The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360

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.

A small animal veterinarian for 16 years and a mom for 15, Emily Singler is a graduate of Penn State University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and a transplanted Floridian. She has worked in shelter medicine and private practice and now does relief work with IndeVets and writes in her “spare time.” She has strong interests in public health, preventive medicine and the human-animal bond. She is passionate about supporting veterinary professionals who are or will be parents. She is both fear-free and human-animal bond certified, and she also speaks Spanish. When she’s not working or chasing after her 4 kids, 3 pets, and 1 husband, she enjoys horseback riding, sewing, running, collecting all things llama and alpaca, and eating chocolate. She is also writing her first book! Check out her blog at https://vetmedbaby.com/

Ane Uriarte is a diploma holder of the European College in Veterinary Neurology (ECVN). She started her studies in Spain but graduated as a veterinarian in Paris, where she did her general internship and neurology residency.After obtaining her ECVN diploma, she worked for 8 years in a private hospital on the outskirts of London before she moved to Massachusetts in 2017, where she was an assistant professor in neurology and Neurosurgery at Tufts University. During her stay in the United States, Uriarte created the free iOS and Android app called My dog's epilepsy accessible to all owners and veterinarians. She has recently returned to London where she is the head of the Neurology service at Southfields veterinary specialist.Uriarte has published numerous articles in international journals, as well as neurosurgery chapters in reference books. She is constantly teaching in the form of webinars, congresses, and social media. She posts daily neurology cases on instagram, youtube, and facebook on @ane.neuro.

Kathleen Cooney, DVM, MS, CHPV, CCFP, has been practicing advanced end-of-life care since 2006. She is well-known for her work in companion animal euthanasia and has authored two books on the subject. Dr. Cooney has collaborated in euthanasia training for the AVMA, AAHA, IAAHPC, HABRI, the Fear Free program, and is Founder and Director of Education for the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA). The core certificate program is Dr. Cooney's design and is based around the The 14 Essential Components of Companion Animal Euthanasia. She is a strong advocate for best practices in all aspects of end-of-life care and speaks nationally and internationally on such topics. Stephanie Messick’s passion for advancing missions which elevate end-of-life pet care began in 2012. Stephanie worked in animal welfare in Florida, then transitioned to pet aftercare service in 2015 when she joined The Pet Loss Center. She partnered with veterinary teams across the states of Florida and Colorado to elevate their practice’s end-of-life care by providing world class cremation and pet loss services with the utmost dignity, honor and respect. In 2016 Stephanie completed the Two Hearts Pet Loss Center certificate program in Pet Loss & Grief Companioning. During that time she presented continuing education curriculum to veterinary hospitals, veterinary medical associations and in 2018 at the Peter Piper Memorial Conference for Caloosa Veterinary Medical Society.

Mita Malhotra is the Vice President of Chewy Health at Chewy, Inc. She joined the company in 2018. As vice president and general manager, Mita leads Chewy’s journey to delivering a world-class healthcare experience to pets, pet parents, and partners through a customer-focused approach. Malhotra is a seasoned leader who brings over 15 years of retail and e-commerce experience to Chewy. She has a proven track record of leading teams to success and growth. Before joining Chewy, Malhotra was a Category Leader at Amazon for Amazon-owned devices and accessories business. Under her leadership, the category doubled year-over-year growth for Amazon Devices and claimed the #1 spot for market segment share across multiple categories. Prior to that, she spent eight years at Dell, where she was responsible for growing Dell’s PC business through traditional retail and e-commerce channels. Malhotra holds a Master’s degree from UC Berkeley in Geotechnical Engineering and a B.E. from Punjab Engineering College. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her 6-year-old daughter and Shih Tzu named D.

Sandy Weaver is an author, consultant, and professional speaker who works with veterinarians to foster happier hospital cultures and more resilient teams. A citizen-scientist in the fields of neurology, neuroplasticity, and positive psychology, she gives individuals tools they can begin using right away to create more personal success and happiness. Her avocation is dog sports—she's an AKC judge and is owned by a Siberian Husky and a Standard Poodle.

