than the Number of Patient Species!
Zoo medicine was recognized as a specialty in 1983, when the American College of Zoological Medicine was established. This elevated the field just five years after the MN Zoo opened, spurring development and transforming it into a rigorous specialty. Today the field is primarily focused on preventative health and conservation, and research is an important component.
As Director of Animal Health, Dr. Rivas’ role is approximately 50% clinical and 50% administrative, while staff veterinarian roles are closer to 75% clinical. Her work includes managing the annual schedule of routine care for the 5,000 animals in the zoo’s collection as well as triaging and making decisions about emergent health issues.
No day looks the same. Various species rotate through the schedule of routine care, and new animals arrive in quantities from one to 100+ in a day. Unpredictability is the name of the game and flexibility is necessary; preparation for a planned procedure on one kind of animal may be interrupted by the need for an emergency procedure on a different kind of animal. The hospital’s single treatment room has hosted patients of all sizes, from tiny dart frogs to horses!
Technicians handle routine lab work in house, but send out things that are very specialized. Approximately 7,500 prescriptions are filled each year, and managing the pharmacy—with so many different drugs to keep on hand, supply challenges, and the need to keep a large volume of certain drugs on hand in case of an emergency (“What if I had to quickly move a herd of camels?” as Dr. Rivas put it)—is its own unique challenge.
Entering and Advancing the Field
Dr. Annie Rivas and her team are passionate about advancing the field and educating future zoo veterinarians. The Minnesota Zoo’s internship program, which Dr. Rivas started when she joined the team, is now in its fifth year. She loves working with the interns and watching them grow and gain confidence. So far, each intern has since gone on to secure a job or residency at a zoo.
Every year, the Animal Health team also hosts 12 fourth-year externs for 4-6 weeks each and employs a summer student worker. Most externs come from other states where schools have a stronger focus on exotics/wildlife coursework.
The path to becoming a zoo veterinarian is challenging, but it’s rewarding work when it’s the right fit. “It’s definitely something you have to be committed to and have a lot of flexibility around,” said Dr. Rivas. The number of available roles is extremely limited, and being flexible and willing to move for training and work opportunities is a must. Dr. Rivas herself has criss-crossed the country, pursuing training and holding positions on both coasts, in Alabama, and now Minnesota.
For those interested in a career in zoo medicine, Dr. Rivas shared that pursuing coursework and training early are key. It’s also important to have a solid understanding of the field. It’s not the most “animal-hands-on” type of veterinary medicine. For example, Dr. Rivas might do a one hour procedure on an animal that could take three hours of prep work. Additionally, the research and publication component requires a scientifically minded approach to clinical medicine.
Dr. Rivas is interested in continuing to grow the network of experienced zoo, wildlife, and exotic animal practitioners in Minnesota. She also said the Minnesota Zoo’s Animal Health team is available to support colleagues finding themselves faced with non-traditional species and welcomes MVMA members to reach out!
Article by Jenn Stromberg, MVMA Marketing & Communications Manager
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2026 issue of the MVMA Messenger.
