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Dr. Mike Cranfield Executive Director Dr. Mike has led the MGVP team for 13 years, splitting his time between overseeing operations in Africa, fundraising on the road, and administering the project from his base at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. He was one of the first veterinarians to embrace the One Health concept for great ape conservation, and worked to establish the Mountain Gorilla One Health Program at UC Davis, where he is a staff veterinarian. Originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Mike obtained his doctorate of veterinary medicine at the University of Guelph in 1977 and completed his residency at the Toronto Zoo. He later moved to the Maryland Zoo where, in addition to his clinical duties, he pursued research studies of avian malaria in penguins, parasitic diseases in snakes, in vitro fertilization in lion-tailed macaques, and captive breeding of endangered frog species. In 1999, after realizing that work with captive animals was not enough to preserve some species, Mike took on the leadership of MGVP. |
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Dr. Kirsten Gilardi Mountain Gorilla One Health Program Director Dr. Kirsten joined MGVP in 2009 as director of the Mountain Gorilla One Health Program (MGOHP) at the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center (WHC), a self-supporting research, service and teaching Center of Excellence at the veterinary school. Dr. Kirsten works closely with Dr. Mike on gorilla health research and on the MGVP's PREDICT project, and helps Mike with running all aspects of the MGVP's U.S. and Africa operations. As Assistant Director of the WHC, Dr. Kirsten splits her time between managing the MGOHP and another WHC project, the SeaDoc Society. After graduating from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1993, she completed a 3-year residency in primate medicine at UC Davis before joining the WHC in 1998. Dr. Kirsten was board-certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine in 2001. |
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Dr. Dawn Zimmerman Regional Veterinary Manager Since November 2011, Dr. Dawn has managed MGVP’s Africa programs from our regional base in Musanze, Rwanda. Dr. Dawn leads gorilla health monitoring and medical interventions, supervises the staff and interns, liaises with partners, and facilitates research. She comes to MGVP from the Memphis Zoo, where she worked for 8 years, most recently as the senior veterinarian. Originally from California, Dr. Dawn earned a BA at UC Davis and an MA in biology at San Diego State University before graduating with honors from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. |
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Dr. Jean-Felix Kinani Rwanda Head Field Veterinarian Dr. Jean-Felix Kinani has worked as our in-country field veterinarian in Rwanda since 2004 and also assists with interventions and necropsies in Uganda and DRC. In addition, he heads MGVP’s rabies program in Rwanda, working with local veterinarians and the Rwanda Agricultural Resource Development Authority to vaccinate domestic dogs and cats in the vicinity of Volcanoes National Park. Originally from DRC, Dr. Jean-Felix received his veterinary degree from Check Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, in 2003. Currently, Dr. Jean-Felix is working on his Masters of Field Epidemiology at the School of Public Health at the National University of Rwanda, while continuing his work with MGVP. |
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Dr. Fred Nizeyimana Uganda In-Country Field Veterinarian Dr. Fred joined MGVP in 2010 and serves as our Uganda field veterinarian, performing routine health checks and assisting with interventions in Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable national parks. He grew up in shadows of the Virunga Volcanoes in southwestern Uganda and studied veterinary medicine at Makerere University in Kampala. While attending Makerere, he participated in a mountain gorilla research funded by MGVP. After graduating in 2005, Dr. Fred worked as the acting project manager for the Kibale Eco-health Project in Kibale National Park. In 2007, he volunteered at the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and was later promoted to the role of sanctuary manager and veterinarian. |
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Dr. Eddy Kambale Democratic Republic of Congo Head Field Veterinarian Dr. Eddy Kambale is MGVP's in-country field veterinarian based in the DRC. Eddy received his veterinary degree at the Catholic University of Graben, Butembo, in the DRC. Before joining the MGVP in 2004, he was a scholar at the Technical Institute for Agriculture and Veterinary Science in Butembo, DRC. In cooperation with Dr. Jacques Iyanya, Eddy’s duties include monitoring Grauer’s gorillas as well as mountain gorillas—and caring for the orphans. He enjoys every aspect of clinical medicine, including pathology, or the study of disease after an animal has died. Eddy performed field necropsies on the gorillas shot in the DRC in July, hoping to learn something from this tragedy. |
