Prior to my arrival at our beautiful OSU-Cascades campus in Bend, Oregon, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, with a minor in Spanish, at University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming. It was during that time, and through the course of a study abroad with University of Pretoria’s Vets-in-the-Wild program in South Africa, that I decided on a career trajectory in disease ecology with a focus on One Health – the interconnectedness of human, wildlife, domestic animal, and environmental health.
After my undergraduate degree, I went on to complete a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in mixed animal practice at Oregon State University, as well as a PhD in Integrative Biology – Disease Ecology. My PhD research took me back to South Africa, where I studied the impacts of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) for coinfection dynamics, immunity, and health in African lions. During that degree, I also worked with side projects examining innate immunity in African Cape buffalo infected with Mycobacterium bovis (bovine tuberculosis); helped to conduct river health surveys as a means to determine environmental toxicants that have contributed to mass die-offs of Nile crocodiles; helped on a field project examining the impacts of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in desert bighorn sheep; and performed a structured survey investigating disease prevalence in feral cats of Portland, Oregon.
At Oregon State University - Cascades, my current research has returned to its One Health roots. In addition to a conservation project that seeks to establish baselines for health measures in captive red wolves as a means to better diagnose chronic medical issues, my primary research focuses on the impacts of climate change for wildlife and human health. Specifically, I am part of a National Geographic study examining the effects of sea ice loss for structuring prey base in Pacific walruses, as well as the resounding implications of shifting prey base for nutrient availability, immunity, health, and parasite exposure in both walruses and Alaska Native Communities that utilize walruses as a subsistence food source. Our project is part of a collective partnership with the Eskimo Walrus Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Alaska Native Communities of Savoonga and Gambell, Alaska.
Aside from the activities above, I also enjoy working as a relief veterinarian, distance running, exploring the great outdoors, and spending time with my family, friends, and four adorable animals (three cats and one dog).
From left to right: Dr. Heather Broughton, Dr. Stephanie Edwards Caruana, and Dr. Tanya Kerr on their lion PhD projects in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Publications
Publications in Press or Review
Beechler B, Broughton H, Bell A, Ezenwa V, and Jolles, A. 2012. Innate Immunity in Free-Ranging African Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer): Associations with Parasite Infection and White Blood Cell Counts. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 85(3): 255–264.
Broughton H, Govender D, Shikwambana P, Chappell P, and Jolles A. 2017. Bridging Gaps Between Zoo and Wildlife Medicine: Establishing Reference Intervals for Free-ranging African Lions (Panthera leo). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 48(2): 298-311.
Orr, M., Weber, N., Noone, O., Porter, T., Broughton, H. Short-term responses to beaver dam analogs on a low-gradient stream lacking woody riparian vegetation. In review: Restoration Ecology
Broughton H, Govender D, Shikwambana P, Serrano E, Jolles A. Equal contributions of feline immunodeficiency virus and associated coinfections to morbidity in free-ranging African lions (Panthera leo). In revision - ProcB.
Publications in Prep
Broughton H, Govender D, Ferreira S, Gorsich E, Shikwambana P, Jolles A. (In prep). Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Structures Parasite and Pathogen Communities in African Lions (Panthera leo). Intended journal: Journal of Wildlife Diseases.
Broughton H, Kennon L, Jin L, O’Reiley K, Bishop-Stewart J, Gordon J, Jolles A. (In prep). Integrative Approaches to the Epidemiological Curriculum: A Student Designed Survey of Disease Prevalence in Feral Cats (Felis catus). Intended journal: Journal of Veterinary Medical Education.
