File:Patricia “Trish” Barbash, -herstory (25595363806).jpg

English: Name: Patricia “Trish” Barbash

Title: Senior Fish Health Biologist (Fisheries Biologist)

Duty station: Lamar Fish Health Center

Amount of time worked in public service: 35 yrs

How much of this at USFWS? 33 yrs

Female Conservation Hero or Mentor? Why?

Rachel Carson, of course – after reading Silent Spring back in college.

When you began your career, did you ever see yourself working for the USFWS?

Yes – after college I worked at the UMASS Cooperative Fisheries Unit (FWS back in 1980) as a YACC (Young Adult Conservation Corps). I decided I loved working with the anadromous fish restoration projects on the CT River.

The mission of the USFWS is “Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people” How do you contribute to this mission?

Preventing disease and improving health of our cultured fishes keeps our wild fish populations healthy as well. Monitoring for diseases in wild fish help identify adverse environmental conditions, providing additional information for better resource management.

It takes a special person to dedicate their lives to public service. Why did you choose this path?

I have served as a “public” service employee, but I do this primarily for the natural resource, which in turn benefits our nation as a whole.

What do you like best about working for the USFWS?

What I love about working as a fish health biologist for the Service is that there is no “status quo”. I often joke about my job security: new and emerging pathogens, advancing diagnostic techniques, climate change, and habitat and pollution problems present us with new challenges every single day!!! Along the way, collaboration with partners from FWS, state, academic, tribal, USGS, USDA, etc. has allowed me to develop a vast network of friends and colleagues across the nation.