After graduating summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University, Dr. Hess received her veterinary medical degree from Tufts. She then completed a one-year internship and a two-year residency in avian and exotic pet medicine and surgery at the world-renowned Animal Medical Center in New York City.

She was on staff at the Animal Medical Center for eight years and head of the Center's Avian and Exotic Pet Service. While there, Dr. Hess trained dozens of interns and resident veterinarians in exotic pet practice.

She has also worked in private veterinary practice in Manhattan, Westchester County, and Connecticut.

Dr. Hess has lectured both nationally and internationally. In the late 1990's, Dr. Hess completed groundbreaking nutrition research on the importance of pelleted diets in birds. She regularly speaks to local bird clubs and schools about exotic pet care and has published numerous articles and book chapters on birds and other exotic species.

She is especially interested in exotic pet nutrition. In the late 1990's, she completed groundbreaking nutrition research on the importance of pelleted diets in birds. She presented these findings both in Europe and in the the U.S. and later published the research in 2002.

Dr. Hess has also appeared as a guest expert on Animal Planet as part of Drs. Foster and Smith's TV series, "Faithful Friends," and as a featured veterinarian on CBS's popular news magazine show, "48 Hours." She also appears weekly as the "Exotic Pet Vet" on the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut cable station, RNN TV.

She is an associate editor of the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and a guest editor of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, Veterinary Clinics of North America (Exotic Animal Series) and of Exotic DVM Magazine.

In addition to being a consultant for Harrison's Bird Foods, Dr. Hess is President-Elect of the Association of Avian Veterinarians and is an active member of several professional associations, including the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians and the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians.