Karin Beale, DVM, DACVD
Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists
Houston, Texas
Dr. Beale received both her Bachelor of Science in biology and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida in 1985. After graduation, she was engaged in small animal private clinical practice in the Washington, D.C., area for one year. Her passion for dermatology grew during this year and the following year she returned to the University of Florida for a residency in veterinary dermatology. After residency, she attained board certification in dermatology and remained on faculty at the university for four years as an assistant professor of veterinary dermatology before leaving to found Gulf Coast Veterinary Dermatology and Allergy. Having lectured nationally and internationally, Dr. Beale has a special interest in infectious conditions of the skin and ear and managing the allergic patient. Dr. Beale has three children who bring her great joy. She shares her home with her youngest daughter and two golden retrievers. She is active in several philanthropic activities, including volunteering with Golden Beginnings, a local rescue group for golden retrievers. Dr. Beale is a first-generation American and is fluent in French as a second language. She enjoys traveling for fun as well as for educating other veterinarians.
Kelli Beavers, DVM, DACVP, DACT
Department of Large Animal Clinical Science
School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
VERO, Texas A&M University
Canyon, Texas
Dr. Beavers earned her DVM from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2012. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners as well as the American College of Theriogenology. She currently serves as a clinical assistant professor of equine veterinary education in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the VERO complex in Canyon.
Marc Bordelon, DVM, MBA
Veterinary Clinical Product Specialist
Butterfly Ultrasound Veterinary Team
Dr. Bordelon completed his veterinary studies at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. Prior to enrolling at Louisiana State University, Dr. Bordelon attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he graduated with honors with both his Master of Business Administration in 2003 and his Bachelor of Science in microbiology in 2001. During his studies, Dr. Bordelon was awarded an internship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he cared for and did research on the effects of amphetamine on mice. Dr. Bordelon has been in private practice since graduating in 2009. He was the owner and medical director of multiple practices in Louisiana including a large 24/7 hospital and multispecialty referral hospital. His professional interests include ultrasonography (point of care ultrasound, diagnostic and noninvasive procedures), internal medicine and dermatology. Since graduation, Dr. Bordelon has averaged 2,000 studies a year in private practice and successfully integrated POCUS and full diagnostic ultrasounds into his daily exams. Dr. Bordelon is proud member of the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA), Acadiana Area Veterinary Association (AAVA) and International Ultrasound Society (IVUS), among others. He currently serves as the veterinary clinical product specialist for the Butterfly Veterinary Team.
Adam Birkenheuer, DVM, DACVIM
Department of Small Animal Clinical Science
College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina University
Raleigh, North Carolina
Dr. Birkenheuer is the Andy Quattlebaum Distinguished Chair in Infectious Disease Research at the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. He received his DVM from the University of Florida and his PhD in immunology from NC State University. He is a Diplomate of the College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. His interests are infectious diseases/epidemiology, molecular characterization, molecular diagnosis and treatment of vector-borne diseases in dogs and cats.
Nan Boss, DVM
Best Friend Veterinary Center
Grafton, Wisconsin
Dr. Boss earned both her bachelor’s degree in biology and her veterinary degree at the University of Illinois. She worked at a mixed practice for two years before moving to the Milwaukee area, where she eventually purchased the Grafton Small Animal Hospital. Dr. Boss’s practice has grown from a one-doctor to three-doctor practice and has quadrupled its gross production in six years. Dr. Boss has developed a complete set of handout materials for educating clients on pet care topics and veterinary procedures. She is a frequent speaker at national and regional veterinary meetings, and her practice has won several national awards.
Yvonne Brandenburg, RVT, VTS (SAIM)
Internal Medicine for Vet Techs
Livermore, California
With more than 19 years of veterinary experience, Yvonne Brandenburg, RVT, VTS (Internal Medicine - Small Animal), served as the 2021 president of the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians and as founder and co-host of Internal Medicine for Vet Techs Membership and Podcast. Yvonne is a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Internal Medicine (SA). She works as a Clinical Trainer for a specialty practice and loves to teach about a variety of medicine topics. Yvonne is passionate about elevating our profession and veterinary technicians and nurses around the world.
Walter Brown, BS, RVT
SKINNI GO LIVE, LLC.