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Dr. Jacques Iyanya Democratic Republic of Congo In-Country Field Veterinarian Dr. Jacques has looked after the mountain and Grauer’s gorillas of DRC for 7 years. His duties include monitoring mountain gorillas on the DRC side of the Virungas and Grauer’s gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. He also frequently travels to Kinshasa, the capital of DRC, to collaborate with our partners at the L'Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). Dr. Jacques received his veterinary degree from the University of Lubumbashi in the DRC, then worked for the Department of Agriculture and Development in the eastern part of the country before joining MGVP. |
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Jean-Paul Lukusa Gorilla Conservation Employee Health Manager As the head of MGVP’s Gorilla Conservation Employee Health Program, Jean-Paul coordinates doctors’ visits, laboratory testing, follow-up care, and family health education for hundreds of conservation works in Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC each year. Before joining MGVP in 2003, Jean-Paul taught at the ESSA Ruhengeri medical school in Rwanda. Jean-Paul has a degree in microbiology from L’Institute Superior Médicale and a degree in public health from the University Ouverte, both located in DRC, his home country. |
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Dr. John Bosco Nizeyi Research Veterinarian Dr. John Bosco is MGVP’s research veterinarian, and a professor in the Wild Animal Resource Management Department of Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. JBN (he’s known by his initials) has worked for MGVP since 1993, originally acting our Uganda in-country filed veterinarian. At Makerere, JBN works to mentor the next generation of African veterinarians and pursues research projects including the use of fecal cortisol testing to monitor stress levels in wild animals. He received his veterinary degree at Makerere, his masters of science in recreational resources from Colorado State University, and his PhD in veterinary medicine at Makerere in 2005. |
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Dr. Benard Ssebide PREDICT Uganda Country Coordinator Our Uganda in-country field veterinarian from 2007 to 2010, Dr. Benard now heads up our PREDICT work in Uganda, looking for signs of emerging infectious diseases in rodents, primates and other animals living in and around Uganda’s national parks. Prior to joining MGVP, he worked for the Ugandan Wildlife Authority, first as a veterinarian and then as Chief Park Warden of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Dr. Benard received his veterinary degree and masters of science in wildlife health and management from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. |
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Dr. Rachael Mbabazi PREDICT Uganda Field Assistant Dr. Rachael assists Dr. Benard in carrying out our PREDICT work in Uganda. Before joining MGVP in late 2010, Rachael graduated from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, with a degree in veterinary medicine. As a student she worked with Dr. John Bosco Nizeyi, MGVP’s research veterinarian and a professor in Makerere's Wild Animal Resource Management Department. The Morris Animal Foundation selected Rachel to be one of their 2010 Veterinary Student Scholars and provided funding for her to research gastrointestinal parasites in mountain gorillas. |
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Dr. Jean Bosco Noheli Regional Laboratory Technician Dr. Jean Bosco Noheli, known as Dr. Noel, runs the laboratory at MGVP’s regional headquarters in Musanze, Rwanda, where he processes samples collected in the field, manages our drug and medical supplies inventory, and assists in necropsies and non-primate surgeries. He also assists with health monitoring and interventions performed in the field and in the care of the orphans at our Kinigi quarantine facility. Dr. Noel received his veterinary degree from the Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry ISAE-Rwanda in 2010. He joined MGVP in November 2009 as Laboratory Technician, while awaiting his degree. In early 2011, Noel spent 6 weeks in the U.S. learning clinical and laboratory techniques at the Indianapolis and Maryland Zoos. |
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Dr. Julius Nziza PREDICT Rwanda Country Coordinator Dr. Julius joined MGVP in May 2010 to oversee our PREDICT projects in and around Rwanda’s three national parks. Before coming to MGVP, Dr. Julius worked for the Department of Tourism and Conservation of the Rwanda Development Board for 3 years, acting the veterinary warden at Nyungwe National Park in the southwestern corner of Rwanda. While Rwandan by nationality, Dr. Julius was born in Uganda and obtained his veterinary medicine degree from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. |
