The Integrative Veterinarian

Dr. Chris Randall was born on a dairy and fruit farm in Western Michigan. He began his medical career at an EMT/Firefighter, progressing to become a paramedic and then a Registered Nurse working in Emergency Medicine. He decided to switch to veterinary medicine and earned his DVM from Michigan State University in 2010.While a veterinary student, he was commissioned as an officer in the National Guard and met Colonel Gene Gavin DVM, who introduced him to holistic medicine. Dr. Randall's holistic education started with Spinal Manipulation at the Healing Oasis and then Chi University for Acupuncture.He started his own practice in Northern Michigan after graduation. He currently offers VSMT, acupuncture, Chinese and Western Herbal medicine, homeopathy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, ozone therapy, shockwave therapy, and regenerative medicine for small and large animals.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Chris Randall as we discuss his education, career in human and veterinary medicine, and his new business offering functional medicine for people.

Dr. Adrien Zap was raised in Connecticut. She new from an early age that she wanted to be a veterinarian. She earned her BS in Pathobiology and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Connecticut, a MS in Forensic Toxicology at the University of Florida, and her DVM from St. George's University.After graduation, she entered small animal practice. She has had varied roles in her career; serving as a Zoo Veterinarian, Teaching in a Veterinary Technology Program, as a Veterinarian Responder for both the State of Connecticut and the ASPCA, as a Surgeon and Medical Director in a Spay/Neuter practice, and in Racetrack regulatory work.She became interested in holistic medicine through exposure at veterinary conferences and during a health challenge with her own dog. She is certified in acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Rehabilitation, Veterinary Medical Manipulation, and Tui Na. In 2019, she started her own integrative mobile practice serving small, large, and exotic animals.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Adrien Zap as we discuss her education, work history, holistic experience, and her successful completion of the AAVA Advanced Certification examination.

Dr. Gary Richter was born in New York City and was raised in Miami, Florida. From a young age he had an interest in veterinary medicine, especially wildlife medicine. He volunteered at the Miami Zoo, worked in small animal practice as an assistant, and worked for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine as an undergraduate. He earned his Bachelor's, Master's, and DVM from the University of Florida, graduating with a DVM in 1998 with honors.After graduation, he moved to California to work in emergency and general practice before purchasing a small animal practice, which he owned for sixteen years. During that time, he started his holistic education and started a second practice, Holistic Veterinary Care, which he works in to this day.In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Richter co-founded the Veterinary Cannabis Society, has consulted in the formulation of pet cannabis products and natural supplements for pets, is the founder of a startup developing a wearable biometric device for pets, is a consultant for Hemopet Labs, and has written and lectured extensively on allopathic and holistic veterinary topics.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Gary Richter as we discuss his education, clinical practice, industry work, and his involvement with the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation.

Dr. Susan Wynn earned her DVM from the University of Georgia in 1987. After graduation, she completed a Small Animal Internship and worked in small animal practice for a few years before doing Post-Doctoral work in Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis. Afterwards. she went back into private practice. She completed a clinical residency in Small Animal Nutrition and was Board Certified in Veterinary Nutrition in 2016. She is currently the Senior Director of Scientific Affairs for Instinct Pet Food.Dr. Wynn has authored three textbooks on integrative medicine, published numerous scientific papers, has lectured extensively on holistic medicine and nutrition, and has been very active in organized veterinary medicine, including founding the Veterinary Botanical Medical Association and serving as President of both the AHVMA and the AAVA. She has been a leader and an inspiration in integrative veterinary medicine for decades.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Susan Wynn as we discuss her education, work history, and how Instinct Pet Food supports research, veterinary outreach, and has outstanding sourcing and processing practices.

Dr. Kathy Cornack was raised in the Brisbane, Australia area. She developed an early love for animals and decided on veterinary medicine as a career, just in front of being a midwife or forensic scientist.She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Queensland in 1985. After graduation, she worked for the Australian government helping cattle and sheep graziers in the Queensland outback.Following that, she did locum small animal work in Australia and the UK. Then she earned a Master's degree in ruminant nutrition while continuing to work in small animal practice.She had her own mixed animal practice in a rural area for a few years, and became IVAS certified in acupuncture at the same time.Afterwards, she did more locums in small animal practice around Australia and completed Membership exams in Veterinary Behavior.She and her family spent four years living in the Seattle, Washington area, during which time she taught natural health classes at a community college and in natural animal health stores, worked as a technician in an integrative veterinary practice, and as a birth doula.Returning to Australia, she purchased a small animal practice, then moved to Newcastle, New South Wales and formed her current practice, Holistic Vets Newcastle.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Kathy Cornack as we discuss her education, work history, and involvement with Australian Veterinary Association's Integrative Vets special interest group and the conference she founded, Integrative Veterinary Conference Australia.