United Veterinary Care
Greer, South Carolina
Walter Brown is an Emergency and Critical Care specialty veterinary technologist, social media public figure, influencer, comedian and founder of SKINNI GO LIVE LLC. Walter combines his background in veterinary medicine with comedy to bring education and relief to veterinary professionals around the world. He has millions of views and continues to create viral content. When he isn’t devoting his time to his brand, Walter works as a veterinary technologist program liaison for United Veterinary Care, where he cultivates relationships with veterinary technology programs and provides veterinary technology students with opportunities and resources to pave the way for future career interest. Walter has plans to develop supplemental learning courses and seminars for veterinary technology students, pet parents and kids of all ages. His ultimate dream is to create veterinary assistant programs for inner-city schools and charter schools in low-income areas.
Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS(Nutrition)
VetBloom
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS (Nutrition), is the Director of Veterinary Nursing Education for VetBloom. He is the treasurer of the New Hampshire Veterinary Technician Association and active in the Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association. Ed has served on multiple National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) committees and was the 2021 NAVTA president. He obtained a VTS (Nutrition) in 2014 and lectures frequently at local, regional, national and international veterinary conferences on a variety of nutrition topics. Ed was also the recipient of the NAVTA 2019 Technician of the Year award.
Sue Chen, DVM, DAVBP (Avian)
Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists
Houston, Texas
Dr. Chen is a native Houstonian and is board-certified in avian practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. She received her DVM from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, where she created a specialized veterinary curriculum track focused on exotic animals. She spent time training at zoos and wildlife sanctuaries in Dallas, Seattle and Australia as well as a pathology rotation at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. After veterinary school, Dr. Chen completed an internship at Gulf Coast Avian and Exotics, followed by a residency in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine and Surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York. She has authored publications on avian and exotic medicine and has a special interest in the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and endoscopic surgery in exotics.
Ashleigh Fairfield, LVT, CCRP, VTS(Physical Rehabilitation)
Vetbeam
Herndon, Virginia
Asheigh is the owner of Vetbeam, which provides locum veterinary technician and rehabilitiation services. She has a AAS in veterinary technology and obtained her VTS from the Academy of Physical Veterinary Technicians in 2018.
Tekla Lee Fowler, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Department of Clinical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
Dr. Lee-Fowler received her DVM from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. After graduation, Dr. Lee-Fowler completed a rotating small animal internship at Mississippi State University CVM. In 2009, she completed a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Missouri CVM and earned board certification in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). During residency, Dr. Lee-Fowler earned her master’s degree with research focusing on feline asthma. After residency, she served as a clinical instructor at the University of Missouri while completing a post-doctoral fellowship focusing on feline asthma and immunology.
Ralph C. Harvey, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVAA
Chair, Veterinary Advisory Board at BioTraceIT
Knoxville, Tennessee
Dr. Harvey currently works as a consultant in practice and industry promoting best medicine, including Fear Free practices, and new advances in patient care, with a focus on the management and relief of animal pain and suffering. Dr. Harvey formerly taught anesthesia and pain management in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has served as the section head for the Small Animal Surgical Services and as a member of the University Faculty Senate. His veterinary degree is from the UTCVM, and his post-graduate training included internship, residency and fellowship at Cornell’s Veterinary and Medical Colleges. Dr. Harvey has worked in private small animal practice. He is certified as a specialist by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia and has served as their executive secretary and as a member of the ACVAA Board of Directors. He currently is a member of the Fear-Free Executive Council.
Michelle Hervey, BS, LVT, CFVP(Cat-Friendly Veterinary Professional)
Veterinary Teaching Hospital
School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
Michelle Hervey graduated from the Blinn College Veterinary Technology Program in May 2014 and Tarleton State University’s Veterinary Technology Program in December 2017. Michelle has worked for TAMU Equine and Food Animal services and in mixed animal private practice. Michelle enjoys teaching and working with residents, interns, veterinary students and technicians. She assists them in learning new procedures and technical skills needed throughout their careers. She is a Recover Initiative Instructor and a Cat-Friendly Veterinary Professional. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with friends, family and her fur-babies.
