The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360

Matt McGlasson is a passionate, customer-focused leader in the Animal Health industry with over 17 years of experience in leading multiple hospitals through creative clinic management, professional development, and quality improvement. He has a successful track record of establishing innovative care systems, mentoring programs, and social media marketing initiatives to boost brand awareness and humanize Veterinary Medicine. Matt brings a versatile skill set that allows him to transform any role he steps into. His collection of experience also differentiates him because he has led and grown other professionals in a variety of different environments. Within his current role as Chief Medical Officer & Medical Director, he built and rolled out a mentoring program to help the transition for first-year doctors, including effective goal-setting, communication skills, financial advising from a CFP, doctor best practices, and other personal and professional development topics. Dr. McGlasson is a Certified Fear Free Practitioner, Certified “Cat Friendly Veterinarian” by AAFP, and a member of the AVMA, VHMA, and AAFP. He currently serves as the Northern Kentucky Representative on the Executive Board of the KVMA, serves on the Veterinary Advisory Board for BasePaws, and the editorial advisory board for DVM360. As a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, he represents a group of fewer than 40 DVMs in the United States with the CVPM certification. His articles have been featured in DVM360 magazine and he has spoken at national veterinary conferences on the topics of practice management, practice culture, social media utilization, and finding joy in veterinary medicine. Throughout Matt's career, he also seeks to bring personality and fun to the animal health industry. He has redefined methods for content development and education within the industry by operating engaging veterinary-themed social media accounts and amassing over 500,000 followers with well over 70 million video views. Matt's work and insights have been featured on 22 Words, KaleSalad, Chewy’s Social Media Sites, The Daily Mall, The Dodo, VetCandy, VetXInternational, Inspiremore.com, Cuddly, and many other prominent social media accounts. Matt has also been featured on the "Making Sense of Pets" Podcast, VetCandy Podcast, and has conducted multiple TV & Radio interviews celebrating the human-animal bond. Matt is passionate about growing and supporting the future leaders of our profession. He believes that veterinary professionals will thrive if given the opportunity to be a part of a healthy culture and have continuous opportunities to grow. The work that we all do in this profession has a life-changing impact on those we serve and deserves to be celebrated.

Karen Fine, DVM, is a small animal veterinarian and writer who operated a house call practice for 25 years and practices integrative medicine. Her memoir, The Other Family Doctor: A Veterinarian Explores What Animals Can Teach Us About Love, Life and Mortality is forthcoming in March 2023 from Penguin Random House. She is also the author of the textbook Narrative Medicine in Veterinary Practice from CRC Press, published in 2021. Fine, a Tufts graduate, practices in Central Massachusetts. Her website is www.karenfinedvm.com.

Andy Anderson, DVM, MBA, Executive Chairman, CityVet, Inc. attended Texas A&M University earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Science and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He attended Harvard University and received a Master of Business Administration Degree. Anderson worked in the corporate finance industry and private equity for eight years at firms including Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Goldman Sachs. Dr. Anderson served on the Board and Executive Committee of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and was the organization’s Treasurer from 2009-2015. Anderson co-founded multiple veterinary related entities. These entities were merged into BluePearl Veterinary Partners which now operates a network over 80 hospitals nationally. Anderson leads the controlling investment group in Goodside Health, a leading provider of clinic based and telehealth to pediatric patients. The Company’s SchoolMed Division provides telehealth through school nurse’s offices to districts representing over 1,000,000 Texas and Florida K-12 school children.Anderson is the Vice Chairman of Texas Biomedical Research Institute, one of the leading infectious disease focused research campuses in the nation. Dr. Anderson resides in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife Kim and two dogs, Gunny and Tillie. The Andersons attend Christ Episcopal Church.

Katie Krothapalli, DVM, MBA, is the Director of Healthcare Education for Edcetera, a leading provider of continuing education, exam prep, and licensing programs. Krothapalli and her team are passionate about developing tools and resources for veterinary and human healthcare professionals to help them reach their career goals. Katie is originally from Montgomery, Alabama. She graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010 and worked as a small animal clinical practitioner, civilian veterinary medical officer for the Army, and poultry veterinarian before transitioning to the education space. She completed her MBA in 2021 at University of North Alabama. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, hiking, other outdoorsy activities, and art. She lives in North Alabama and has quite the collection of pets, including 2 dogs and a large collection of fish.

Angela Ardolino is a holistic pet expert who has been caring for animals for over 20 years. Angela owns and operates Fire Flake Farm, her animal rescue farm, as well as her two locations of a natural pet salon and shop, Beautify the Beast, and is founder of CBD Dog Health, which offers high quality, all-natural medical cannabis products designed specifically for pets

Gaemia Tracy, DVM, DACVIM, (Neurology) attended veterinary school at Ohio State University and then completed a one-year rotating small animal internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Charlotte, North Carolina. He joined the VRC team in 2020. Tracy's special interests include IVDD treatment and management, atlantoaxial instability management, management of inflammatory CNS diseases, and seizure management.

