Dr. Aziz is a first-generation Bangladeshi-American and native Houstonian who grew up in a strong Bangladeshi community where pet ownership and veterinary medicine were not common paths. Later in life, exposure to specialty and shelter medicine opened the door to a career that brought together everything she loved about veterinary medicine: supporting communities, championing the human–animal bond, upholding animal wellbeing, and supporting shelter teams and veterinary students.
Dr. Aziz earned her DVM from the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012, completed a rotating internship with the ASPCA in New York City in 2013, and finished her shelter medicine residency with the UC Davis KSMP in 2016. After her residency, she worked with the Austin Humane Society and the ASPCA before rejoining UC Davis KSMP in 2022 as an outreach veterinarian. In her current role, she collaborates with shelters across the country to prevent and manage infectious disease outbreaks and to support them in operating within their capacity for care and designing programs that help keep pets with their families.
Dr. Aziz is board certified in Shelter Medicine Practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) and currently supports the shelter medicine specialty college through committee service. She served on the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) Board from 2016–2022, an experience that was especially meaningful because it allowed her to support colleagues working to care for animals and communities nationwide. Her guidelines and authorship work include contributing to the ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, the ASV Guidelines for Humane Rabbit Housing in Animal Shelters, and the 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines, along with publications on feline housing and behavioral wellbeing, principles of vaccinology for shelter settings, and infectious disease risks in transported cats.
In Houston, Dr. Aziz volunteers with her local Street Dog Coalition chapter and supports underserved students who are interested in post‑secondary education and veterinary careers. . Outside of work, she enjoys birding, camping, and watching movies.
Education
DVM, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Internship, ASPCA Animal Hospital
Residency, Shelter Medicine, Koret Shelter Medicine Program at UC-Davis
Professional Highlights
Presenter
VMX
AVMA Convention
ABVP Symposium
Texas Unites for Animals
HSUS Expo
ASPCA Cornell Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Conference
Petfinder’s Adoption Options
Minnesota Animal Welfare Conference
Alaska Animal Welfare Conference
Ontario SPCA Conference
Midwest Veterinary Conference
Israeli Veterinary Conference
PacVet Veterinary Conference
Animal Care Conference-California
Colorado Animal Welfare Conference
Podcasts
AVMA’s My Veterinary Life
All My Children Wear Fur Coat
Publications
Aziz, M., Janeczko, S. & Gupta, M. ‘Infectious Disease Prevalence & Factors Associated with Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats Following Relocation.’ Animals. 2018, 8 (6), 91.
Aziz, M. ‘Feline Housing for Behavioral Wellbeing.’ Invited chapter in 2nd edition of Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff. Edited by Collins, K., DiGangi, B. & Reid, P. (under review).