Mario is Director and Attending Veterinarian for the Non-Human Primate Research Program at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute.   Prior to joining Princeton University, he served as Associate Director for Veterinary Clinical Care at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (2022-2023).  Before that he was the Attending Veterinarian and Associate Professor for Eastern Virginia Medical school from 2010 to 2022 and Veterinary Director of the institution’s graduate program in Laboratory Animal Science from 2012 – 2022. He served intermittently as Interim Attending Veterinarian for Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA; Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA; and Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA.  Mario served as Veterinary Director, Attending Veterinarian and Associate Professor for Magee-Women’s Research Institute of the University of Pittsburgh Medical College from 2005 to 2010.   Previously, he was a Clinical, Surgical and Research Veterinarian at the Caribbean Primate Research Center of the University of Puerto Rico from 2002 to 2005.  Mario worked for the United States Federal Government as a Veterinary Medical Officer for the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Care Division, and a Civilian Veterinarian at military facilities in Puerto Rico from 2000 to 2002.

Mario earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Puerto Rico (1992) and obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge (1998).    He completed a Masters Degree in Animal Science and Reproductive Endocrinology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez (1999). 

Mario has special interests in animal welfare and advanced diagnostic techniques such as ultrasound and other imaging modalities.  He has presented several posters at different professional associations such as AALAS, LAMA and APV on topics of laboratory animal welfare and facility management.   Mario teaches diseases of laboratory animals and anesthesia and surgery in lab animals.   He routinely volunteers his free time at local animal shelters and vaccination clinics.