Dave Lasus is the CEO of Heart + Paw. He is a dedicated, collaborative, and entrepreneurial executive with extensive experience strategically and aggressively scaling business operations, footprint and financial results for rapidly growing companies.Lasus employs a dynamic background in QSR, Veterinary, Multi-site retail/service, Consulting and Real Estate Development companies to craft both efficient and profitable systems. He's adept at multifunctional oversight, capability building, performance management and data-driven decision making. He have a strong record of success identifying, navigating and resolving business challenges to accelerate outcomes.Most notably, Lasus has:• Driven more than 600% EBITDA growth for a QSR chain.• Facilitated expansion by up to 25 new stores per year.• Innovated new product opportunities that have delivered double digit percentages of total sales.His colleagues and co-workers describe him as thorough, enthusiastic, passionate and responsive. He's best known for maintaining a keen pulse on all aspects of operations and fostering agile responses to market trends.

Gianluca Bini, DVM, MRCVS, DACVAA, graduated from the University of Perugia, Italy. He then moved to the United Kingdom, where he completed two internships, one in anesthesia and one rotating, at Dick White Referrals, one of the largest referral centers in Europe. After completing his residency at North Carolina State University, he is currently an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Paul Kline, DVM, received his doctorate degree in veterinary medicine from Texas A&M University in 1986. After 9 years of private veterinary practice, Paul pursued an opportunity to work in community development in Central Asia where he spent 8 years living and working in Mongolia. Initially he served as a field worker, training Mongolian veterinarians in new medicine and surgery techniques, herd health management, and the development of private practice models. He was later appointed as the Executive Director of a diverse team of over 100 people from 21 different nationalities and was responsible for overseeing the implementation of more than 20 programs in a variety of sectors, including health, education, agriculture, and business. He has participated in facilitating development programs with such partners as the United Nations, the World Bank and a number of government and non-government agencies. He also was awarded a National Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University in 1999.

Marcy A. Bliss, is the CEO of Wedgewood Pharmacy, the leading compounding pharmacy for animals in the US. She is responsible for all aspects of the pharmacy operation and for leading the delivery of extraordinary business results. In 2018 Wedgewood Pharmacy acquired Diamondback Drugs, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Formerly the executive vice president of Business Operations and Marketing, Bliss began her career with Wedgewood Pharmacy in early 1999. Over the years, she assumed positions of increasing responsibility, many with a significant emphasis on pharmacy growth, the building of infrastructure, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and regulatory compliance. She leads the company's public affairs and issues-management programs, and is frequently seen on Capitol Hill, protecting patient and prescriber access to compounded medication.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. George Melillo, VMD, Co-founder & Chief Veterinary Officer, brings more than 35 years of veterinary experience to Heart + Paw. In 2018, he co-founded Heart + Paw, bringing to life his lifelong commitment to animals and the people who serve them. Heart + Paw is now one of the fastest growing veterinary care, grooming, and dog daycare center groups in the country, with a mission to become partners in pet parenthood, helping four-legged family members to live a longer, healthier, and happier life. Central to Heart + Paw's mission is the dedicated team of veterinarians and team members who maintain the highest quality of care for Heart + Paw's patients, led by Dr. Melillo. Often described as the "heart" of Heart + Paw – he is committed to the health, wealth and mental well-being of those that serve this community.In 2021, Heart + Paw grew from 10 to 23 locations, covering nine states from Tennessee to Rhode Island, with nine current locations in the Philadelphia region, where Heart + Paw is based. The company anticipates nearly doubling locations by the end of 2022. Dr. Melillo is frequently interviewed by media and has been featured in media including CNN, Los Angeles Times, iHeartRadio, Reader’s Digest, PureWow, Daily Paws, and more. Currently Dr. Melillo serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of Animal Care of Pennsylvania and enjoys life with his wife, five millennial children, two grandchildren and his 10-year-old rescue Jack Russell terrier, Pancho.

Valerie Marcano, DVM, PhD, is a poultry veterinarian in the Carolinas as well as the co-founder and CEO of Pawsibilities Vet Med, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that aims to increase the recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups to the veterinary profession. She is the chair of the first ever Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) and a member of the AVMA/ AAVMC Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission. Marcano received a Bachelor of Science at Cornell University, and her DVM and PhD degrees from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Seth Andrews, PhD, is a process engineer with Precision BioSciences. He completed a post-doc at the University of Georgia after earning his PhD in Biological Engineering from the University of Georgia in 2019. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering from Cornell University. Over the course of his graduate work, Seth has mentored numerous high school and undergraduate students. He also served as the president of the University of Georgia’s Engineering Graduate Club.

