Dr. Karen Greenberg says she has the most interesting job on the planet. A clinical psychiatrist in Brookline, Mass., Dr. Greenberg also teaches Harvard medical students and residents about the intricacies of psychopathology.

Her “assistant” JoJo is a mellow 10-year-old Shepherd-Labrador mix who she rescued off the streets in Puerto Rico and brings into her office on Fridays.

“My patients ask for him to come back,” Dr. Greenberg says. “JoJo helps provide a soothing environment while people are talking about very stressful subjects.”

Dr. Greenberg became involved with PCRM to speak out about the ethical and scientific issues with using animals in medical education and research. She played a critical role in the campaign against NASA’s planned monkey radiation experiments, which were scheduled to take place at McLean Hospital, a Harvard hospital.

Dr. Greenberg spearheaded a letter from Harvard Medical School faculty members urging Sen. John Kerry to take action to stop NASA’s experiments.

“We object to the proposed experiments because we consider them to be poor science, fiscally irresponsible, and unethical,” the doctors wrote.

In June, Dr. Greenberg traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with her Members of Congress about the NASA experiments and to urge support of the Great Ape Protection Act.

“There are much more effective ways to conduct research,” says Dr. Greenberg. “I pointed out that animal research is really expensive and doesn’t translate well.”

With the help of Dr. Greenberg and thousands of other members, PCRM’s work on the Hill is making a difference for both people and animals.