Brendan Lynch has focused his career on redefining what’s possible. He is an innovator and brings his strategic and operational experience to his work. He has a track record of successfully starting, growing, and operating new ventures and divisions for Fortune 1,000 companies. For the last 8 years, he has brought his enthusiasm and leadership to VCA Animal Hospitals. He is currently the VP of Innovation where he pioneers new ways of doing business for clients, patients, Associates, and for the future of veterinary medicine.Prior to joining VCA, Lynch has diverse entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial experience ranging from starting and selling a global action sports film distribution company to launching multiple digital businesses for Procter & Gamble. Additionally, Lynch has launched the digital division for a leading veterinary communications and analytics company and headed marketing for a venture capital-funded online pet services start-up. He enjoys exploring the world with his family, capturing life’s moments through photography, searching for the perfect wave, carving new paths through nature’s snowy terrain, and seeking new adventures that involve being surrounded by nature.

Barbara Powers, DVM, DACVP, worked as a pathologist and researcher in cancer and radiation pathology at Colorado State University before becoming Director of CSU’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories. At CSU, she and her colleagues validated an ELISA for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids and established one of the country’s largest CWD testing centers. During the more than 30-year stint at CSU, she was also president of Colorado Veterinary Medical Association from 2003-2004 and president of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) from 2006-2007. Barbara E. Kitchell, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, graduated from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1979. Dr. Kitchell completed an internship at the University of Minnesota, then residencies in Small Animal Medicine and Oncology at UC Davis from 1981-1985. She received her PhD (emphasis in Cancer Biology) from the Department of Comparative Pathology at UC Davis in 1994. She is the Director of Residency Training Programs for VCA, as well as staff oncologist at Vet Care. Kitchell is an ACVIM Diplomate in the specialties of Internal Medicine and Oncology. She is past president of the Veterinary Cancer Society and Past Chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Mary L. Berg, BS, RVT, RLATG, VTS (Dentistry), is a charter member of the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Microbiology at South Dakota State University, an associate’s degree in Laboratory Animal Science at Redlands Community College, and another associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology from St. Petersburg College. She received her Veterinary Technician Specialty in Dentistry in 2006.For nearly three decades, Berg worked in research, where she specialized in products aimed at improving the oral health of companion animals. She has also served as the practice manager and dental specialist at a general practice. She teaches veterinary technology, and she is president of Beyond the Crown Veterinary Education — a veterinary dental consulting service. Berg is actively involved in NAVTA, tAVDT and KVTA, and she has served on committees for the AVMA and AAVSB. She has authored or co-authored over 70 publications.

Jove Jacob is a member of the dvm360® Student Ambassador Program and a fourth-year veterinary student from the Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur located in India. Jacob received his professional certification for animal physiology from the Indian Institute of Technology. Jacob was elected as outstanding delegate for the Continous Crisis Committee (CCC) under International Model United Nations where young delegates share their innovative ideas against global crisis or emergency situations. It is partnered with UN organizations like UNDP, UNESCO.Additionally, he has published his work in the dvm360® Magazine, along with having published review articles in one of the NAAS rated journals. With a passion for equine medicine, he aspires to work as an equine veterinarian in the United States upon graduation.

Janice Huntingford, DVM, DACVSMR, CVA, CVPP, CCRT, CAVC, is a 1984 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, in Guelph, Ontario. She is certified in chiropractic, acupuncture, rehabilitation, and pain management. Huntingford is the owner and medical director of the Essex Animal Hospital, Canine Rehab and Fitness in Essex, Ontario Canada. In 2015, she became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and in 2018 she received her Masters in Traditional Chinese Veterinary medicine. Huntingford is a consultant for the VIN Rehab/Sports Medicine/Chronic Pain Board and lectures nationally and internationally on a variety of topics including rehabilitation, pain management, and geriatric medicine. She has co-authored several textbook chapters on rehabilitation and published a number of peer-reviewed manuscripts. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time on her farm/winery with her chef husband, Harold, her pugs, cats, and horses, a few adult children, and her beautiful new granddaughter, Alina!

