NC Aquariums Vet Team
The North Carolina Aquariums Veterinary Team provides medical care through quarantine, preventative medicine, nutrition, research, routine clinical care and husbandry for the animals at all North Carolina Aquarium locations; Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores, Roanoke Island, Jennette’s Pier.
The Aquariums’ collection includes close to 500 species and over 10,000 individual animals: fish, elasmobranchs, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, birds, and mammals. To provide the best medical care possible for this diverse collection, the two NC Aquarium veterinarians are both Board certified veterinary specialists in zoological medicine. This credential also allows the NC Aquariums Vets to collaborate with the NCSU-CVM to provide mentorship and clinical training opportunities for the zoological medicine residency program and veterinary students.
NC Aquariums Veterinary Team
The North Carolina Aquariums Veterinary Team provides medical care through quarantine, preventative medicine, nutrition, research, routine clinical care and husbandry for the animals at all North Carolina Aquarium locations; Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores, Roanoke Island, Jennette’s Pier.
The Aquariums’ collection includes close to 500 species and over 10,000 individual animals: fish, elasmobranchs, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, birds, and mammals. To provide the best medical care possible for this diverse collection, the two NC Aquarium veterinarians are both Board certified veterinary specialists in zoological medicine. This credential also allows the NC Aquariums Vets to collaborate with the NCSU-CVM to provide mentorship and clinical training opportunities for the zoological medicine residency program and veterinary students.
Meet the Team
Emily F. Christianson
DVM, MPH, Dipl, ACZM
Chief Veterinarian
Emily Christiansen has been a veterinarian with the NC Aquariums since 2014, after completing a zoological (aquatic) animal medicine residency at NC State University/CMAST. Originally from outside Philadelphia, she spent a number of years bouncing between Florida and New England, and attended veterinary school at Tufts University, before landing in North Carolina. Her favorite part of being at the NC Aquariums and CMAST is the overlap between clinical medicine, research, and teaching – where every day is different and often unexpected!
Lori Westmoreland
DVM, Dipl, ACZM
Veterinarian
Lori Westmoreland is a veterinarian for the NC Aquariums. She completed an aquatic medicine internship at National Aquarium Baltimore, and the zoological medicine residency at NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU CVM). She is thrilled to be a part of the medical team providing care to hundreds of species at NC Aquariums. She is also an adjunct faculty member for NCSU CVM helping to train veterinary students and residents in aquatic medicine. The best part of the job is that it includes clinical medicine, rescue and rehabilitation, research, and teaching – the best of all worlds! When she isn’t working, Lori can either be found at home with her own menagerie (cats, guinea pigs, and many fish tanks), or outside looking for a new place to kayak or have an outdoor adventure.
Heather Broadhurst
Veterinary Technician
As the NC Aquariums Veterinary Technician, Heather Broadhurst’s role is to assist the veterinarians to provide medical care to the diverse animal collections at the NC Aquariums. Duties include general animal exams, collecting diagnostic samples and images, organizing procedures and lab results, and providing a learning environment for NCSU-CVM Residents and students. Having worked in the aquarium industry for over 20 years, Heather still enjoys that there is always something new to learn.