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Dr. Olivier Nsengimana PREDICT Rwanda Field Assistant Olivier Nsengimana serves as Dr. Juluis' field assistant for the PREDICT project in Rwanda. Olivier, a native of Gitarama, Rwanda, graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine from the Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry ISAE- Rwanda. In early 2010, Olivier interned with MGVP, working to develop a management plan for the dairy farm at Imbabazi Orphanage. Later in the year, he volunteered for the PREDICT project, taking blood samples from rodents around Volcanoes National Park to be analyzed for infectious disease. Olivier now performs similar duties as an employee, working with rodents and primates in and around Rwanda's national parks. |
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Schadrack Niyonzima Regional Administrative Assistant Schadrack works as the administrative assistant at our Musanze headquarters and has been a vital member of the team since joining MGVP in 2009. Thanks to his management and business savvy, MGVP’s local operations run smoothly. Schadrack received his degree in management and accounting from the Adventist University for Central Africa in Rwanda, and has 5 years of experience working with other international NGOs. |
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Dr. Linda Lowenstine Veterinary Pathologist Dr. Linda is a board certified veterinary pathologist who has worked with MGVP since 1987 examining tissues and determining causes of death in mountain gorillas examined post mortem by the Gorilla Doctors. She is also a member of the MGVP/MGOH Conservation and Science Advisory Committee. At UC Davis, Dr. Linda serves as a professor of veterinary pathology where she specializes in the pathology of captive and free-living wild animals. After graduation from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1973, she did a comparative pathology residency during which she trained at the New England National Primate Research Center and the National Zoological Park. This was followed by a PhD in comparative pathology from UC Davis while she was staff pathologist at the California National Primate Research Center. |
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Molly Feltner Communications Officer Molly is dedicated to publicizing the work of MGVP through photography, multimedia, writing, and social media. She also manages our website and public relations efforts. Molly began volunteering for MGVP in Rwanda in 2009 and was hired as a staff member in 2010. Prior to joining MGVP, Molly worked for seven years as a reporter for travel publications such as SmarterTravel.com and National Geographic Traveler. Molly was born and raised in Boston, MA, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 2001. |
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Nina Storch Project Assistant Behind every good leader is a good assistant. Serving as Dr. Mike’s assistant at the Maryland Zoo for more than 13 years, Nina works to ensure that MGVP’s Executive Director is equipped to successfully manage the organization. Nina’s favorite part of the job is communicating with MGVP staff and partners locally and internationally. She has a BA in English and has worked in both the human and animal medicine fields. Originally from Florida, Nina has lived in Baltimore for the last 26 years. |
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Jennifer Sohl Bio Bank Manager and Registered Veterinary Technician From her base at the Maryland Zoo, Jennifer manages the mountain gorilla fluid and tissue samples collected in Africa and responds to requests from researchers seeking access to the samples. She also assists Dr. Mike with many tasks, including inventorying and packing medicine and supplies to be used Africa. Jennifer has worked for MGVP since 2002. She earned a BS in Animal Science from Virginia Tech and has worked as a Registered Veterinary Technician since 1994. |
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MGVP’s support staff in Rwanda includes long-time employee, Leon Ntahobavukira, the house manager. Felicien Mulinda, Faustin Nemeye, and Samuel Nshimiyimana work as guards and grounds staff at the regional headquarters in Ruhengeri. Jean-Claude Rusengamihigo, Michel Mwemezi, and Innocent Barimenshi perform a similar function at the interim quarantine facility (IQF) for orphaned gorillas in Kinigi, Rwanda. MGVP employs six of the seven caretakers who work there as well. The caretakers include Amiel Bapfakwita, Dieu Donne Muyambabazi, Jean Baptise Bisenigamana, Innocent Kabendera, Jean DeDieux, and Fabian Bahati. |
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At the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center, the Mountain Gorilla One Health Program is supported by assistants Kathy Collins,Lavonne Hull, Alison Kent, and Amanda Mahler. The Wildlife Health Center is led by Directors Dr. Jonna Mazet and Dr. Walter Boyce. We are also supported at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore by volunteer Alexandra Silver. |
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