Robert Cook

Dr. Bob Cook has worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society for over two decades serving as the chief veterinarian and vice president and then as the general director and executive vice president of living institutions. In this role he led a team responsible for the operations of five New York zoological parks including the Central Park, Queens and Prospect Parks Zoos, the New York Aquarium and the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these parks house some 1300 species of wild animals and are visited by over four million guests per year. He was also responsible for programs in global wildlife health, education, curatorial and species conservation and exhibit design. As a wildlife veterinarian and then as head of the health programs he worked extensively in rural international settings and on global policy issues focusing on the health of people, domestic animals and wildlife. In 2004, Cook became an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs teaching advanced management in the executive Master in Public Administration (M.P.A.) program and environmental policy in the M.P.A. in Environmental Science and Policy program. In addition Cook serves as science advisor to the Mayday Fund, a philanthropic foundation dedicated to the alleviation of physical pain in people and as a board member of the International Species Information System.

Dr. Cook received his bachelor of science in microbiology and public health from Michigan State University, his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and his master in public administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs executive M.P.A. program. He completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and his residency in zoological medicine and surgery at the Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, N.Y. He has published extensively on topics including wildlife medicine and surgery, health policy and species conservation.