Michelle Hawkins received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997 and completed a residency and fellowship in Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of California, Davis in 2001. She became board-certified in Avian Practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practice in 2002. After 2 years in private practice, she joined the faculty of the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine faculty. She is currently Professor of Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis and Director of the California Raptor Center. Her research focuses on anesthesia, analgesia and critical patient care for companion and wild birds.