Patricia White received her BS degree from the University of Georgia in 1977 and her DVM from Tuskegee University's School of Veterinary Medicine in 1983. After graduation, she completed a 13-month small animal internship at Michigan State University then returned to Tuskegee's School of Veterinary Medicine where she served on the small animal medicine faculty for 3 years. She completed a three-year dermatology residency training and Master's degree program at The Ohio State University in 1990, then was awarded a two-year Merck, Inc. research fellowship, which allowed her to continue clinical fatty acid research initiated during her residency. White is a Board Certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. She has authored numerous articles for both veterinary journals and lay publications, and enjoys lecturing nationally and internationally. In her spare time, Dr. White enjoys traveling, scuba diving, gardening, working with clay, and clay work designs.White can be reached at [email protected]

Jessica Lowe DVM, MBA, BSc, graduated from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago School of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to that, Lowe attended the University of Maryland, College Park where she earned her first degree. She has a diverse background, working in small animal medicine, emergency veterinary medicine, exotic medicine, lab animal medicine and public health veterinary medicine for over 10 years. Lowe has a special interest in feline medicine and internal medicine. She has 2 cats at home and enjoys outdoor biking and traveling. Lowe joined FirstVet in 2021.

Elliot Garber, DVM, MPH, MS, DACVPM, is a specialist in Veterinary Preventive Medicine and a graduate of Tufts University and the University of Virginia. He is Vice President of Growth at Instinct Science. Garber led and trained teams in clinical practice for 8 years while in the military, including 3 years as veterinarian to the Navy SEALs and their working dogs. He built and sold an 8-figure ecommerce and marketing agency before joining Instinct to launch the veterinary industry's first electronic prescribing software.

Shadi J. Ireifej DVM DACVS graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (2001, Magna cum laude). He then attended Cornell University where he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (2006, DVM). After completing his studies at Cornell, Ireifej participated in an intense one-year small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at Angel Animal Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts (2007), followed by 2 rigorous one-year small animal surgical internships at Long Island Veterinary Specialists (LIVS) in Plainview, New York (2009). Ireifej achieved his board certification in small animal surgery by completing a three-year small animal surgery residency at LIVS (2012), and subsequently became a Diplomat for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (DACVS). After operating for almost 10 years at LIVS, Dr. Ireifej elected for warmer weather, and transplanted to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2016. In Las Vegas, Ireifej became a staff surgeon at Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center (LVVSC). In 2017, he began flying across the United States, performing surgeries at a number of emergency and specialty hospitals in need of surgical assistance. This was followed by a Chief of Surgery position at United Veterinary Specialty and Emergency in Silicon Valley, California. Managing their 3 locations, Ireifej and his team successfully cared for dogs and cats in the Campbell, Mountain View, and San Jose areas. In 2018, Ireifej joined TrueCare for Pets in the Los Angeles, California area as Chief of Specialty, where he was instrumental in morphing the after-hours and weekend emergency hospital to a successful 24-7 emergency and multi-specialty veterinary hospital. While the size of the hospital tripled, Ireifej instituted hospital-wide protocols, managed the surgery, internal medicine, and oncology departments, and became a leading force on social media platforms. In 2020, Ireifej changed gears in his already illustrious career, finding a novel and state-of-the-art means of reaching concerned pet owners and their ill pets worldwide, VetTriage. Dr. Ireifej currently serves as their Chief Medical Officer. He has been published in scientific and medical journals and enjoys lecturing to a variety of audiences. He is known for being a positive force and energetic force, both professionally and personally.

Jackie Dueñas, DVM is an associate veterinarian at the dynamic Sunset Animal Clinic in Miami, Florida. She attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St. Kitts. She then returned to the Sunshine State to attend the University of Florida to complete her clinical studies. Following graduation, there was no doubt that Dueñas would return home to practice in Miami.Her love for her work shows in everything she does. Dr. Dueñas was featured on the discovery+ series Pop My Pet, where she performed life saving surgeries to pets in need. She also likes to share her life as a veterinarian on her social media channels, garnishing her a large following and a platform to bridge the gap between veterinarians and pet parents. Dr. Dueñas is most passionate about her role as a mom and finding balance between motherhood and vet med. She and her husband are the proud parents of two little boys.

Jess Trichel, DVM joined the Suveto team as Vice President of Ownership Opportunities. In this role she helps veterinary team members explore and navigate the variety of ownership opportunities the Suveto network has to offer as well as supporting them on their path to becoming owners.Trichel has dedicated her career to discovering ways to combine her veterinary training with her passion for business education. She has spent the last 8 years at Live Oak Bank building educational programming to help students and industry professionals understand the realities of veterinary financing and ownership. Prior to that, she graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and practiced equine medicine for a short period of time in the Pacific Northwest.She is currently based out of Wilmington, NC, where she balances her time enjoying life with friends and family, eating good food, reading interesting books, and going on adventures with her Australian Shepherd, Charles, and horse, River.

Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, is the Manager, Veterinary Medicine and Professional Services, Pet Poison Helpline and Senior Veterinary Toxicologist for Pet Poison Helpline/SafetyCall International. She has been with the organization since 2013 during which time she has had the opportunity to lead the team of veterinarians that span across the country and contribute to the management of the daily operations of Pet Poison Helpline. Schmid graduated from Kansas State University with a BS degree in Agriculture/Animal Science as well as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. While at Pet Poison Helpline, Schmid has managed over 25,000 cases involving animal poisoning and has presented on leadership and various toxins at both regional and national conferences. Dr. Schmid has published scientific book chapters on the topics of thyroid supplements, diuretic drug intoxication, xylitol intoxication, general poisoning therapy, strychnine toxicosis, Compound 1080 toxicosis, anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning, cholecalciferol rodenticide poisoning, toxicities from human drugs—cardiovascular and poisonous plants: house plants and ornamentals. Schmid has also published peer-reviewed scientific articles on xylitol and mirabegron poisoning in dogs, as well as anesthesia induction in cats (Schmid et al. Acute Hepatic Failure in a Dog after Xylitol Ingestion and Schmid et al. Mirabegron Toxicosis in Dogs: A Retrospective Study, both in Journal of Medical Toxicology. Schmid et al. Comparison of anesthetic induction in cats by use of isoflurane in an anesthetic chamber with a conventional vapor or liquid injection technique, JAVMA).

Charles E. Short, DVM, PhD, DACVA, DECVAA established the programs in veterinary anesthesiology at the University of Missouri and then at Cornell University during his 64 year career as a veterinarian. He received his DVM from Auburn University in 1958. Dr. Short is an international speaker and meeting organizer on anesthesia and pain management and has provided over 700 invited lectures. In addition, he completed over 350 publications including coeditor of the textbook, "Animal Pain". He, with 6 colleagues, founded the ACVAA as a specialty in veterinary anesthesia and analgesia. He was a cofounder of the IVAPM. His passion included sharing his expertise with others.Jennifer Johnson, VMD, CVPP has been a small animal veterinarian for 28 years, working as an associate, then owning and operating a busy 6-doctor practice in the Philadelphia suburbs. Pain management education is her passion, and Dr. Johnson has spent the last 15 years teaching colleagues about multimodal pain management options. Her special interest is the use of photobiomodulation (laser therapy) and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as non-pharma approaches to pain management. In 2012, she achieved Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) qualification through the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM). Now relocated to Arizona and a full-time educator, Dr. Johnson speaks nationally on pain management and digital thermal imaging, stressing the importance of pain identification in general practice. She has published numerous articles and blogs, most recently authoring the chapter on pain management for Laser Therapy in Veterinary Medicine (Wiley 2017). Dr. Johnson is the Immediate Past-President of the IVAPM. She consults for multiple veterinary medical advisory boards and is also a board member of eagleYcondor, providing children’s education and veterinary care to rural communities in Ecuador.

This episode is sponsored by NationwideRyane E. Englar, DVM, DABVP, graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. She practiced as an associate veterinarian in companion animal practice before transitioning into academia. Previously she was a clinical instructor of the Community Practice Service at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, an assistant professor as founding faculty at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine, and an assistant professor at Kansas State University. In 2020, Englar joined the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine as an associate professor. She leads the clinical and professional skills curriculum, which includes designing and refining the standardized client encounters for student training in clinical communication. Her active areas of research examine how clinical communication drives relationship-centered care. Englar is passionate about advancing education for generalists by thinking outside the box to develop new course materials for hands-on learners. She has published 4 textbooks as sole author in the content areas of companion animal medicine and clinical communication. Her students fuel her desire to create. They inspire her to develop the tools that they need to succeed in clinical practice. When Englar is not teaching or advancing primary care, she trains in ballroom dancing and competes nationally with her instructor, Lowell E. Fox.

June Long, DVM has been a high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) surgeon for more than 6 years. She graduated from Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 and was formally trained at the ASPCA’s Spay/Neuter Alliance in 2016. She routinely performs approximately 30 to 40 surgeries a day and has completed approximately 30,000 sterilization surgeries during her career. Over the years, she has become very comfortable performing more difficult surgeries and has mentored many veterinarians and veterinary students. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with veterinary professionals and is the creator of the online course "The Six Minute Spay," a RACE approved, 100%-online course that uses extensive video content to teach HQHVSN techniques. Long has been married for 11 years and has 3 daughters, 1 son, and 3 spoiled senior dogs.

April Bays, CVT, VTS (ECC) is a certified veterinary technician with more than 20 years of experience. She became a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care in 2013 and a Veterinary Cannabis Counselor in 2021. She enjoys teaching emergency topics and the art of critical care and critical thinking. She created Elevative Veterinary Training Solutions in 2020 to share her passion for excellence and emphasize technician empowerment and utilization. When she’s not eliminating pain or writing proceedings, you can find her supporting the many local breweries, backpacking, and getting lost in the wilderness. Literally.

