Kay Backues is the Director of Animal Health at Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Backues has practiced general zoo medicine at Tulsa Zoo since 1998. Dr. Backues is also an adjunct assistant professor at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Kay is a 1991 graduate of Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM) and a Past President of ACZM (2018) and the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (2011). Dr. Backues is also a 2007 recipient of the ACZM Presidential Service Award. As a general zoo practitioner, Dr. Backues has co-authored publications on a variety of topics, from elephant care and vaccination in llamas to pharmacokinetics in flamingos and gastritis in lemurs. Dr. Backues also authored the 2015 chapter on Anseriformes in Fowler’s Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, Volume 8.
Dr. Backues is shown here with her 37 year old umbrella cockatoo, Cobber, whom she has owned since she was 5 months old.
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