Casey Barton Behravesh is the director of CDC’s One Health Office in the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases and a captain in the United States Public Health Service. During her extensive career at CDC, Dr. Barton Behravesh has done everything from investigating outbreaks in the field to conducting epidemiologic research related to the prevention and control of zoonotic, foodborne, and vector-borne diseases. She also serves as the head of the Collaborating Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Zoonotic Diseases for the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Dr. Barton Behravesh earned her master’s in veterinary parasitology and veterinary medical degree from Texas A&M University and her doctor of public health degree from the University of Texas, and she is also trained as CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer. Dr. Barton Behravesh is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including CDC’s James H. Steele Award for outstanding work on veterinary public health and One Health issues.

Bio not available at this time.

Dr. Bowman is a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Cornell University, where he has been on faculty since 1987. He received his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in parasitology from Tulane University. He has obtained continuous corporate and federal funding to study animal parasitology throughout his career.

Dr. David Bruyette received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Missouri. Subsequently, he completed an internship at Purdue University and residency in internal medicine at the University of California-Davis. He was a staff internist at the West Los Angeles Veterinary Medical Group and a member of the Department of Comparative Medicine at Stanford University. Dr. Bruyette was an assistant professor and head of internal medicine at Kansas State University and director of the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at Kansas State. He was most recently medical director of the VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, one of the largest 24-hour emergency/specialty practices in the country. Dr. Bruyette is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a member of the Endocrine Society. He is currently the chief medical officer for Anivive Lifesciences and the founder and co-director of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation and Consultation.

Dr. Phil Bushby holds the Marcia Lane Endowed Chair of Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he has served on the faculty for 42 years. He earned his veterinary medical degree from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in 1972 and a master’s in veterinary medicine from Auburn University in 1976.

A 1998 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Julie Byron completed an internship at VCA West LA and a residency at OSU in 2004. She was a faculty member at University of Illinois before moving back to Ohio in 2011 to join the faculty at OSU, where she currently serves as a clinical processor. Dr. Byron has a strong interest in lower urinary tract disease, nephrology, and interventional endoscopy. She has published research and book chapters on urinary disorders and has a strong love of clinical and didactic teaching.

Ed Carlson is the director of technician learning and development for Ethos Veterinary Health and VetBloom. Ed has served on the Executive Board of the Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association since 2013 as treasurer, vice president, and the 2020 president. He also holds the post of treasurer for the New Hampshire Veterinary Technician Association and the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians. Ed has served on multiple NAVTA committees and will take on the role of president in 2021. He obtained a VTS in nutrition in 2014 and frequently lectures on a variety of nutrition topics at veterinary conferences across the country. In 2019, Ed was the recipient of the NAVTA Technician of the Year award.

Laura Carroll is a 2016 graduate of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. An associate veterinarian with Four Star Veterinary Service in Elizabethtown, Pa., her primary focus is swine health and management of commercial and niche-market operations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, and she also has a special interest in backyard, show, and pet pigs. Dr. Carroll is an active member of Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council and American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

Dr. Chew is a 1972 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. He completed a one-year internship at South Weymouth Veterinary Associates and a two-year residency in internal medicine and nephrology at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. He became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1977. Dr. Chew was an attending veterinarian at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital for 36 years and is now professor emeritus. Most of his work in clinics, research, and publications involves urology and nephrology in small animals.

Dr. Stephen Cole is an assistant professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He holds an M.S. in microbiology from William and Mary College and a VMD from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a fellowship in clinical microbiology and subsequently became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiology in 2018. As diagnostic bacteriologist, Dr. Cole routinely consults on antibiotic therapy and serves on national committees for susceptibility testing. His research focuses on antibiotic-resistant bacteria of companion animals and educational methods to promote antibiotic stewardship. Dr. Cole is an AAVMC One Health Scholar and the recipient of several teaching and service awards.

