After graduating from Yale, Dr. Hess earned her veterinary degree at Tufts and completed a one-year internship and two-year residency in avian/exotic pet medicine at the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in New York City. After co-heading the Avian & Exotic Pet Service at the AMC for a decade, she opened the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Westchester County, NY, to provide specialized care to exotic pets, including birds, rabbits, ferrets, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, and other species. She is one of approximately 100 board-certified avian specialists worldwide and is also the Editor-in-Chief of the well-known Merck Veterinary Manual.