Paul Diaz is a US Marine Corps veteran with over 20 years of corporate recruiting experience in several industries. He has a deep understanding of what it takes to build and lead high performing teams capable of achieving incredible results. He formed Hire Power Consulting to help other companies realize their recruiting team's full potential.

Ivan Zak, DVM, MBA, is a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and a passionate advocate for the well-being of veterinary professionals. Twelve years as an ER vet inspired Ivan to create SmartFlow, a first in the industry workflow optimization system later acquired by IDEXX. In 2019, Zak founded Veterinary Integration Solutions, an executive consulting firm where he helped veterinary groups systemize acquisitions integration and improvement of practices with special attention to burnout prevention. Along the way, he obtained an MBA degree in International Healthcare Management with a thesis in implementation of Lean thinking to improve the employee experience, pursuing his goal to make a sizable impact on the veterinary profession. Zak took the lead in Galaxy Vets, a new veterinary healthcare system co-owned by its employees with burnout prevention as a strategic priority.

Rachel Teichberg graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northeastern University with a BS in biology. In 2019, she became a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager and achieved her Certified Veterinary Business Leader in 2021. She is also a Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, Certified Workplace Mediator, and a Certified Trainer in Workplace Conflict Resolution. She has worked in both general and specialty practices and though she has a deep love for pets, she has found her true passion is working with the people in veterinary medicine. With hands-on experience at all levels of veterinary practice, as well as management in small animal/exotic and specialty practices, Rachel brings over a decade of industry experience to her current position. Shawn McVey holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and dual masters’ degrees in political social work as well as marriage and family therapy. He also has a distinguished career in Veterinary Health Care Administration. Before becoming a partner and the CEO of Pathway Veterinary Management, he served as an industry consultant and speaker. He is recognized around the world for his unique management style and his experience in building successful veterinary practices. Shawn was the CEO of Eye Care for Animals, a veterinary ophthalmology company, as well as the Hospital Administrator at The Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado. He is also the founder and owner of Veterinary Specialists in Private Practice (VSIPP) and served as the first non-DVM Board Member of the American Animal Hospital Association.

Annika VanNoy, PhD, is a learning strategist fueled by compassion, curiosity, and dissatisfaction with the current state of adult learning in the veterinary industry. In her PhD work she combined her passion for both teaching and learning while investigating the possibilities that modern cognitive psychology models provide to adult learning. During her graduate work, VanNoy followed another one of her passions: the love and care for animals. She started working at a general practice in Austin, TX and quickly began to see the wide array of opportunities for improving veterinary continued education and the opportunities for all people to expand their careers in veterinary medicine. VanNoy is passionate about developing and supporting emotionally healthy and internally motivated teams to drive success in professional and personal development.

Laila Proença, DVM, PhD, MV, MSc, DACZM, is the founder and CEO of VETAHEAD, and has always been passionate about veterinary medicine. She is the first South American to become a diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine, with an emphasis on zoological companion animals. She is the coeditor of the 2015 Exotic Endoscopy issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America and has been actively participating in the zoological medicine community, leading wet labs and giving national and international lectures, courses (including on endoscopy), and masterclasses.

Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, is an Ohio native and graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. While attending Cornell, she earned numerous awards, including the Dermatology Service Award for her aptitude in clinical dermatology and her research on Malassezia otitis externa. After graduation, she completed an internship at VCA Berwyn and Aurora Animal Hospitals in Chicago where she was awarded the Intern Abstract Award for her presentation on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Griffin returned to Cornell University in 2007 for a residency in dermatology and, after completing her residency-training program, served one year as an instructor of dermatology teaching fourth-year clinical students as well as lecturing to underclassmen on bacterial, fungal, and immune-mediated skin diseases. Griffin became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) in August 2010 and joined the Animal Dermatology Group. She has a special interest in fungal and immune-mediated skin diseases as well as feline and equine dermatology. She enjoys lecturing to fellow veterinarians, mentoring residents, and teaching the veterinary students who extern with her. Griffin also stars in the Nat Geo WILD television series, “Pop Goes the Vet with Dr. Joya,” which highlights the challenging and mysterious cases she encounters in veterinary dermatology.

Amelia Knight Pinkston, VMD, cVMA, INHC, is happily breaking the norm as a health coach and veterinarian. She's a graduate from Wheaton College in Massachusetts and then University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She's also a certified in veterinary medical acupuncture through CuraCore, she has worked in small animal general practice and urgent care, and now does relief work through IndeVets in order to balance both careers. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and 2 adorable dogs, Woodford and Jameson. In her free time, she loves to stay active experiment in the kitchen, spend time outdoors, connecting with family and friends, and travel.

