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Alumni Spotlight: Julian Rivera, DVM ’18, Staten Island Zoo

Julian Rivera examining a turtle at the Staten Island Zoo.
Cornell alumnus Julian Rivera, DVM '18, examining a turtle at the Staten Island Zoo.

Cornell alumnus Julian Rivera, DVM ’18, has found his niche as the Clinical Veterinarian at the Staten Island Zoo. His path from veterinary school to zoo medicine illustrates both the opportunities and challenges faced by aspiring wildlife veterinarians.

At the Staten Island Zoo, Rivera's responsibilities are as diverse as the zoo's inhabitants. "It's a broad job," he explains. "I handle preventative and emergency care for all the animals, conduct wellness exams, develop geriatric plans, and perform postmortem exams." Beyond animal care, Rivera serves as an advisor to the zoo's leadership and represents the zoo in the wider zoological community.

Julian Rivera with lovebird.
Dr. Julian Rivera treating a pet love bird in private practice.

Rivera's journey to this position was far from straightforward. After graduating from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018, he completed a small animal rotating internship at the ASPCA in Manhattan, New York followed by an avian and exotics internship in Florida. "I worked with pocket pets, sugar gliders, and large parrots," Rivera recalls. "It was a great opportunity to expand my skills."

Despite these experiences, Rivera faced significant challenges in securing a zoo position. "I applied for zoo medicine residencies three times and never matched," he admits. "The field is incredibly competitive, with only about ten residency spots available each year."

Undeterred, Rivera carved his own path. He moved back to New York City, got a job at a small animal practice in the West Village, and started an exotic animal medicine service at that practice which still exists today. His breakthrough came through the Cornell alumni network when he connected with Sarrah Kaye, DVM ’12, then the veterinarian at the Staten Island Zoo. "I covered her maternity leave, working three days at the zoo and three at an exotic medicine center. It was intense, but it got my foot in the door," Rivera says.

"Be in awe of everything you see. Say yes to all opportunities in vet school. Take advantage of everything you can!"

Reflecting on his career choice, Rivera cites a lifelong love of animals. "I've been working with animals since I was a kid," he says. "Growing up in Chicago, I used to rehab rabbits that were injured by outdoor cats." This early experience, combined with undergraduate work at a veterinary hospital, solidified his career path.

Cornell played a crucial role in shaping Rivera's career. "Cornell made my career," he states emphatically. "I knew I wanted to get into wildlife medicine, and Cornell provided the opportunities to make that happen." He highlights his work at the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital and participation in the Expanding Horizons International Education Program, which allowed him to study the health of collared peccaries in Mexico.

Julian Rivera with examines peccary.
Dr. Julian Rivera as a DVM student in the Cornell Expanding Horizons International Education Program working with collared peccaries in Mexico.

These experiences at Cornell not only honed Rivera's skills but also broadened his perspective. "I got to travel to Indonesia to engage in a study on fly interactions with rhinos, using flies to assess parasite loads," he recalls. "It taught me about vector-borne diseases and their global impact."

Rivera's career has evolved significantly since veterinary school. "I initially thought I'd go straight into a zoo residency," he admits. "But the path wasn't that direct. Each experience – from small animal practice to exotic pet medicine – shaped my approach to zoo veterinary work."

Looking to the future, Rivera is passionate about conservation and public health, participating in New York City’s One Health working group, which focuses on the interface between animal and human health in urban environments. For current veterinary students interested in wildlife health, Rivera offers this advice: "Be in awe of everything you see. Say yes to all opportunities in vet school. Take advantage of everything you can!"

As Rivera continues his work at the Staten Island Zoo, he remains grateful for the foundation Cornell provided. "Cornell didn't just teach me veterinary medicine," he concludes. "It taught me to be open to every opportunity and to approach each challenge with empathy and curiosity." 

Written by Caroline Stamm ‘24

Photos provided by Dr. Julian Rivera.