About
I chose the Animal Welfare Program to collaborate with a world-renowned and pioneering team in the areas of dairy cattle welfare and stakeholder views regarding cattle care. With their expertise, I am excited to be part of a multidisciplinary team to embark on the next step of my research and KTT work.
I am a veterinarian, researcher, and the daughter of a dairy farmer, holding a veterinary degree from Costa Rica -my beautiful, native country-, and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Calgary, Canada. My involvement in my family’s dairy farm in Costa Rica, completion of veterinary fellowships in European universities, along with my research and consulting work in Latin America, US and Canada have given me a thorough understanding of the dairy industry and stakeholders worldwide. Over the past 11 years, my work and research have focused on animal disease prevention and control along with housing and management impacts on cow health and welfare. I am passionate about translating science into practice by communicating and working closely with dairy farmers and industry professionals. I love spending time with my family, travelling to new and different places, sitting on a beach, and hiking or skiing down a mountain.
My current research focuses on understanding the gaps in the adoption of animal care practices in Canada.
Education & Awards
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica (2003-2009), PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology, University of Calgary, Canada (2011-2016)
Graduated with Honors, Cum Laude, National University of Costa Rica (2009), JDS’ Editor’s Choice Award (2016) and Most-Cited Awards (2016; 2018), Mitacs Elevate Fellowship Award (2021)