Dr. Delores Craig graduated from the University of Missouri–Columbia Veterinary College in 1983. She is certified in veterinary acupuncture, veterinary Chinese herbals, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture diplomate. As President of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, Dr. Craig is also an author, lecturer, and instructor for the society.

Dr. Lena DeTar is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at Cornell University. She completed a residency in shelter medicine at Oregon State University/Oregon Humane Society, a master’s in veterinary medicine and public health at University of Florida, and qualified as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Soon after moving to New York, she earned board certification in shelter medicine through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Her interests include infectious disease management and prevention, population management and metrics, elective and non-elective surgery, humane husbandry and shelter design, and shelter medicine instruction. As part of her work with Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University, Dr. DeTar can be seen advising shelter leadership, veterinarians and staff during program consultations, teaching clinical-year students and interns medicine and surgery at Tompkins County SPCA, and lecturing in the veterinary school classroom and at conferences nationwide. She’s also involved in research projects investigating the epidemiology of infectious shelter disease, shelter medicine teaching, and HVHQ surgery. Dr. DeTar has worked in and volunteered for humane organizations across the U.S. and internationally.

Bio not available at this time.

Dr. Dohmen is trained in acupuncture, food therapy, Bach flower essences, and, most extensively, Western herbs. She received her master’s of therapeutic herbalism from Maryland University of Integrative Health in 2014 and is now a full-time educator, lecturing regularly on Western herbal veterinary medicine and other holistic topics. A frequent contributor to industry journals such as JAHVMA and IVC, Dr. Dohmen is a past president of the Veterinary Botanical Medical Association and a member of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture, AHVMA, and AVMA. Additionally, she sits on the editorial board of the AHVMA Journal.

Dr. Drost graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. After spending a year in a central Florida mixed animal practice, he headed to North Carolina State University for a radiology residency. In 1995, he became a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR), of which he served as president in 2008. Dr. Drost spent 25 years in academic veterinary medicine at both Oklahoma State University and The Ohio State University, where he was a professor in radiology. Dr. Drost currently works for IDEXX Teleradiology and is the executive director of the ACVR.

Dr. Robert (Rocky) Ellis is an associate professor of family medicine at the University of Cincinnati, where he also serves as director of medical student education and associate director of the Medical Scientist Training Program. He received his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Cincinnati. He has been honored as a One Health Scholar by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges.

Dr. Carrie Ellis is an associate veterinarian at the Animal Hospital on Mt. Lookout Square in Cincinnati, where she practices small animal medicine. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati and her veterinary degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ellis has numerous publications and presentations on animal bites and zoonotic infections.

Dr. Ashley Elzerman is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. After graduating from the University of Illinois in 2009, she joined a general practice small animal clinic, where she developed a passion for low-stress handling and behavior. After seven years in general practice, she decided to pursue a residency in behavior at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., under the mentorship of Dr. Theresa DePorter. Dr. Elzerman is currently employed as a veterinary behaviorist with Zoetis in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Dr. Tracy Farone received her DVM from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. She has worked in various areas of private practice, academia, and research. In 2019, she was granted a sabbatical to pursue apicultural studies and develop a teaching and research apiary, and she is currently professor of biology at Grove City College in Darlington, Pa. She has worked with multiple experts in bee medicine and research, as well as dozens of beekeepers nationally and internationally. Dr. Farone has developed a bee education website, presents at beekeeping club meetings, and provides bee medicine continuing education at veterinary conferences. Her work has been featured in veterinary journals, including JAVMA, and she writes a monthly series, “BeeVet,” for Bee Culture Magazine.

Dr. Emily Feyes is the director of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a three-time OSU graduate, and prior to returning for her MPH and veterinary public health residency, she worked as a private practitioner in companion animal medicine for seven years. In her current role, Dr. Feyes works to increase awareness of antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine and promote the veterinary professional’s role in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. She also has a strong interest in adult education and currently teaches undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary professionals about zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, and infection control.

Bio not available at this time.