Tabitha Kucera, RVT, CCBC, KPA-CTP
Chirrups & Chatter
Cleveland, OH
For as long as she can remember, Tabitha has had a strong connection with animals and knew that she wanted to work with them in her professional and personal life. She grew up with cats, dogs, turtles, rabbits and more. She began volunteering with animal rescues in high school. Once she graduated high school, she wanted to continue to help animals, and she went to school to become a veterinary technician. She graduated from Stautzenberger College and passed her board exam, becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2010. As a veterinary technician, Tabitha worked with animal rescue organizations and in general practice. Her work in these fields shed light on repeated occurrences of animal euthanasia and re-homing due to behavior issues, misreading of animal body language and the suffering that animals and humans endured due to them being misunderstood. This is what first inspired her to become more interested and knowledgeable about animal behavior and training. She quickly became dedicated to learning about the root causes and permanent solutions to feline and canine behavior concerns. She began to teach herself about behavior through continuing education, workshops, speaking to experts, completing her Low Stress Handling and Elite Fear Free Certifications, obtaining her KPA-CTP through the Karen Pryor Academy and becoming a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant through the IAABC. She continues to learn from the animals and clients she works with as well as by attending behavior workshops and conferences. Tabitha is also currently working toward her veterinary technician specialty in behavior. Tabitha enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge and experience to help clients resolve, manage and prevent many types of dog and cat behavior issues, such as house soiling, attention seeking behaviors, destructive behaviors, aggression, fear-based behaviors, tension between pets, introducing new pets, leash pulling and fear and stress associated with handling and grooming.
Dusty Nagy, DVM, MS, PhD
Deptartment of Large Animal Clinical Science
School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
Dr. Nagy has joined the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) Large Animal Clinical Sciences (VLCS) Department as a clinical associate professor in food animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Nagy graduated from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and from the University of Missouri with her master’s and PhD degrees. She joins the CVM from the University of Missouri, where she worked as an associate teaching professor. Dr. Nagy’s clinical interests include medicine and surgery of cattle, small ruminants and camelids.
Simon Platt, BVM&S, FRCVS, DACVIM(Neurology), DECVN
Veterinary Neurology Training LLC
Watkinsville, Georgia
Dr. Platt qualified from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1992. He was then an intern at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, and completed a residency in neurology and neurosurgery in 1998 at the University of Florida. Dr. Platt was a professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the University of Georgia until 2022 and now co-leads the teleneurology team at VetOracle as well as being the Medical Director for Hallmarq Advanced Veterinary Imaging. Dr. Platt has authored or co-authored more than 200 journal articles and 50 book chapters and is the co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology and the Manual of Small Animal Neurological Emergencies. Dr. Platt is past president of the ACVIM Neurology Specialty, past chief examiner for the ECVN and founder member of the Southeastern Veterinary Neurology (SEVEN) group in the USA. Currently, Dr. Platt also serves as editor in chief of the NAVC journal Today’s Veterinary Practice. Dr. Platt was made a fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2018 for meritorious contributions to the veterinary profession
Shannon Reed, DVM, DACVIM (LA), DACVS
Dept. of Large Animal Clinical Science
School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
Dr. Reed is a Clinical Associate Professor in food animal medicine in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Science at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Her interests are in large animal surgery, teaching and training.
Philip Richmond, DVM, CAPP, CRT, CHC-BCS, CCFP
Flourishing Phoenix Veterinary Consultants
Odessa, Florida
Dr. Richmond is the chief medical and wellbeing officer at Veterinary United and founder of Flourishing Phoenix Veterinary Consultants. He both leads and is involved in state, national and international projects for the advancement of wellbeing and culture in veterinary medicine. He currently serves as the chair of the FVMA’s Professional Wellbeing Committee and is a member/advisor for several national committees for workplace suicide prevention and veterinary wellbeing, including those sponsored by the CDC/NIOSH and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Dr. Richmond is a speaker and published writer and holds multiple certifications in the fields of applied positive psychology, appreciative inquiry, workplace wellbeing, psychological health and safety, trauma-informed workplaces, resilience training and suicide prevention. He was awarded the FVMA Gold Star in 2019 and Veterinarian of the Year in 2021.
Todd Riggan, DVM
White Rock Veterinary Hospital
Pflugerville, Texas
Dr Riggan graduated from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in May 1991. His first associate position was at a private practice in Florida and with exotic animals at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. He returned to Texas two years later and worked at a small animal practice in Austin for nine years. In May 2001, Dr. Riggan opened White Rock Veterinary Hospital in Pflugerville, Texas. Dr Riggan continued to develop his passion for small mammal medicine and in 2016 became board-certified with ABVP for exotic companion mammals. Today White Rock Veterinary Hospital employs eight veterinarians. Dogs and cats make up 50% of the practice, and the other 50% are exotic small mammals and reptiles.
