Calli Freedman

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT CALLI FREEDMAN

I am a veterinarian with an interest in exotic animal and wildlife medicine and a sincere passion for One Health. I earned my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree at the Ontario Veterinary College. My fascination with animals was sparked at a young age, watching nature documentaries and flipping through my father\'s copies of National Geographic. I became passionate about Conservation Biology while studying Zoology at the University of Guelph and, rather than relinquish my long-term dream of becoming a veterinarian in favour of a career as a conservationist, I shifted my career interests towards wildlife and conservation medicine. I have had the opportunity to explore this interest as a Wildlife Care Volunteer at the Toronto Wildlife Centre, as a Veterinary Technician at the Georgian Bay Turtle Hospital/Scales Nature Park, and through veterinary externships and volunteering. I earned my Masters of Science studying Integrative Biology, with a focus on Comparative Physiology. My research focused on the cardiovascular biology and stress neuroendocrinology of fish. I am passionate about environmental and social justice and have been recognized for leading sustainability initiatives on campus as the first and only WWF-Canada Living Planet Leader at the Ontario Veterinary College. As a student, I founded ECOVC (ECO Vet Community), a new environmental club at OVC which promotes climate change/conservation literacy and advocates for the incorporation of sustainable practices in veterinary medicine. I have also served as the Senior Lunch Talk Coordinator for the ZEW (Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife) Club and the Senior Academic Advisor for the Omega Tau Sigma Professional Veterinary Fraternity, Delta Chapter.