Veterinary medicine was recognized as an official administrative unit of the National Zoological Park in 1969, when the Animal Health Department was established. Prior to 1969, most animal medical functions were performed by outside veterinarians. The NZP had one full-time veterinarian on staff from the early 1940s to about 1969. The name of the Department changed to the Division of Animal Health under the Department of Zoological Programs in 1971; the Office of Animal Health and Pathology around 1974 to 1976; the Office of Animal Health in 1976; and the Department of Animal Health, which it retains to the present, in 1980.
The Department of Animal Health provides veterinary support for the animal collections at Rock Creek Park and the Conservation and Research Center at Front Royal, Virginia. These duties include treatment and disease investigation. Clinical staff also conducts research, technique development, postgraduate training, and extensive publishing.
The first Veterinarian at the Zoo was Carter H. Anthony who served for a short time in the early 1940s. Then, Theodore H. Reed, 1955-1958; James F. Wright, 1958-1962; and after a brief vacancy, Clinton W. Gray, 1963-1975, each served as Veterinarian for NZP. R. Mitchell Bush led the Department from 1975 to 1993. There was another vacancy during 1993 before Richard C. Cambre became Head of the Department of Animal Health, 1994- .
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 226920