Mary Gardner, DVM, Co-Founder and CIO of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia. After graduating from the University of Miami, she began working as a trainer for an enterprise-wide order management software. After learning the intricacies of the software and the variety of ways different businesses used it, she moved into a Business Architect role where she led the design of new software initiatives. Her innate talent for understanding logistics in a client-centric organization developed a unique skill set for a veterinarian. After 10 years in software, she found herself longing for something different and more meaningful. The path she selected was to become a veterinarian. She completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 from the University of Florida. She worked in general medicine at a veterinary clinic in south Florida for two years before discovering her niche in end-of-life care. Gardner is a published author for many articles and a textbook, speaks all around the world on geriatrics and end of life care and was voted 2020 VMX Small Animal Speaker of the year.Coleen Ellis founded Pet Angel Memorial Center, Inc, the United States’ first stand-alone pets-only funeral home. Now a well recognized thought-leader on the subject of pet death-care by organizations such as the National Funeral Directors Association and the International Cemetery, Crematory and Funeral Association, her work within the pet death care industry has begun to span the country as others who share in her passion for pets and their respectful treatment in death desire to open their own care centers. In response to consulting demand, Coleen founded Two Hearts Pet Loss Center, to guide those people who also wish to provide death care services in their communities, as well to be an educational resource in the pet grief discipline. Most recently, Coleen was awarded the first Death and Grief Studies Certification specializing in Pet Loss Companioning by Dr Alan Wolfelt, at his Center For Loss in Ft Collins, Colorado.

Kelly Cairns, DVM, MS, DACVIM, graduated veterinary school from CSU in 2004, completed a small animal rotating internship at Cornell in 2005 and completed a small animal internal medicine residency at OSU in 2008, at which time she obtained Diplomate status. She enjoyed a rewarding clinical practice as an internist and medical director of a multi-specialty/ER hospital until joining Thrive Pet Healthcare in January of 2018. Cairns currently serves as Vice President of Medical Excellence and Education for the 400+ hospitals in the Thrive Pet Healthcare family. She lives in the Chicagoland area with her 3 children (7, 10, and 12 years old), husband, 2 cats and very sweet but poorly mannered great Dane/lab mix! When not engaged with her Thrive family or corralling her personal family, she enjoys personal fitness/running, the science of home brewing the perfect cup of coffee and sleep (or the pursuit thereof).

Christopher Shapley, DVM, CVA, is a specialist in veterinary acupuncture and herbal medicine. He has 2 pet dogs at home, Carrie and Bogey. In his spare time, Shapley enjoys Kung Fu, surfing, camping, and archery. Shapley attended Montclair State University where he studied biology. He graduated from the Western University of Health Medicine in Pomona California and received his CVA from Chi University. Shapley has worked in large and small animal medicine with a special focus in Eastern Medicine since graduation. TikTok: @dr.christophers74Instagram: @christophershapleydvm

TEEF for Life combines the fundamentals of microbiology and molecular nutrition to improve the oral microbiome and promote dental health in a safer, revolutionary way. Emily Stein, Ph.D. (CSO), researched and developed a solution to oral dysbiosis after her grandmother and her senior rescue dog both experienced life-threatening health issues caused by their dental disease. Her company, Primal Health, LLC, is focused on developing innovative products (TEEF for Life brand) that safely target the root cause of dental disease so pets and people can live healthier, longer lives. In 2008 she first began developing Selective Microbial Metabolism Regulation Technology (SMMRT)®, which is focused on using metabolic influencers to rehabilitate diseasecausing bacterial biofilms in favor to improve outcomes for dental and overall health. Emily spent 7 years as a research fellow at Stanford University in Rheumatology and Immunology focused on the neuro-endocrine-immune axis in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. She holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of California at Berkeley where she studied inter- and intra-cellular signaling pathways involved in stress response and community development in bacteria and received her B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Iowa where she studied the interaction between M. tuberculosis and innate immune cells. She is a leading subject matter expert/key opinion leader in microbiome-related science and research and presents on the topic worldwide.

James Barr, DVM, DACVECC, is chief medical officer (CMO) at BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital. Barr holds undergraduate and veterinary degrees from Louisiana State University. He was a staff criticalist at Florida Veterinary Specialists (BluePearl’s original hospital), then left to teach at Texas A&M University in 2009, returning to BluePearl in 2017 to serve as a group medical director and then CMO. As CMO, he oversees the medical operations of BluePearl’s 100+ practices, supporting more than 1300 veterinarians.Richard Stone, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) is regional vice president, medicine, at BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, supporting over 30 hospital teams from Texas to Michigan. He practiced medicine and served as hospital medical director until 2018, when he took on the role of group medical director. He has also led BluePearl’s biosecurity and infection control committee for several years He completed his veterinary training and internship at Texas A&M University and completed an internal medicine residency at The University of Georgia.

