William J. Weber Oral History Interview

William J. Weber, D.V.M., was a practicing veterinarian in Leesburg, FL for over 30 years. Weber is also a noted wildlife photographer and the author of several books, including Care of Uncommon Pets, Wild Orphan Babies, and Florida Nature Photography. In this oral history interview, Weber discusses the interconnection between veterinary medicine and public health. He talks about several public health issues he encountered as a veterinarian, including rabies, leptospirosis, and encephalitis. Weber also remarks on the relationship between the veterinary community and organized public health action. He discusses the importance of the public health community providing expert opinions on such controversial issues as genetically modified foods and meat irradiation. He details his experiences as a member of the Florida State Board of Health and discusses some of issues the board confronted. Weber also ruminates on his time as a practitioner and shares anecdotes on several patient encounters