Episode 162

full
Published on:

30th May 2026

Dr. Tara Harrison

Dr. Tara Harrison was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She earned her DVM from Michigan State University in 2000, and a MPVM from UC Davis in 2002. Her research involved infectious agents in Kenyan hyenas.

Her interest in zoo medicine has led to employment in a number of different zoos, but she is currently a tenured professor in Zoo and Exotic Medicine at North Carolina State University. She is Board Certified in Zoo Medicine, Veterinary Preventive Medicine, and Zoo Health Management.

She was certified in acupuncture by Chi University in 2017 and has been an instructor for Chi since that time.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Harrison is the Co-Founder of the Exotic Species Cancer Research Alliance and is a Board Member for the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture.

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Tara Harrison as we discuss her education, her clinical and research work with zoo and exotic animals, and her additional training in educating veterinary students.

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About the Podcast

The Integrative Veterinarian
Stories to Inspire
The Integrative Veterinarian is a series of conversations with Integrative Veterinary Practitioners and how they approach their craft. We talk about things like their history, their veterinary school experience, life in conventional veterinary practice, and what led them to Integrative Veterinary Medicine. We also talk about their current veterinary practice, interests, and self-care practices. This podcast is sponsored by the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. CIVT provides word-leading education in natural medicine, including three accredited post-graduate qualifications, industry-recognized certifications and a wide range of evidence-based courses and webinars delivered by qualified and experienced practitioners. Learn more at www.civtedu.org.

About your host

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Neal Sivula