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, Ashley Wood, PhD, director of research and development at Zomedica, talks with Dr Christman about the application of bulk acoustic wave (BAW) technology to veterinary diagnostics, and how a new in-clinic biosensor testing platform is utilizing this technology to provide reference lab accuracy at the point of care.

Nick Nelson, DVM, MBA, has over 2 decades of experience within the veterinary industry. He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and a Master's in Business Administration from Washington State University. At BluePearl, Nelson is responsible for operations of 100+ specialty and emergency practices across the United States focusing on balancing the fiscal needs of running a national organization and the needs of 7,000+ veterinary professionals. He is excited about the plethora of associate-focused initiatives the company is offering including health and wellbeing, EI&D, and career pathways. Additionally, Nelson has served as Regional Medical Director for VCA Animal Hospital and CMO and President of Pet Partners.

Megan Bendtzen, founder and CEO of a company called LifeBacon, is a motivational trainer, speaker, and life and business coach. She worked in the veterinary field for 14 years while studying leadership, communication, personal growth concepts, and relationships for over 18 years. Bendtzen has worked with thousands of people and delivered hundreds of impactful seminars on a variety of related topics.

Monique Y. Wells, VMD, MS, entered the University of Pennsylvania at the young age of 16, and Penn’s Veterinary School at 20. She completed this program by age 24, then proceeded directly to graduate school at The Ohio State University, earning a Master’s degree in veterinary pathobiology at the age of 28.Now, as a resident of Paris since 1992, veterinary pathologist and toxicologist, world traveler, entrepreneur and arts enthusiast, Wells' understands the vast need to expose minorities to educational and cultural opportunities that will allow them to have a richer, more rewarding life. Additionally, Wells' work within fast-paced academia has taken her around the globe. She has spoken at events in China, Germany, India, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the USA.Visit https://wellsinternationalfoundation.org/ for more information.

Nick Nelson, DVM, MBA, has over 2 decades of experience within the veterinary industry. He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and a Master's in Business Administration from Washington State University. At BluePearl, Nelson is responsible for operations of 100+ specialty and emergency practices across the United States focusing on balancing the fiscal needs of running a national organization and the needs of 7,000+ veterinary professionals. He is excited about the plethora of associate-focused initiatives the company is offering including health and wellbeing, EI&D, and career pathways. Additionally, Nelson has served as Regional Medical Director for VCA Animal Hospital and CMO and President of Pet Partners.

Suzanne Ellis, DVM is a New Jersey shore native who knew since she was 8 years of age that becoming a veterinarian was her passion. About four years ago, Ellis proposed the idea to her clinic about offering a house call service, and became the primary doctor in the practice going out to clients’ homes for routine office visits, and, of course, euthanasia. It was during this time that she began to really appreciate helping families say goodbye to their beloved pets in the privacy of their own homes.These experiences have brought Ellis to the decision of dedicating her work to end-of-life care and creating a personalized and peaceful experience for pets and their families.

Emily Dozeman, DVM, DACVECC is a board-certified emergency and critical care doctor. She is one of the managing partners and codepartment head of the emergency and critical care service at Philadelphia Animal Specialty and Emergency. Dozeman is experienced in all aspects of emergency medicine and critical care with a particular interest in the management of polytrauma patients, sepsis, and transfusion medicine. When not treating patients, Dr. Dozeman enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her husband, Brett, and being active. She has two rescue French bulldogs and a cat named Petry

Vernard Hodges, DVM, is a proud graduate of Fort Valley State University and the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. Hodges is the founder of multiple successful veterinary hospitals, but he practices primarily at Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital in Bonaire, Georgia. Hodges and Critter Fixer became so successful that they caught the attention of the National Geographic Channel and now star in a television show, currently in second-season production, called Critter Fixers: Country Vets on National Geographic Wild and Disney+. In addition to his businesses, he started the Hodges It Takes A Village Charity Foundation in 2011. He enjoys spending time with his 3 dogs and watching sports with his 16-year-old son, VJ.