Amber began her career in veterinary medicine at a general practice in 2012. Always driven to further her knowledge and medical skills, she joined the team at Saint Francis Veterinary Specialists and Emergency in 2013. She attended a distance education veterinary technology program at Cedar Valley College, completing her course work and achieving her RVT license in 2015. Today, she is the lead nurse of the Saint Francis Radiology Department, which supports a multi-specialty practice of 12 doctors.

Dr. Gram received his doctor of veterinary medicine from Auburn University, after which he completed an internship at the University of Illinois and a residency in dermatology at North Carolina State University. A practice owner for 23 years, Dr. Gram is now the dermatology service chief at the University of Florida. He has lectured on dermatology subjects in North America, Europe, and Asia, and his recent book publications include Chronic Disease Management for Small Animals and Fleas and Ticks.

A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, Dr. Tamara Grubb has a strong interest in pain management. She is an anesthesia/analgesia consultant in small and large animal practices, a certified acupuncturist, a member of the International Academy of Veterinary Pain Management, and an adjunct professor of veterinary anesthesia and analgesia at Washington State University. She is co-author of two books, Anesthesia & Pain Management for Veterinary Nurses and Technicians and Analgesia and Anesthesia for the Ill or Injured Dog and Cat. Dr. Grubb’s favorite achievement is winning the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award.

Dr. Meg Halcomb is an associated faculty lecturer at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, where she teaches disaster preparedness, response, and infection control and supports the development of prepare-and-respond training projects. After graduating from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012, she spent five years working as a mixed animal practitioner. In 2020, Dr. Halcomb earned a Master of Public Health degree and completed a veterinary public health residency at OSU, where she worked with state agencies on response exercises and preparedness projects, including zoonotic disease outbreak training.

Vanessa Hale is an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at The Ohio State University. She completed a DVM and Ph.D. at Purdue University, as well as a postdoctoral fellowship in the Mayo Clinic Microbiome Program. Her research focuses on the role of the gut microbiome in disease susceptibility and pathogenesis.

Dr. Meghan Herron is dedicated to improving the lives of shelter dogs. After graduating from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, she completed a residency at the University of Pennsylvania and became a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. Dr. Herron spent more than a decade as head of the behavioral medicine service at OSU Veterinary Medical Center, after which she became a senior director at Gigi’s – A Shelter Organization. As a published author and seasoned speaker, she has given lectures and seminars on animal behavior around the world and is the lead editor on the book Decoding Your Cat, the long-anticipated sequel to Decoding Your Dog.

Jessica Higgins received her DVM from The Ohio State University and also completed a post-doctorate certification in avian health and medicine through the University of Georgia. Dr. Higgins currently works for Kalmbach Feeds, practicing commercial poultry and swine production medicine. She oversees the health of more than five million commercial layer birds and serves as a poultry health resource for the company’s poultry feed customers and backyard poultry owners. Dr. Higgins is a member of the American Association of Avian Pathologists and the Association of Veterinarians in Egg Production.

Dr. Tracy Hill is an assistant professor at the University of Georgia, where she has been on faculty since 2016. Prior to that, she spent four years as a senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. A diplomate in small animal internal medicine, Dr. Hill earned a Ph.D. in gastric mucosal barrier function at North Carolina State University and completed an interventional radiology fellowship at the Animal Medical Center in 2011. Dr. Hill's interests are in gastroenterology and interventional radiology, and her active research areas include the use of video capsule endoscopy to diagnose various gut diseases and the effect of other systemic conditions, such as critical illness and exercise, on gut health.

Jeff Holland is one of few attorneys whose practice is primarily devoted to animal welfare. His firm has represented individuals, veterinarians, animal welfare organizations, and humane societies in 50 of Ohio’s 88 counties, and he has served as special prosecutor for animal cruelty cases involving thousands of animals in courts across the State of Ohio for the past 29 years. Additionally, Jeff is an adjunct professor of animal law at both Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Cleveland Marshall School of Law, and is a frequent speaker in training sessions for law enforcement officers, attorneys, veterinarians, and animal advocates.