David Rousseau, DVM
Veterinary Clinical Director
Butterfly Ultrasound Veterinary Team
Animal obsessed from a young age, Dr. Rousseau worked as a technician at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital before attending veterinary school at Ross University. He completed a beef and dairy internship at the University of Idaho Caine Teaching Center and a small animal rotating internship at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital in Massachusetts. He practiced at VCA Wakefield Animal Hospital as medical director for more than 10 years. The ability to help animals, their humans and fellow veterinarians from a broader perspective as well as a fascination with exciting new treatment modalities brought Dr. Rousseau to the veterinary industry. He worked as a professional services veterinarian, a regional strategic veterinarian and a medical lead on the corporate and specialty team before joining Butterfly as veterinary clinical director. An avid horseman, he is thrilled to realize his dream of working cross-species in his new role.
Elizabeth A. Rozanski, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University
North Grafton, Massachusetts
Dr. Rozanski is an Associate Professor of Emergency and Critical Care at the Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University. She is a Diplomate of both the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.
Bill Schroeder
InTouch Practice Communications
Highland, Indiana
Bill owns InTouch Practice Communications and has, for the past 28 years, enjoyed helping more than 7,500 practices educate their clients and share their messages. He has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Western Illinois University, is a former United States Marine, sits on the board of directors for VetPartners and is a graduate of the Veterinary Management Institute at Purdue. Bill and his family live in the Chicago suburbs, where he remains active in the Marine Corps veterans’ community, loves his Chicago Cubs and Blackhawks and spends way too much time learning about digital marketing.
Tanner Slead, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)
College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
Dr. Slead is a Fellow in Advanced Urinary Procedures and Extracorporeal Therapies at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and went on to pursue a small animal rotating internship at Purdue University and a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at North Carolina State University. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine with a focus in nephrology/urology and interventional medicine.
Pete Teel, MS, PhD
Department of Entomology
Texas A&M AgriLife
College Station, Texas
Dr. Teel currently serves as a Regents Professor in the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. He came on board in 1978 specifically to work on cattle fever ticks as well as other tick species of importance to animal and human health. His research efforts and published work extend over more than 10 tick species, and his undergraduate and graduate teaching has helped many Aggies discover the importance of ticks and tickborne diseases.
Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, JD
Hamilton Law & Mediation
Morehead City, North Carolina
Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton is the principal at Hamilton Law and Mediation, PLLC (HLM), the first solo mediation practice in the U.S. dedicated to helping people resolve conflicts involving animals. HLM uses alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to help resolve conflicts ranging from divorce disagreements over the family pet to helping animal rights advocates see the benefit of sitting down with their adversaries and having a neutral discussion before, during and after litigation is initiated. Debra also works with pet service providers and professionals to help them pursue their passion for helping people and their pets while reducing their exposure to costly litigation. She presents programs that teach people how to communicate, as a speaker and receiver of information without feeling they need to resort to litigation. Debra is the go-to person for information regarding the use of mediation in disagreements over animals for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Sun Times, Bloomberg and the U.S.
News and World Report. Debra graduated from Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School in 1983 and was admitted to practice in New York in 1984. Debra is also an AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) Certified Workplace Wellbeing Expert.
Leslie Wereszczak, LVMT, VTS (ECC)
College of Veterinary Medicine, U. of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
After graduating from the veterinary technology program at SUNY Delhi in 1989, Leslie Wereszczak joined the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, where she is now the Director of Emergency/Critical Care. She is involved with her state technician association, NAVTA and the Veterinary Nurse Initiative. She serves on the AVECCTN board and is a RECOVER CPR-certified instructor. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Tennessee State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. In addition to her veterinary technician degree, she holds a BS in business management and an MS in management and leadership.
Stephanie Wertman, LVT, VTS (Equine Nursing)
School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
Stephanie Wertman began her veterinary career 34 years ago in the U.S. Army as an Animal Care Specialist with an emphasis on equine medicine and surgery for 22 years. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital has been her home for 11 years, moving up to her current position as the Equine Medicine Supervisor and Service Coordinator. She obtained her VTS Certification in Equine Nursing in 2017. Most recently, she had the privilege to be a chapter co-author (Neonatal Care of Puppies, Kittens, and Foals) in the 10th edition of the Bassert: McCurnin's Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses.