ACZM Murray E. Fowler Lifetime Achievement Award

Murray E. Fowler is recognized as the father of zoological medicine - a term that he gave the specialty he launched at University of California, Davis in 1967. Dr. Fowler was widely regarded for his teaching, scholarship and clinical practices that have been used to train veterinarians at zoos, universities and wildlife centers globally. He authored the first textbook on zoo animal medicine and was an author or editor of more than 25 books and more than 250 academic papers.  Dr. Fowler was a founding member of the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM), the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), and the American College of Veterinary Toxicology (ACVT). He was a charter member and past-President of the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM), past-President of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV), and was a member of many other professional organizations including the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV), the Brazilian zoo veterinarians (they even have a group called Groupo Fowler in his honor). He served as Editor of the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. (1977-1988), and he was a Trustee of the Morris Animal Foundation (1981-1986), supporting a research fund for wildlife health. During his long career he was a mentor to many of the leaders in the field of zoological medicine today and this award is one way the ACZM will contribute to keeping his legacy alive.

Dr. Paul Calle’s distinguished career in zoological and wildlife medicine has spanned more than four decades, marked by leadership, innovation, and dedication to animal health and conservation. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, he completed internships at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and the San Diego Zoo, where he began his career in 1984. From 1985 to 1989, he served as the veterinarian at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, before joining the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in 1989. Over his 35-year tenure with WCS, Dr. Calle held roles ranging from Associate Veterinarian to Chief Veterinarian and Vice President of Health Programs, overseeing clinical, pathology, and aquatic health across the Bronx Zoo, the New York Aquarium, and New York City’s three other zoos. His vision and expertise guided the creation and modernization of WCS’s veterinary facilities, including the renovation of the New York Aquarium’s hospital and two major expansions of the Bronx Zoo’s Wildlife Health Center. Until his retirement in 2024, Dr. Calle’s attention to detail and commitment to excellence ensured that WCS’s animal care programs remained at the forefront of zoological medicine.

Throughout his career, Dr. Calle combined clinical medicine with conservation, contributing to the health and recovery of wildlife species worldwide. His work has spanned all taxa - from marine mammals to birds to reptiles- with a particular focus on iguana and chelonian conservation. Notably, his long-term collaboration on the Grand Cayman blue iguana recovery project helped rescue the species from near extinction through veterinary care, head-starting, and reintroduction. His efforts have supported WCS’s global conservation programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, advancing wildlife health as an essential component of conservation success.

Dr. Calle’s influence extends deeply into education, mentorship, and professional service. He has mentored more than 20 veterinary residents and fellows, nurturing both their technical expertise and professional growth. A frequent lecturer at major veterinary conferences - including AAZV, NAVC, WDA, IAAAM, and ARAV - he has presented over 65 times since his first talk in 1985. Dr. Calle has authored more than 75 scientific publications and contributed extensively to the Fowler’s Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine series, progressing from chapter author to co-editor of volumes IX and X. His leadership within the profession includes serving as President of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, chairing its Ethics Committee, and contributing to multiple AZA and ACZM committees. His enduring legacy is one of service, scholarship, and compassion -qualities that make him a truly deserving recipient of the 2025 Murray Fowler Lifetime Achievement Award.

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