Dr. Michael Jaffe is a 1991 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a one-year companion animal internship and a three-year small animal surgery residency at Louisiana State University, where he also received his master’s degree. Dr. Jaffe spent 17 years in specialty surgical practice in Michigan and Arizona and was a member of the founding faculty at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he remained on staff for four years. Dr. Jaffe became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2002 and a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner in 2017. He is currently an associate professor and service chief of small animal surgery at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Barbara Khozam is an internationally recognized speaker and trainer, having delivered more than 1,700 presentations on customer service, leadership, and communication to 75,000 people in 12 countries. She is known for her “high-energy, high-impact” delivery, outrageous wit, and ability to tackle real issues posed by her audience. In 2019, Barbara was chosen as the Top Customer Service Consultant of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals and was awarded the CSP® (Certified Speaking Professional™) from the National Speakers Association—one of only three women in the world to have achieved this distinction. She is also a Toastmasters International Accredited Speaker.

Tricia started her career as a 911 dispatcher in for Cuyahoga Falls Police and Fire. During her seven years with the department, she received Ohio’s Gold Star Dispatcher of the Year Award. In 2005, she became a sworn police officer with Kent State University Police Department, where she has since served as a crisis and hostage negotiator for Metro SWAT, a multi-jurisdictional team serving all of Portage County and half of Summit County.  During her time on Metro SWAT, she has negotiated more than 100 barricaded subjects and two nine-plus-hour hostage situations. Tricia has trained first responders throughout Ohio on de-escalation skills and techniques, self-care, and resiliency. 

Sarah Kolb graduated from Minnesota School of Health Science/Globe College with her AAS in veterinary technology in 2005 and obtained a bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology through St. Petersburg College in Florida in 2018. She worked in the Exotic Companion Animal Department and Wildlife Care Clinic at Iowa State University Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center in Ames, Iowa, from 2006 until 2020. Sarah is now employed with the University of Wisconsin-Madison National Primate Research Center. In 2015, Sarah achieved Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) status in exotic companion animals with the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice (AVTCP), for which she currently serves as vice president. In addition to serving on multiple AVTCP committees and mentoring new applicants, Sarah is also a Veterinary Support Personnel Network (VSPN) instructor and lectures at various national conferences. She has published multiple articles in both the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) Journal and Veterinary Nurses Today.

Tabitha Kucera is the owner of Chirrups and Chatter cat and dog behavior consulting and training in Cleveland. She is a certified cat behavior consultant through the International Association of Behavior Consultants, a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, and an elite Fear Free and Low-Stress Handling Certified registered veterinary technician.

Dr. Susan Little received her Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. Since 1990, she has been in feline practice, achieving board certification in 1997. She is part owner of two feline specialty practices in Ottawa, Canada, and is an author and peer reviewer for a variety of veterinary journals. Dr. Little is the recipient of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s Small Animal Practitioner Award (2010), the NAVC Small Animal Speaker of the Year Award (2013), and the International Society of Feline Medicine/Hill's Pet Nutrition Award for outstanding contributions to feline medicine (2013).

Dr. Antoinette Marsh is an associate professor of parasitology at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she is the director of the Veterinary Medical Center's parasitology diagnostic service. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. Her interests include molecular diagnostics of parasites, immunoparasitology, and legal liabilities regarding preventable zoonotic infectious agents.

David McCormick is a veterinary practice appraiser, broker, and transaction specialist. Respected among veterinary colleagues as an expert in appraisals and brokerage, he helps current and future practice owners reach their goals. He teaches regionally, nationally and internationally on topics such as practice value, financial health, buying and selling, exit planning, and ownership issues. David also operates Simmons Mid-Atlantic and Simmons Great Lakes.

Dr. Timothy McDermott received his DVM in 1996 from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he currently serves as adjunct faculty in the Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine. He is also an agriculture and natural resources extension educator at the OSU College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, a post he has held for the past five years. He utilizes his veterinary expertise for extension work in backyard poultry, small ruminant, beef cattle, insect-vectored disease and companion animal programming. His areas of focus for outreach in Franklin County, Ohio, include local food production systems and veterinary sciences. Prior to his tenure at OSU, Dr. McDermott spent 20 years in private practice veterinary medicine and surgery.

