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“He Clearly Had an Upward
Trajectory”

Insights from a Mentor and Colleague

Dr. Jennifer Langan, senior staff veterinarian at Brookfield Zoo,
met Dr. Adkesson almost 20 years ago when he was a student
at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois,
where she holds a joint position as clinical professor of zoological
medicine. After Adkesson was hired at Brookfield Zoo, they
worked together as peers.
In 2012, he was promoted to vice president of clinical med-
icine. “He clearly had an upward trajectory that was going to
launch himself—and everybody he incorporated into his team—
to success,” said Langan.

Pioneering Conservation Program
During his zoological medicine residency at the Saint Louis
Zoo and University of Missouri, Adkesson began field work at
Punta San Juan, Peru, in 2007. The beaches, coastal waters, and
cliffs of Punta San Juan are home to the largest colony of Peru’s
Humboldt penguins, as well as large populations of fur seals,
sea lions, and seabirds. The wildlife and ecosystem are threatened
by overfishing, pollution, climate change, and guano mining.
For more than a decade, Adkesson made frequent trips to
Punta San Juan to conduct research evaluating the popula-
tion health of Humboldt penguins, Peruvian fur seals, South
American sea lions, and other wildlife. His field research has Above: Dr. Adkesson holds a Peruvian fur seal pup for a veterinary exam as part of CZS's
conservation program at Punta San Juan, Peru. His field research has grown into a
grown into a comprehensive program—involving CZS and part- comprehensive, multi-institutional program to protect Peru's coastal ecosystem and wildlife.
ner institutions in the U.S. and Peru—to protect Peru’s coastal
ecosystem and wildlife. Adkesson also supported educational
and community engagement initiatives and generated resources Adkesson also actively supported the Illinois Zoological and
and financial support for the program. Aquatic Animal Residency Program—a partnership between CZS,
In 2009, Punta San Juan was designated a protected marine the University of Illinois, and John G. Shedd Aquarium—one of
reserve by the Peruvian government and is viewed as a model of the most sought-after residency programs in zoological and wild-
marine wildlife management around the world. “This is a perfect life medicine in the world. “He has played a huge part in training
example of the success Dr. Adkesson is capable of achieving with our residents over the past 15 years,” said Langan, who is director
his enthusiasm and will to contribute on a larger global scale,” of residency and education programs for CZS. “He speaks about
said Langan. helping those who are interested in following our footsteps by
providing them with the opportunities and capacity for growth.”
Champion of CZS's Initiatives at Home
At Brookfield Zoo, Adkesson championed and contributed to Rare Combination of Talents
initiatives for which the zoo is well known, such as the zoo’s Langan marvels at Adkesson’s ability to wear so many hats—gift-
advanced medical imaging program and radiology consulting ed communicator, prodigious researcher, passionate educator, and
service. “There’s no other zoo in the world that provides that adept fundraiser. “His optimism, vision, and whole-hearted belief
service or had developed that type of expertise before,” said in the good that the Chicago Zoological Society has done and
Langan. “It was in large part due to Dr. Adkesson’s passion in will continue to do make him very effective at conveying that
supporting CT and imaging that we were able to bring on the message to whomever he speaks with. It’s incredibly exciting to
first board-certified veterinary radiologist employed at a zoo.” have Dr. Adkesson in a leadership position here at Brookfield Zoo.”

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