2022 T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year

Twenty-four exceptional avian veterinarians from all around the world were nominated for the 2022 T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year. The independent Selection Committee narrowed this list to three finalists and the 2022 T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year, Dr. Sharman Hoppes, was announced during the Plenary Session at the 2022 ExoticsCon.

Sharman Hoppes, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)

Sharman Hoppes is the owner of Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital in Grapevine, Texas and a Professor Emerita (2019- present) of the zoological medicine service at Texas A&M University (TAMU). Dr. Hoppes earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University in 1993 and she completed an avian medicine and surgery residency at North Carolina State University in 1999. She became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in avian practice in 2000. Sharman joined TAMU in 2006 and has served as the Medical Director of Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center since that time. Her research interests have included avian bornavirus, analgesia, evaluation of alfaxalone, and avian behavior and enrichment. Dr. Hoppes is a Past-President (2012-2013) of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. She was also named the 2022 T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year.

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