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Julie Fithian, DVM

Clinical Instructor

Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences

Maddie's® Shelter & Community Medicine

Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Ithaca, NY 14853

Email: jf967@cornell.edu

Profile

Research/Clinical Interests

  • Low residue euthanasia options for large cetaceans
  • New techniques for management of cold stunned sea turtles
  • Pain management in chelonian species

Education

  • Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine DVM 2022 Veterinary Medicine
  • Stony Brook University B.S 2016 Marine Vertebrae Biology

Biography/Professional Experience

  • Associate Veterinarian, VCA New Hartford, New Hartford, NY, January 2026-present
    • Deliver comprehensive veterinary services by evaluating and treating 20-25 patients during wellness and illness visits per day. Perform routine surgical procedures to support optimal patient health.
  • Veterinarian, VIA Aquarium, Schenectady, NY, January 2026-present
    • Support husbandry, health management, and maintenance of aquatic and reptile collections utilized for educational outreach and public engagement programs within the aquarium.
  • Veterinarian, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, West Hampton Beach, NY, November 2022-present
    • Perform physical examinations and diagnostics on 20-25 cold stunned sea turtles per season, develop and manage their medical treatment plans to optimize recovery and ensure successful release. Assist in large whale response efforts, including conducting detailed necropsies to investigate cause of mortality and contribute to marine wildlife conservation.
  • Staff Veterinarian, North Shore Animal League America, Port Washington, NY, November 2022-November 2025
    • Oversaw the daily care of 25-35 hospitalized patients, conducted 20-25 comprehensive appointments at the Pet Health Center during outpatient clinic days and performed 20-30 surgical procedures during surgery shifts, ensuring high-quality medical care across multiple hospital departments.
    • Partnered with LIU and other veterinary programs to provide high quality one-on-one externship experiences for fourth year veterinary students.
    • Surgical proficiency includes HQHVSN techniques, pyometra, abortive spay, mass removals, dental procedures including extractions, aural hematoma repair, laceration repair
  • SAVMA Class Representative, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, St. Kitts, September 2018-December 2020
    • Acted as a liaison between my classmates and the professors/upper admin staff. Responsibilities included facilitating concerns professionally, relaying important information from professors to the class, maintaining the semester email server and Facebook page, coordinating semesterly class photos and class t-shirt orders.

Professional/Academic Affiliations

  • American Veterinary Medical Association
  • American Association of Fish Veterinarians
  • World Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Association
  • World Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Publications

Selected Publications

  • Fithian J, Doden G, Brandão J. Effective Dose of Dexmedetomidine with Nalbuphine Hydrochloride or Butorphanol Tartrate for Sedation in Buff Orpington Hens (Gallus gallus domesticus). J Avian Med Surg. 2024 Oct;38(3):133-140. doi: 10.1647/AVIANMS-D-23-00054. PMID: 39405212.
  • Gonzalez-Jassi HA, Fithian J, Doden G, More S, Ramachandran A, Taylor B, Cino-Ozuna AG, Hunter A, Mitchell S, Wilkes R, Brandão J. Vaccine-induced distemper in domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo): 5 cases (2022). J Exot Pet Med. 2024 Oct;51:20-26. doi: 10.1053/j.jepm.2024.08.001.