Dianne McGill founded Pet Peace of Mind in 2015 to ensure hospice and palliative care patients have the support they need for their animal companions. She is a former CEO and Executive Director of the Banfield Charitable Trust, a public benefit charity. She joined the organization in 2006 and guided the charities expansion to develop and launch of Pet Peace of Mind and Meals on Wheels, pet care assistance programs, among several others. During her tenure, the charity was thrice awarded charity navigators 4-star rating for operational transparency and financial stewardship in 2013 and 2014. Charity Navigator also named the charity to its national top 10 list of impact-to-income public charities. Prior to her role with Banfield Charitable Trust, McGill was the resource development director for a higher education nonprofit. She has also served as an officer and director for 7 nonprofit boards of directors and currently devotes a portion of her time to nonprofit management consulting for other leadership roles including senior level positions with the Associated Press, McClatchy Company, and Gannett. McGill graduated summa cum laude with a BS in management and organizational development. She also holds certificates in community mediation and organizational training.

Emily C. Abraham, DVM, CVA, attended the University of Miami from 2006 to 2009, receiving her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in 2009 with a major in Biology and double minors in Chemistry and Classics. She was the president of the UM Pre-Veterinary Society, where she organized dog walks, baths, and shows to raise money for local pet rescue organizations. In 2013, Abraham graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She also studied at The Chi Institute and is a certified veterinary acupuncturist. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), and she is certified with the USDA, enabling her to authorize animal health certificates for traveling needs. Her veterinary interests include surgery, clinical pathology, dermatology, and acupuncture. She has a special interest in neonatal and geriatric care. In her spare time, she enjoys playing basketball, dominoes and rock climbing with her friends and family. Abraham rescued her “kids,” Yogi, an adorable 14 year old yorkie, Minnie, an energetic and loveable 12 year old Pomeranian; Ziggy, a water loving 5 year old Pomeranian; and Ellie Zen Kitty, a sassy 3 year old tabby cat. Abraham has also rescued squirrels and helped nurture them until they can be released back into their natural environment. Abraham is married to her best friend, Carlos, and they have a 10 month old son named Mateo.

Cory Penn, DVM, received his DVM from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine after receiving his Bachelor of Science from Eastern Illinois University. He is currently the Senior Veterinary Diagnostic Platform Lead for VETSCAN IMAGYST with Zoetis Global Diagnostics. This episode of The Vet Blast Podcast is sponsored by Zoetis.

Cathy Meeks, MS, DVM, DACVIM, started her veterinary career as a veterinary technician while getting her master’s degree in veterinary medicine with a focus on forensic toxicology. After veterinary school, she did an internship and then a residency in internal medicine. Her specific interests in internal medicine include immune mediated diseases and endocrinology. In 2012, Meeks took on a lead veterinary role in a private practice as a medical director while continuing to practice internal medicine. In 2015, she became a Group Medical Director for Bluepearl, working with the hospitals in the Northeast. Until 2019 when she was promoted to Regional Vice President of Medicine where she managed 15 hospitals in the Northeast. In 2021 she joined Antech as the Vice President of Medical Operations providing medical leadership throughout various areas in the company including clinical and anatomic pathology, quality assurance and internal consulting. In her spare time, Dr. Meeks enjoys running and water activities such as paddle boarding and swimming. She has 2 rescue dogs, Scrappy (Jack Russell) and Lainey (Doberman). Sponsored by Antech Diagnostics

Shawn Wilkie is the CEO of Talkatoo, Inc, a one-button healthcare dictation software meant to make charts and medical records simpler and less time consuming.

Sari Lieberman, LVT, started her career as a veterinary technician after a 20-year career as a vocalist performing with various bands in various venues, traveling throughout the US, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. She received her AA from Harcum College after completing her practicum at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s small animal hospital in Philadelphia, and large animal facility in Kennett Square, PA. After receiving her LVT, she has worked exclusively in referral practices. She is currently employed at Animal Surgical and Orthopedic Center, previously known as Animal Surgical Clinic of Seattle.Her disciplines include anesthetic protocol, pain management, patient care, and she holds a special interest in radiology. She has presented CE on the subject of obtaining “Rad Rads.” She was also a blogger, social media, and website manager for the clinic. Sari developed the Doppler Band after years of witnessing the trepidation of her co-workers and experiencing, firsthand, the frustration of trying to secure a Doppler to a patient for monitoring BP, especially during lengthy surgical procedures.Since the Doppler Band was first introduced in 2018, it has been used internationally, in general, emergency, surgical, dermatology and dental clinics, and zoos. It is also being used as an educational tool at technical colleges and vet schools, here in the US and abroad.

Christopher G. Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ, is a board-certified veterinary emergency and critical care and small animal internal medicine specialist, as well as a certified veterinary journalist, based in Omaha, Nebraska. He received his Bachelor of Science degree as a University Honors Scholar in Animal Sciences from Colorado State University and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. Byers works as a teleconsultant in emergency/critical care and small animal internal medicine for VetCT. He is the Co-Editor of the textbook, Feline Emergency & Critical Care Medicine and has published chapters and articles in numerous textbooks and peer-reviewed medical journals. Dr. Byers also publishes a blog called CriticalCareDVM.com with goals to educate pet owners and promote the triad of care.

