Tara Czepiel, DVM, DACVO
Associate Clinical Professor, Section of Ophthalmology
Department of Clinical Sciences
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
930 Campus Road
Ithaca, NY 14853
Profile
Research/Clinical Interests
Dr. Czepiel is focused on partnering with clients to deliver excellent medical and surgical ophthalmic care to veterinary patients of all kinds, and she also aims to provide the highest quality training and mentorship to residents, interns, and students in order to equip them for success and confidence in their careers. Additionally, Dr. Czepiel has a passion for exotics ophthalmology and enjoys collaborating with zoos, aquariums, and wildlife rehab facilities in order to offer care for individual animals as well as expand knowledge of ophthalmic disease and treatment in this unique and widely variable patient population.
Education
- Comparative Veterinary Ophthalmology Residency
Eye Care for Animals – Wheeling and Chicago, Illinois - Comparative Veterinary Ophthalmology Specialty Internship
Long Island Veterinary Specialists – Plainview, New York - Rotating Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship
VCA Aurora and Berwyn Animal Hospitals – Aurora and Berwyn, Illinois - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Urbana, Illinois - Bachelor of Arts
Augustana College – Rock Island, Illinois
Biography/Professional Experience
Dr. Czepiel graduated from Augustana College (Rock Island, IL) with a Bachelor of Arts in both Biology and Spanish as well as a minor in Biochemistry. She discovered her interest in comparative ophthalmology while pursuing her veterinary degree at the University of Illinois. After receiving a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine with Honors, Dr. Czepiel completed a rotating small animal medicine and surgery internship at VCA Aurora Animal Hospital (IL) followed by an ophthalmology specialty internship at Long Island Veterinary Specialists (NY). Dr. Czepiel then joined the Eye Care for Animals residency program and trained in Chicagoland. She is now a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO). Prior to joining Cornell University as a clinical faculty member, she worked as the sole practitioner in an ophthalmology-only private practice setting and then served as a full-time locum in both academic and private practice settings across the US as well as internationally. Dr. Czepiel also provides ocular toxicology consultation services. She has a passion for exotics ophthalmology and enjoys volunteering at zoos, aquariums, and wildlife rehab facilities.
Awards and Honors
- Eye Care for Animals
Outstanding Resident Award - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – College of Veterinary Medicine
Graduated with Honors
Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society
American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ACVO)® Award
Professional/Academic Affiliations
- Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO)®