A true blue American cowboy with a boyish enthusiasm for life and strong family values, Ken McNabb grew up in a traditional ranching family in the mountains of Wyoming . This modern day Roy Rogers knew from a young age that he wanted to help others gain knowledge and confidence to achieve a new level of horsemanship. Ken creates a unique environment where each horse is trained using gentle methods and the rider is coached to become their personal best.

Anne Gemensky Metzler is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she joined the faculty in 2000 after completing her residency, master’s degree, and board certification. She is a professor, head of the ophthalmology service, and chair of the Faculty Mentoring Committee. She was previously secretary of Faculty Council and participated in both the Big Ten Alliance Academic Leadership Program and The OSU President and Provost’s Leadership Institute. Dr. Metzler has been elected to the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists Board of Regents, following service as chair of the ACVO Examination Committee. A passionate educator, she received the Class of 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award and was recognized on the 2019 OSU CVM Teaching Honor Roll.

Dr. Midla grew up on a farm in southwestern Pennsylvania, where his family raised Polled Hereford beef cattle. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, from which eh received his bachelor’s degree in 1988 and his VMD in 1992. Dr. Midla spent 24 years in clinical veterinary practice, working primarily with large animals, before joining the cattle technical services team at Merck Animal Health in 2016.

With more than two decades of veterinary and shelter medicine experience, Dr. Mitchell is the medical director of the Humane Society of Vero Beach (HSVB) in Florida, where she oversees the shelter medicine program in addition to targeted public clinic programs for owned animals. Prior to her role here at HSVB, Dr. Mitchell worked as the chief medical officer and vice president of shelter medicine for the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA for more than 10 years. Her background also includes extensive experience in emergency medicine and general practice. Dr. Mitchell holds a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of California, Davis.

Dr. Nagaraja earned his bachelor’s and master’s in veterinary science from Mysore Veterinary College in Bangalore, India, in 1970 and 1972, followed by a Ph.D. in microbiology from Kansas State University in 1977. Dr. Nagaraja’s research interests focus on gut microbiology of animals, particularly of the rumen of cattle. His investigations have focused on the role of microbes in ruminal function and dysfunction, particularly in animals fed high-grain diets.

Dr. Nielsen graduated with his DVM degree from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark in 2001. He spent three years in equine veterinary practice and received his Ph.D. in equine parasitology at University of Copenhagen in 2007. In 2011, he joined the M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center at University of Kentucky, where he now serves as associate professor and holds the title of Schlaikjer Professor in Equine Infectious Disease. Board certified in veterinary parasitology with American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM), Dr. Nielsen is chair of the AAEP Parasite Control Subcommittee, serves as co-editor-in-chief for Veterinary Parasitology, and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed publications.

A board-certified veterinary specialist in emergency critical care, Dr. Garret Pachtinger is the co-founder and chief operating officer of VETgirl. He is also an associate at the Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center in Levittown, Pa. Dr. Pachtinger graduated from Muhlenberg College with a B.S. in biology before obtaining his veterinary degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed an internship, emergency fellowship ,and residency at the Matthew J Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. He has been published in numerous veterinary journals and textbooks, and he lectures throughout the world on emergency and critical care.

Dr. Parker is an associate professor at The Ohio State University. After receiving her DVM from Tufts University, she completed a small animal internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, followed by a small animal internal medicine residency at Iowa State University and a nutrition residency at Tufts. She is a diplomate of both the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. Dr. Parker’s primary areas of interest include kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease, and vitamin D metabolism, as well as nutritional management of a variety of canine and feline diseases.

Dr. Risa Pesapane is an assistant professor of infectious disease ecology in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her research focuses on the impact of ticks and mites on human and animal health, understanding the drivers of tick abundance and disease transmission, and how to manage ticks and mites in animal populations.