Grants
External Awards
2019 FY2019 Recovery Funding – Department of the Interior (submitted March 2019; pending regional funding) – Co-Investigator
Project: Central Oregon West Nile Virus Monitoring Project
Budget: $70,000
PIs: Ron Reuter, Oregon State University Cascades; Heather Broughton, Oregon State University Cascades; Emily Weidner, Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife; Erin Gorsich, University of Warrick
2018 Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium Grant (submitted June 2018; funded August 2018) – Co-Investigator
Project: Whisker Growth Dynamics in Pacific Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) Under Human Care
Budget: $1,250
PIs: Sheanna Steingass, Oregon State University; Heather Broughton, Oregon State University – Cascades; Brianna Beechler, Oregon State University; Kadie Anderson, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
2018 National Geographic Society Grant (submitted March 2018; funded August 2018) – Principal Investigator
Project: Dietary adaptations to climate change: Implications for immunity and parasite burden in the Pacific walrus
Budget: $30,000
PIs: Heather Broughton, Oregon State University – Cascades; Sheanna Steingass, Oregon State University; Brianna Beechler, Oregon State University
2017 North Pacific Research Board - RFP (submitted December 2017; not funded) – Principal Investigator
Project: Characterization of parasite community and coinfection in the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) in Alaska
Budget: $341,022
PIs: Heather Broughton, Oregon State University – Cascades; Sheanna Steingass, Oregon State University; Brianna Beechler, Oregon State University; Amy Bishop, Alaska SeaLife Center
2016 Morris Animal Foundation Established Investigator Grant (submitted November 2016; not funded) – Co-investigator
Project: Changing Climates and the Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens): Impacts of Shifting Ecological Strategies on Parasite Community
Budget: $174,474
PIs: Brianna Beechler, Oregon State University; Heather Broughton, Oregon State University; Sheanna Steingass, Oregon State University
2016 Morris Animal Foundation Fellowship Training Grant (submitted November 2016; not funded) - Fellow
Project: Changing Climates and the Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens): Impacts of Shifting Ecological Strategies on Parasite Community
Budget: $50,000
PIs: Brianna Beechler, Oregon State University; Heather Broughton, Oregon State University; Sheanna Steingass, Oregon State University
2012 Morris Animal Foundation Graduate Training Fellowship (submitted December 2011; funded March 2012) - Co-Investigator
Project: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in African lions (Panthera leo): health, immunity, and coinfections
Budget: $96,000
PIs: Heather Broughton, Oregon State University; Anna Jolles, Oregon State University; Danny Govender, SANSPARK Scientific Services, Kruger Park, South Africa
2010 Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholar Fellowship (submitted January 2010; funded March 2010) - Co-Investigator
Project: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in free-ranging African lions: a survey of viral, bacterial, and parasitic coinfections.
Budget: $4,000
PIs: Heather Broughton, Oregon State University; Anna Jolles, Oregon State University; Danny Govender, SANSPARK Scientific Services, Kruger Park, South Africa
Internal Awards
2019 Layman Fellowship Award (submitted November 2018; funded January 2019) – Faculty Mentor
Project: Fecal cortisol as a tool for measuring stress in Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)
Budget: $2500
PIs: Breanna Caywood (mentee); Heather Broughton, Oregon State University – Cascades (mentor); Sheanna Steingass, Oregon State University; Brianna Beechler, Oregon State University
2018 College of Veterinary Medicine Research Grant (submitted January 2018; not funded) – Co-Investigator
Project: One Health in the Arctic: the intersection between changing climates, Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) and native communities.
Budget: $10,000
PIs: Brianna Beechler, Oregon State University; Sheanna Steingass, Oregon State University; Heather Broughton, Oregon State University – Cascades
2013 OSU Graduate Internationalization Grant (submitted May 2013; funded June 2013) – Co-Investigator
Project: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in African lions (Panthera leo): health, immunity, and coinfections
Budget: $2,000
PIs: Heather Broughton, Oregon State University; Anna Jolles, Oregon State University; Danny Govender, SANSPARK Scientific Services, Kruger Park, South Africa
2011 Biomedical Sciences Summer Research Fellowship (submitted January 2011; funded March 2011) - Co-Investigator
Project: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in African Lions (Panthera Leo): Implications for coinfections and immunity (follow-up pilot study)
Budget: $1,000
PIs: Heather Broughton, Oregon State University; Anna Jolles, Oregon State University; Danny Govender, SANSPARK Scientific Services, Kruger Park, South Africa
2010 Biomedical Sciences Summer Research Fellowship (submitted January 2010; funded March 2010) - Co-Investigator
Project: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in free-ranging African lions: a survey of viral, bacterial, and parasitic coinfections.
