Published on 7/1/2026.
Members of the Duke Lemur Center’s staff attended the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Mid-Year Conference in Atlanta, GA, in March. Among them was DLC Safety Coordinator and Lead Primate Technician Madison, who was recently asked to serve as the education subcommittee chair for the AZA Safety Committee. As part of this role, Madison was in charge of planning, organizing, and facilitating the Safety Summit, a three-day conference within the AZA Mid-Year Conference.
During the conference, Madison led a Job Hazard Analysis Workshop, as well as two roundtable discussions on Firearms Team Vetting and Trauma Informed Leadership. In partnership with Utah’s Hogle Zoo and the AZA Safety Escapes and Exposures subcommittee, Madison gave a 30 minute presentation (“Trauma Preparedness in Zoological Settings”) on why training for large trauma events is important, how institutions across the US prepare, how to stock/maintain trauma kits, and the experiences she has that make her so passionate about the training. Her presentation was followed by two paramedics from the Hogle Zoo training Stop the Bleed with the attendees. Madison also served as a panelist on a firearms panel, answering questions about weapons, training, and emergency response.
“The conference was incredible because I got to attend the PTAG [Prosimian Taxon Advisory Group] meeting and learn a bit more about the conservation efforts other programs are pushing, but most of my time was spent at the Safety Summit,” says Madison. “It was inspiring to see so many leaders in zoos and aquariums have such a passion for their employees’ and animals’ safety. I learned so much about very niche topics through their passion and genuine concern for making sure everyone gets to go home after their shift.”