Dr. Tina Hansen was born outside of Oslo, Norway. She had a number of varied pets during her childhood, and discovered a passion for horses and riding. During her mandatory military service working with military dogs, she decided on veterinary medicine as a career.She earned her veterinary degree from Wroclaw University in 2023 and at the same time earned her certification in mixed animal acupuncture from Chi University.After graduation, she has worked in small animal, exotic, and wildlife practice in UK and Norway. She also has extensive experience volunteering around the world working with rescue animals, horses, and wildlife.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Tina Hansen as we discuss her education, work experience, the formation of her company, Purple Vet Services, and her recent move to Australia to begin work there.

Dr. Steve Marsden was born in Ontario, Canada and raised in Western Canada. In our conversation, he describes a pivotal moment in his childhood that led him to consider veterinary medicine as a career.He earned his DVM from the University of Saskatchewan in 1988, then went into mixed and then small animal practice. He became interested in Homeopathy as a way to help his patients, and earned his Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and his Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in 1999.He co-founded the Edmonton Holistic Veterinary Clinic as well as the Natural Path Clinic for people in 2001. He is also the co-founder of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies and the founder of the Natural Path Herb Company.Dr. Marsden has written and lectured extensively over the decades of his career and has served in many roles in organized veterinary medicine.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Steve Marsden as we discuss his education, interest in holistic medicine, practice experience, and his current passion of working with senior rescue dogs and educating his colleagues and the public about holistic medicine via his Facebook page and his Cured Cases website

Dr. Christina Montalbano was raised in New Jersey. Her desire to be a Veterinarian led her to do her undergraduate work at Ohio State in Animal Science, then she earned her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2017.After graduation, she did an Internship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Florida, which led to her staying on and completing a Residency in Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She achieved Board Certification in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2022. She is also certified in Acupuncture and Medical Manipulation from Chi University.She worked in private specialty practice in New Jersey, then returned to the University of Florida where she is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Integrative and Mobility Medicine as well as Resident Director for the Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation program.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Christina Montalbano as we discuss her education, clinical experience, her current academic practice, and her decades long history as a puppy raiser for Canine Companions.

Dr. Lori Bidwell was raised on a farm in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She earned a BFA in Art History, then returned home and started working at a veterinary clinic and decided to pursue veterinary medicine as a career.She earned her DVM from Michigan State University in 2001, then did an Internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, followed by a Residency in Anesthesia at Michigan State University, becoming Board Certified in Anesthesia and Analgesia in 2008.She then returned to Rood and Riddle to become Head of Anesthesia. Afterwards, she was on faculty at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She returned to Kentucky to work in anesthesia in both equine and small animal practice. At this time she became certified in Acupuncture and Tui Na from Chi University.After returning to Michigan State University to work in Anesthesia and Equine Lameness and Sports Medicine, she Co-Founded her current business, East West Equine Sports Medicine, where she provides sports medicine services and equine anesthesia consultation and training for equine surgical facilities.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Lori Bidwell as we discuss her education, clinical practice, holistic training, and participation in organized veterinary medicine.

Dr. Janet Roark was raised in Central Michigan. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian, and started working in a Veterinary Clinic as a teenager. She also was introduced to wildlife rehabilitation when she was young, through her father's job as a Biologist with the Department of Natural Resources.She did her undergraduate work at the University of Findlay and earned her DVM from Michigan State University in 2005. After graduation, she worked for the United States Department of Agriculture and started her own mixed animal mobile practice in Michigan.In 2009, she moved to Austin, Texas and started a mobile mixed animal practice there. She had been exposed to equine acupuncture and chiropractic during her undergraduate years, and was certified by IVAS in acupuncture after moving to Texas.A personal health challenge led her to using essential oils for herself and then extending their use for her animal patients. In 2019, she started her own essential oil business, educating owners and veterinary professionals about the use of essential oils. As part of this effort, she has written a guidebook, presented lectures both online and in-person, and authored numerous publications both online and in print.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Janet Roark as we discuss her introduction to veterinary medicine, her early work history, her interest in acupuncture and essential oils, and her recent animal chiropractic certification.