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Hello everyone! My name is Brenda Hernandez, and I am the creator of this website. I transferred from Motlow State Community College to Middle Tennessee State University. My major is biology with a concentration in physiology, and my minor is an associate in the Honors College. I created this website as part of my undergraduate honors thesis at Middle Tennessee State University. I chose my topic due to a combination of personal experience, academic curiosity, and a desire to make scientific information more accessible.
I always had a passion for helping animals. My mom and I regularly feed and care for stray cats in our community. That experience became more personal when one of our cats passed away from hemangiosarcoma. Watching him go through that made me think about how disease affects animals, especially when they cannot communicate their feelings.
I developed a strong interest in reptiles and their role in ecosystems during a study abroad program in Costa Rica. There is still much to learn about reptile health, particularly when it comes to emerging infectious diseases.
As someone planning to enter the medical field, I created this website to practice translating complex scientific research into information that can be easily understood and accessible to the public. My goal is to help others understand these diseases and why they matter.