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Think a root canal is tough? Try performing one on a tiger. Caring for animals is the ultimate medical challenge. These | dHNfcnpQaUlVTGJDcEU

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00:00Suzanne she elephants. My name is Suzanne Murray and I'm the chief veterinarian at
00:12Smithsonian's National Zoo. When I was five I was watching a show with Jane Goodall. I was
00:19watching it with my parents and I pointed to the TV and said that's what I'd like to do.
00:24And they said well yes then that's what you will do and it seemed to me at that point
00:29my destiny had been set. And then for my thesis work in veterinary school I ended
00:35up working with Dr. Goodall in Tanzania and it was just for me a wonderful circle
00:40came full round. The veterinary schools used to be predominantly male. I did not
00:46see many women. My mentor told me about 20 years ago you will be the head
00:53veterinarian at Smithsonian's National Zoo. And I said oh it would be a dream to be
00:58a veterinarian there someday. I just don't see that being possible. Well now here I
01:04am. He was right.
01:08May I come in? I am in love with Shanti Elephant. She's my favorite elephant and I
01:14can't deny that. The cliche is true that an elephant doesn't forget. Now that I'm the
01:20head of the department and run larger programs I'm not in the zoo as much as I
01:24used to be. So I would say not as many animals recognize me anymore. One of my
01:29favorite treats when I was a resident here doing my training I would go down and
01:33give her these little biscuits. And I hadn't seen her in about ten years and I
01:37walked into the elephant barn and the first thing she did was put her trunk up
01:40and open her mouth. And I felt really touched that oh Shanti recognizes me and
01:46remembers me. She's my favorite I think. A healthy biscuit directly into an
01:50elephant's mouth. Who else in the world gets to do that besides these guys? A lot
01:56of friends and colleagues and neighbors come to me and say my daughter wants to
02:00be a veterinarian. How can I encourage her? And the most important thing I say is
02:04believe in her. Tell her she can do whatever she wants and she'll get where
02:08she's going. I'm Dr. Suzanne Murray.
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