Dr. Kimberly Lezama attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign for both undergraduate and veterinary school, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science in 2009, and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2013. While in school, her focus was mainly on exotics and wildlife medicine. She spent several years as a team leader for the Wildlife Medical Clinic and contributed to university research efforts in wildlife epidemiology and reptile/amphibian medicine, including co-authoring a few exotics publications and national conference proceedings. She was a student representative for both ARAV and Oxbow. She also completed several externships at multiple zoos, wildlife centers, and exotics clinics, including a study abroad trip to South Africa working with large exotic hoofstock and big cats.

After graduation, she worked in small animal and exotics private practice for several years in Arizona, Northern California, and in Washington state, including having served as Medical Director for a small animal and exotics practice. She is Fear Free and Fear Free Avian Certified, and maintains professional memberships in AVMA, AAV, ARAV, and AEMV. Her passion lies in reptile and amphibian medicine and she is working towards becoming ABVP board certified in reptile and amphibian practice. She has a fondness towards reptiles of all kinds (especially agamids/dragons and turtles), raptors, and exotic cats.

Outside of work, Dr. Lezama enjoys long distance running (from 5Ks to half marathons!), video games, board games, Magic the Gathering, fantasy novels, and spending time with her family. She shares her home with her husband and their small zoo, including 2 cats, a border collie, 2 ball pythons, 1 crested gecko, and 1 New Guinea frilled dragon.