Dr. Shannon Reed is an equine surgeon at The Ohio State University. She spends the majority of her time on the clinic floor, seeing hospital cases and teaching senior veterinary students in the equine surgery rotation.

A graduate of the University of Glasgow in Scotland, Dr. Robertson is board certified in anesthesia and animal welfare in both the United States and Europe. She holds a certificate in small animal acupuncture, as well as a graduate certificate in shelter medicine from the University of Florida. Dr. Robertson has published widely on the recognition and alleviation of acute pain in horses and cats. Currently she is the senior medical director of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a nationwide network of veterinarians dedicated to end-of-life care and in-home euthanasia. Dr. Robertson is also a courtesy professor in the University of Florida Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences.

Denise received her AAS degree in veterinary technology in 2001, graduating with honors. She became a veterinary technician specialist in dentistry in 2014. After working in specialty dental practices for several years, Denise founded Pet Dental Education, LLC in 2017 and also works as a dental educator for several other companies. Following her passion for teaching and inspiring others, Denise has lectured and taught labs nationally and internationally on topics ranging from veterinary dentistry to improving standards of dentistry at individual animal hospitals. She has passion for veterinary dentistry and strives to ignite that passion in others.

Bio not available at this time

Dr. Ruple’s primary research interest lies in the area of One Health, and her diverse and extensive experiences lend themselves to her research in both comparative/translational medicine and infectious diseases that occur at the human-animal interface. Her comparative medicine research is primarily focused on the companion dog as a model for health and disease in human populations. Dr. Ruple is also an expert in infectious diseases, biosecurity, and hospital infection control; several of her published works on hospital infection control and biosecurity have received awards from international organizations such as the International Society for Disease Surveillance. She is a member of the Purdue Comparative Oncology Program and Purdue Center for Cancer Research, acts as the advisor to the Purdue One Health Club, and serves as the chair of the Senate’s Equity and Diversity Committee.

Dr. Linda Saif received her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from The Ohio State University, where she is a distinguished university professor in the Food Animal Health Research Program (CFAES, OARDC) and College of Veterinary Medicine. She also serves as the co-director of OSU’s Virus and Emerging Pathogens Program (IDI) and is an honorary diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists. An elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and five other honorary societies, Dr Saif is a virologist and immunologist whose coronavirus research spans four decades. Her lab focuses on diagnosis, pathogenesis, immunity, and vaccines for animal coronaviruses and rotaviruses, as well as their interspecies transmission. She is the recipient of the Wolf Prize in Agriculture and has authored or coauthored more than 395 journal publications and 77 book chapters.

Dr. Matthew Salois worked in private industry, government, and academia before joining the AVMA in 2018 as director of veterinary economics. From 2016 to 2018, he served as director of global scientific affairs and policy at Elanco Animal Health, supervising a team of scientists in veterinary medicine, human medicine, animal welfare, economics and sustainability. Before joining Elanco, Dr. Salois was chief economist with the Florida Department of Citrus, where he led economic and market research activities to drive industry growth and profitability for citrus growers. He previously served as an assistant professor at the University of Reading in the U.K., and also has held positions with the University of Florida and University of Central Florida. Dr. Salois earned his Ph.D. in food and resource sconomics from the University of Florida and holds an M.A. in applied economics and a B.S. in health dervices administration from the University of Central Florida.

Stephanie Shain joined the Washington Humane Society in September 2010 as chief operating officer and continues in that role for the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA), where she oversees direct care to animals, regional outreach programs, organizational communications, strategic planning, and management processes. Prior to joining the HRA team, Stephanie was a senior director at The Humane Society of the United States, where she established the organization’s Stop Puppy Mills Campaign. She continues to serve as an outspoken advocate for animal welfare and is regularly sought as a consultant and speaker. From 1995 to 2000, Stephanie was a program manager and lobbyist for the American Anti-Vivisection Society, where she worked within the shelter, veterinary, and education arenas to help companion, wild, and farmed animals.