Budget: $1,000
PIs: Heather Broughton, Oregon State University; Anna Jolles, Oregon State University; Danny Govender, SANSPARK Scientific Services, Kruger Park, South Africa
2009 Biomedical Sciences Summer Research Fellowship (submitted January 2009; funded March 2009) - Co-Investigator
Project: Bactericidal Activity in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer)
Budget: $4,000
PIs: Anna Jolles, Oregon State University; Brianna Beechler, Oregon State University; Heather Broughton, Oregon State University
University Service
2019 Undergraduate Curriculum Council, Oregon State University – Cascades
2019 Biochemistry Instructor Search Committee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2019 Peer Review of Teaching Committee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2018 Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium Committee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2018 Research Excellence Committee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2018 Research Excellence Research Community Subcommittee, Oregon State University - Cascades
2018 Lab Preparator Search Committee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2017 Research Excellence Committee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2017 Research Excellence Website Subcommittee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2017 Research Excellence Research Community Subcommittee, Oregon State University - Cascades
2017 Diversity Committee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2017 Diversity in Arts Committee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2017 DACA Support Subcommittee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2017 Black History Month Subcommittee, Oregon State University – Cascades
2017 Faculty Mentor, Oregon State University – Cascades
2016 Winter Wonderings, Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University
2015 Integrative Biology Club, Graduate Student Chapter, Integrative Biology Department, Oregon State University
2009 President Wildlife Disease Association Student Chapter, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University
2009 Pet Day Itinerary Committee, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University
2008 Webmaster for Zoo, Wildlife, and Exotics Club, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University
2008 Student Veterinary Medical Association Member, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University
Professional Service
2018 Wildlife Disease Association – Member and participant as a board certified veterinarian in Washington
2017 American Veterinary Medical Association – Member and participant as a board-certified veterinarian in Washington
2017 Functional Ecology – Journal reviewer
2017 Mammalian Biology – Journal reviewer
Awards
2016 Robert and Clarice MacVicar Animal Health Scholar Award
College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University ($6,000)
2011 Best Student Presentation at Biomedical Sciences Research Day for “Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in African Lions (Panthera Leo): Implications for coinfections and immunity”, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University ($2,000)
Outreach and Community Involvement
Sampling Nile crocodiles as part of a larger river health study attempting to determine the causes behind mass die-offs of crocodiles throughout northeast South Africa.
2019 Hello Vet Relief Veterinarian, Bend, OR
As a relief veterinarian, I take shifts at local veterinary clinics providing general medicine to the community as a means to provide clinicians with much-needed breaks from their practices.
2018 Humane Society of Central Oregon, Bend, OR
Volunteer veterinarian to help on an as-needed basis with preventative health care, wellness exams, medical treatments, and basic elective surgeries.
2017 Vetco Preventative Health Clinics, Portland, OR
Clinic veterinarian to help provide basic, low-cost preventative health care for animals of northern Oregon and southern Washington.
2015 Pro-Bone-O Veterinary Clinic, Eugene, OR
Volunteered as a veterinarian to help provide basic preventative health care for the animals of low-income or homeless community members.
2014 Crocodile and River Health Study, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Helped in the capture and collection of samples for crocodile and river health analyses.
2014 Probono Veterinary Clinic for Low-income Community Members, Corvallis, OR
Volunteered as a veterinarian to help provide basic preventative health care for the animals of low-income or homeless community members.
2013 Desert Bighorn Disease Study, Mohave National Preserve, CA
Helped process blood and fecal samples for functional immune assays, health measures, and gastrointestinal parasite diagnosis.
2006 Raptor Refuge, Laramie, WY
Helped to rehabilitate and release injured and sick wild birds of prey. Also helped care for education birds that could not be released.
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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