The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360

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

Zachary Tooley is a third-year veterinary student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a masters program at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He received the Army Health Professional Scholarship Program and was commissioned into the Army Veterinary Corps as a second lieutenant. After veterinary school, he will complete a rotating externship at one of the Army’s sites, followed by 3 years of active duty. He is the current Student AVMA president.

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.

Pam Hale, DVM, MBA, Destination Pet’s chief medical officer, is 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. Hale is joined on this episode by Ryan Hart.

Seth Wallack, DVM, DACVR, is a board-certified veterinary radiologist, founder and CEO of Veterinary Imaging Center of San Diego. His work in radioiodine (I-131) therapy for treating feline hyperthyroidism resulted in a new protocol for treatment dosing, and he lectures on this topic regularly at seminars and meetings around the country. He also started the American Association of Veterinary Radiologists (AAVR), an online veterinary radiology education resource for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, and is the founder and president of Vetology. He has published numerous professional journal articles and book chapters and is the author of The Handbook of Veterinary Contrast Radiography.Click here to learn more about Vetology.ai. Sign-up here for a radiology consultation with Vetology.

Paul Bloom, DVM, DACVD, DABVP (Canine and Feline), obtained his doctor of veterinary medicine degree with high honors. He was board certified with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 1984 and the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) in 2001. He became an Elite Fear Free Certified practitioner in 2018 and completed the Cat Friendly Certificate Program in 2020. Currently, he is the staff dermatologist at Allergy, Skin, and Ear Clinic for Pets and an adjunct professor at Michigan State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine in East Lansing. Dr Bloom has lectured locally, nationally, and internationally on all aspects of veterinary dermatology and has extensive experience in diagnosing and managing chronic ear and skin diseases, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius/multidrug-resistant infections. He serves on the ACVD scientific program committee and is a reviewer for the professional journals Veterinary Dermatology, The Veterinary Journal, Irish Veterinary Journal, Journal of Small Animal Practice, Veterinary Sciences, JAVMA, and Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. In 2019, Dr Bloom was honored to be selected for the Distinguished Veterinary Alumni Award – Practitioner and the Philanthropist of the Year award from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.When he's not working, Dr Bloom spends his time playing hockey or relaxing at home in rural Northfield Township, Michigan, with his wife and “menagerie,” which currently includes 3 horses, 2 miniature donkeys, 1 goat, 2 sheep, 2 cats, and 1 dog.

Lynn Hendricks, DVM, CHPV, is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Veterinarian and owner of Beloved Pet Mobile Vet. She was an author of the 2013 IAAHPC guidelines for best practices in animal hospice and palliative care. She is founder of the Facebook group, the Veterinary Palliative Medicine Group. She has also founded the World Veterinary Palliative Medicine Organization in 2018 and is the author of Animal Hospice and Palliative Medicine for the House Call Veterinarian.

Cynthia Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DACVSMR, is a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Emergency Critical Care and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She's a professor of working dog sciences and sports medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She's also the Director for the PennVet Working Dogs Center at of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

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.

Emily Shiver, CVPM, CCFP, CVBL, is a certified veterinary practice manager that has been working in practice for more than 18 years. Emily's passion is creating and maintaining positive, successful workplace cultures as well as helping practices increase revenue and improve the client experience. She enjoys every aspect of inventory and strives to help practices meet and exceed their inventory goals.

Jill Clark, DVM, returns to The Vet Blast Podcast to talk about CSR education in the veterinary profession.Clark founded IGNITE in 2016 with the singular goal of elevating the knowledge of veterinary teams to enhance their wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of the patients and clients they serve. Her nearly 30-year career in veterinary medicine has been dedicated to the constant improvement of veterinary outcomes and operations and has created many opportunities for the professional growth of the incredible people who make up our profession.

David Hall is co-founder of GeniusVets. In 2021 Hall was named a Top 100 Marketing and Advertising Influencer by MARsum and invited by Forbes to join its prestigious Agency Council. He now works with veterinary practices across the country to better achieve their business goals. David can be reached via email at: [email protected]

Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, DACZM, DACVPM is the Staff Veterinarian at 4J Conservation Center, an instructor for FEMA/DHS courses, and a Regional Commander for the National Disaster Medicine System Team. She graduated from Texas A&M University's CVM and has pursued emergency medicine and zoo medicine throughout her career. She owned 2 emergency clinics and has been the Senior Veterinarian in a zoo. She completed fieldwork in Madagascar and South America and continues to explore new areas of medicine as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine for more than 10 years. Chatfield is a Medical Reserve Corps member and developed the "Veterinary Support to Zoological Animals in a Disaster" for the National Veterinary Response Teams training curriculum. She has chaired the Florida Veterinary Medical Association's (FVMA) One Health Committee and co-chaired FVMA's Disaster Response Committee.

Brian Beale, DVM, DACVS, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He received his DVM and completed his residency at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. After his board certification, he joined Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in 1992 and practiced there until 2019. He also appeared in 2 seasons of the television show Animal ER on National Geographic Wild.

This episode of The Vet Blast Podcast features a recent graduate from the class of 2021 at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Harris Fitzgerel, DVM, shares his experiences with going through vet school during a pandemic. He and host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, discuss the ups and downs of learning during lockdown with limited hands-on experience, plus tips for other veterinary students or those looking to join the profession. Fitzgerel is also a blogger and self-described fitness and pop music enthusiast.

Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, is a board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. His work has garnered him international recognition as a thought leader, and coveted keynote speaker and educator. Pachel has traveled the world, headlining international conferences and teaching inspiring lessons about animal aggression, animal behavior, and industry trends. Tracy Richards lives near Cleveland, Ohio, with her family including 5 dogs and three cats. Tracy’s animals are the heart of her life, especially her dog Asha, an 11 year old Double Merle Australian Shepherd who was born deaf and blind. Asha also has epilepsy and experiences severe anxiety. Tracy has spent the last eleven years working with Family Veterinarians, Behavioral Veterinarians, Chinese Medicine Practitioners, Acupuncturists, Animal Communicators and anyone else who could provide options to ease Asha’s unrest. She met Pachel when Asha was 10 months old and in him found a touchstone that would allow for peace amidst the chaos. Asha has been Tracy‘s biggest challenge, greatest joy and most relentless teacher. She is writing a book about their life together. Asha: Lessons in Hope and Life will be published in Fall of 2022. Her website is http://tracyrichards.co/.

Byron L. Blagburn MS, PhD, DACVM Hon (Parasitology), holds the appointment of Distinguished University Professor at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is past president of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists, the Southern Conference on Animal Parasites, the Southeastern Society of Parasitologists, and the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC). He has served as an associate editor for the Journal of Parasitology and has served on the editorial boards of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary Therapeutics, The International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, and the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. Blagburn is a recipient of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitiologist’s Distinguished Veterinary Parasitologist Award, the Pfizer Award for Research Excellence (1987 and 2010), and the Auburn University Student Government Association “Teacher of the Year” Award. (Sponsored by Vetoquinol)

Julia E. Miller, DVM, DACVD, graduated from Cornell's vet school and began her career as a large animal veterinarian. After completing a large animal medicine and surgery internship at the University of Georgia, she went on to mixed animal practice in North Carolina, followed by South Carolina. She then pursued her love of surgery at a high-volume, high-quality surgery center before turning her attention back to her true love, dermatology. She completed a dermatology residency at Cornell and stayed on as faculty after. When she's not prescribing steroids, she loves all things related to horses, bully breeds, and singing. (Sponsored by Vetoquinol)

Bob Murtaugh, DVM, MS, joined Thrive Pet Healthcare in 2015 as chief medical officer. In his current role as chief professional relations officer, Murtaugh is responsible for developing strategies to further establish and coordinate Thrive’s meaningful partnerships with veterinary schools, including residency and internship programs. He is a board-certified veterinary emergency and critical care specialist and a board-certified specialist in veterinary internal medicine. He is a pioneer in specialty veterinary medicine and paved the way for emergency and critical care to become an American Veterinary Medical Association–recognized specialty in 1989.

Sarah Barrett, DVM, PhD, DACVP, is a native of Southwest Virginia and completed her BS in Biology and DVM at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech (’99 and ’05, respectively). She practiced emergency medicine and critical care, followed by small animal day practice in Houston and Central Texas, before returning to Virginia Tech for a combined clinical pathology residency, culminating in board certification (2014) and a PhD in autoimmune glomerulonephritis (2015). She spent the next 5 years as a clinical assistant professor with a joint appointment at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, before transitioning to digital pathology and joining Zoetis in 2021. When not working in the office she spends her time wrangling her many animals and working on her lavender farm. (Sponsored by Zoetis)

Lori Harbert, LCSW, and a social worker for more than 20 years, specializes in mental health counseling, trauma-informed care, crisis counseling, grief and bereavement counseling, and leadership building. She developed and launched BluePearl’s first health and well-being program that provides resources and support to more than 6000 associates.Sonja Olson, DVM, graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine with a focus on exotic animal and conservation medicine. Her professional path led to over 25 years of practicing clinical small animal and exotic emergency medicine in both private and corporate practice environments in Virginia and in Florida. Olson’s full-time role currently is as Health & Well-being Educator for the BluePearl Health & Well-being Team, working alongside licensed veterinary social workers. She is certified as a Mental Health First Aid Trainer and as a Compassion Fatigue Educator through The Figley Institute. She completed her 2-year Mindful Meditation Teacher Certification in February 2023. Her upcoming book Creating Well-being and Building Resilience in the Veterinary Profession: A Call to Life will be released in March 2022.

Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP, FAVD, is board certified by the American Veterinary Dental College and American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. He is the current president of the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry. Bellows practices veterinary dentistry at All Pets Dental in Weston, Florida. He is also the author of Small Animal Dental Equipment Materials and Techniques, 2nd Ed and Feline Dentistry, 2nd Ed.

Steve Dale, CABC, writes for veterinary professionals and pet owners, hosts 2 national radio programs, and has appeared on TV shows ranging from Good Morning America to Oprah. He is on the dvm360® Editorial Advisory Board as well as the boards of the Human-Animal Bond Association and EveryCat Health Foundation. He appears at conferences around the world. Visit stevedale.tv.

Dr. Kash Kuruppu received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada. Subsequently, she completed her graduate studies in epidemiology using big data technologies and machine learning to identify and predict risk factors for diseases in animal populations. Most recently, she was the cofounder and chief medical officer at a technology startup supporting veterinarians to deliver personalized care for companion animals. She is currently the chief veterinary officer at Basepaws, helping advance human and animal health through the study of their genetics.