Sari Lieberman, LVT, started her career as a veterinary technician after a 20-year career as a vocalist performing with various bands in various venues, traveling throughout the US, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. She received her AA from Harcum College after completing her practicum at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s small animal hospital in Philadelphia, and large animal facility in Kennett Square, PA. After receiving her LVT, she has worked exclusively in referral practices. She is currently employed at Animal Surgical and Orthopedic Center, previously known as Animal Surgical Clinic of Seattle.Her disciplines include anesthetic protocol, pain management, patient care, and she holds a special interest in radiology. She has presented CE on the subject of obtaining “Rad Rads.” She was also a blogger, social media, and website manager for the clinic. Sari developed the Doppler Band after years of witnessing the trepidation of her co-workers and experiencing, firsthand, the frustration of trying to secure a Doppler to a patient for monitoring BP, especially during lengthy surgical procedures.Since the Doppler Band was first introduced in 2018, it has been used internationally, in general, emergency, surgical, dermatology and dental clinics, and zoos. It is also being used as an educational tool at technical colleges and vet schools, here in the US and abroad.

Pam Hale, DVM, MBA, and Ryan Hart return to The Vet Blast Podcast!Hale is Destination Pet’s chief medical officer and a graduate of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. She earned her MBA from St. George’s University. Dr Hale is a member of the AVMA and Georgia Veterinary Medical Association. She serves on the Dean’s Counsel for Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine and the American Veterinary Medical Association Professional Liability Insurance Trust. She shares her home with 7 pups and her husband, Chuck.

Jennifer Vitucci, DVM, CCRT, graduated magna cum Laude from John Carroll University with a biology degree. She obtained her DVM from The Ohio State University in 2007. After graduation, Vitucci moved to the St. Louis, Missouri, area and practiced at a small animal general practice for 2 years, before purchasing County Animal Hospital with her husband in October 2009. Dr. Vitucci began her rehabilitation training in 2019 and obtained her canine rehabilitation therapist certification through the Canine Rehab Institute in 2021. Synergy Veterinary Rehabilitation opened within County Animal Hospital in 2019. After selling their practice and moving to the Florida panhandle, Vitucci joined PulseVet Technologies as the small animal business manager in May 2021.Podcast sponsored by PulseVet, a Zomedica company

Grant Gilbert is a fourth-year (2023) veterinary student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and a dvm360® Student Ambassador.He has interests in cardiology, endocrinology, autoimmune diseases, and exotic companion animals. He plans to attend a 1-year rotating internship in pursuit of further specialty training. He earned his BS in Animal Science at the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Ivan Zak, DVM, MBA, is a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and a passionate advocate for the well-being of veterinary professionals. Twelve years as an ER vet inspired Ivan to create SmartFlow, a first in the industry workflow optimization system later acquired by IDEXX. In 2019, Zak founded Veterinary Integration Solutions, an executive consulting firm where he helped veterinary groups systemize acquisitions integration and improvement of practices with special attention to burnout prevention. Along the way, he obtained an MBA degree in International Healthcare Management with a thesis in implementation of Lean thinking to improve the employee experience, pursuing his goal to make a sizable impact on the veterinary profession. Zak took the lead in Galaxy Vets, a new veterinary healthcare system co-owned by its employees with burnout prevention as a strategic priority.

Bill Miller, DVM, DACVO, graduated from Louisiana State University in 1982 and an internship in small animal surgery and medicine at Auburn University in 1983. There he participated in an ophthalmology residency and Masters of Science degree program. He became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 1986. He started his specialty practice, Advanced Animal Eye Care, in Memphis, TN, in 1986. He currently serves the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists as chair of the Governance Committee.

Liz Hughston, MEd, RVT, CVT, LVT, LMVT, VTS (SAIM) (ECC), currently practices as a relief veterinary technician, trainer, and consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has authored articles and textbook chapters and is a co-editor of Cannabis Therapy in Veterinary Medicine (Springer Nature) and the upcoming 2nd edition of the Small Animal Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses textbook (Wiley). Currently, Hughston is President of the National Veterinary Professionals Union, Co-Founder of the Veterinary Cannabinoid Academy, an Administrator of the Not One More Vet Support Staff group, Credentialing Committee Chair of the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians, and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of dvm360. Hughston is dedicated to advancing veterinary technology, technicians, and assistants through training, mentorship, and advocacy both within and outside the veterinary profession.

Staci Scolavino, VMD, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary of Medicine. Prior to veterinary school, she worked as a research technician at Harvard Medical School, and co-authored three novel scientific publications. After graduation, Scolavino completed an internship at Oradell Animal Hospital and then practiced as an associate veterinarian at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. To pursue her passion for nutrition and research, Scolavino joined Royal Canin as a scientific services veterinarian. She worked primarily with their diet lines by developing scientific reasoning for vets, stakeholders and the general public. Currently, she is working with Virbac US as Nutritional Technical Manager to help develop and brand the new pet food line. Content sponsored by Virbac