Dr. Jonathan Sleeman is the Center Director for the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center. He received his master's degree in zoology and veterinary degree from the University of Cambridge and completed and internship and residency in zoological medicine at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Sleeman is a diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine and has published widely on topics related to wildlife anesthesia, emerging diseases of wildlife, wildlife epidemiology, risk assessment, One Health, and ecohealth. He serves in a variety of leadership roles, including the OIE's Working Group on Wildlife and the Ecohealth International Board of Directors.

Dr. Snyder is a clinical associate professor and residency director of the dentistry and oral surgery service at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. A diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College, he has been recognized as a Founding Fellow in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Snyder has authored many journal articles and textbook chapters and has lectured on dentistry around the world. He prides himself on the dental education he provides to students at the University of Wisconsin and the residents he has successfully mentored in the specialty. Dr. Snyder’s academic interests include maxillofacial trauma and reconstruction, oral surgery, creating innovative techniques in veterinary dental education, and improving regional anesthesia methods.

Bio not available at this time.

A 1990 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Steve Thompson is ABVP board certified in canine/feline practice. He spent two years in a dive-doctor AAHA practice in Rockville, Md., before returning to his alma mater to join its general practice program. In late 1997, he moved to Indiana to direct Purdue’s pet wellness initiative, establish a full-time small animal community practice program, and join the leadership team that developed the Primary Care Veterinary Educators subcommittee. Dr. Thompson served on both 2012 and 2019 AAHA canine life stage guidelines task forces. Today, he continues to teach advanced care dentistry, exotic pet, and breeder support niches within Purdue’s primary care elective block for fourth-year veterinary and technician students.

Ms. Denise Tumblin, owner of WTA Veterinary Consultants, provides management, valuation, and transition services to independently owned veterinary practices across the U.S. Her company co-authors the Well-Managed Practice® Benchmarks Study, and she is the co-founder and facilitator of the WellMP® Management Groups. Denise speaks regularly at national and regional meetings on valuation and management topics and has authored numerous veterinary management articles. A graduate of The Ohio State University, she is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants, National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, AAHA, Columbus Humane, and VetPartners, for which she serves on the Valuation Council and is a past board member.

Robert Van Saun received his DVM and M.S. degrees from Michigan State University, where he also completed a theriogenology residency, and his Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition from Cornell University. A diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, he has been an extension veterinarian at Penn State since 2000. Prior to his current position, he worked in private practice and served on the faculty at Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He has received teaching, research, and advising award from both Oregon State and Penn State, and was recognized with the AABP Distinguished Service Award in 2013.

Dr. Jessica Ward obtained her DVM from North Carolina State University in 2011. After a year-long small animal rotating internship at The Ohio State University, she returned to NC State for a cardiology residency. In 2015, she became board certified in cardiology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and was hired by Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she is currently an associate professor. Dr. Ward's research interests include point-of-care ultrasound, the interplay between glucocorticoids and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Leslie Wereszczak received her associate’s degree in veterinary technology from the State University of New York at Delhi in 1989 and obtained a bachelor’s degree in business management from Western Governors University in 2019. She is the nursing supervisor of the small animal emergency/critical care service at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center in Knoxville, where she has worked for more than 25 years. She enjoys the unpredictable nature of emergency and critical care medicine, as well as the diverse caseload it provides. A strong advocate for the veterinary technician profession, Leslie serves on the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, is a member of the Tennessee Veterinary Technicians Association, and is the NAVTA District III Representative. In addition, she is a member of the Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians and Nurses, the Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society, and the Veterinary Nurse Initiative Advisory Board, and is also a RECOVER Certified Instructor.  

Dr. Wittum holds a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and a master’s and Ph.D. in epidemiology from Colorado State University. He is a professor and chair of the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at The Ohio State University. His research interests include infectious disease epidemiology, zoonotic infectious diseases, preharvest food safety, veterinary antimicrobial use, and the dissemination of resistant bacteria.

BIO