Antonio L. Bowens, DVM, is the owner of Bowens’ Locum Veterinary Neurology & Neurosurgery Services. Bowens earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology, cum laude, in 1997 from Tuskegee University and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. He completed a neurology neurosurgery fellowship, as well as a private practice specialty internship in 2005. Bowens has been practicing in the field of veterinary neurology and neurosurgery as well as emergency medicine since 2005.

George Robinson, DVM, MSPH, is the founder and former CEO of Heartland Veterinary Partners, a Chicago-based veterinary support organization. He has over 30 years of veterinary industry experience, holding numerous clinical, business operational, and senior management roles throughout his career.

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.

Billie Groom works exclusively with dogs over the age of 6 months to address anxiety, aggression, and behaviors associated with adolescent and adopted dogs. Groom is also the creator of UPWARD Dogology, a scientifically proven formula adhering to the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Christopher Shapley, DVM, 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. Currently, he is working at Brick Town Veterinary Hospital and is an instructor for the Veterinary Assistant Course at OCC.

Jill Clark, DVM, 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.

Jessica Hirsch received her B.S. in Animal & Poultry Sciences and a B.S. in Psychology at Virginia Tech University. She is a current veterinary student at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Hirsch shares her unique story about navigating through veterinary school with disabilities, empowering others to never give up on their dreams.

Have you ever considered doing a career change within vet med? Dr. Priscilla Bowens joins me and shares her experience as an attorney, veterinarian, and a master's degree in public health. We also talk about diversity concerns in veterinary medicine and her contribution to our Fetch faculty. Be sure to check out her session at our upcoming virtual Fetch conference 5/13-5/15. Register at www.fetchdvm360.com

Alyssa Mages, BS, CVT, is the Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) of EVT (Empowering Veterinary Teams), where she oversees the content development, clinical skills training, and overall vision of the company. She cofounded EVT to provide training programs, materials & coaching/learning opportunities for veterinary practices, as well as content development and training directives for veterinary industry service providers. The EVTeam consists of veterinary professionals, industry leaders & coaches.

Our profession has had major technological advancements over the past decade. Genomic sequencing is one of those technologies that allows both the veterinarian and pet parent to provide us with the necessary tools to work together in preventive medicine. Join me as we speak to Lindsey Kock, DVM, market development manager for companion animal genomics at Neogen. Learn more about genomic sequencing and how it pertains to everyday practice here: https://www.neogen.com/igenity-canine-wellness/

Christian Capobianco is a second-year veterinary student at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Following veterinary school, he is interested in pursuing a career in zoological, wildlife, and exotic animal medicine. He is also passionate about education and has a background in both formal and informal instruction. Christian has gained relevant clinical and research experience at institutions including Zoo Miami, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. He currently works at a number of local veterinary emergency clinics as a relief ER / ICU assistant and has been featured as a veterinary student extern on the hit television show, "Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER" on Nat Geo Wild.

Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, received his veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 2002 and became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in 2010. He has operated both house-call and office-based behavior practices and is currently the owner and lead clinician at the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon. Pachel lectures regularly throughout the United States as well as internationally, teaches courses at multiple veterinary schools in the United States, and has authored several articles and book chapters on topics such as intercat aggression and pet selection for animal-assisted therapy. He is a sought-after expert witness for legal cases involving animal behavior and is also a vice president of veterinary behavior on the executive leadership team for Instinct Dog Behavior & Training, providing positive reinforcement behavior modification and board/train services within a franchise-based business model.

Ryan Joseph is cofounder and CEO of GoodVets. Ryan founded GoodVets in 2016 to radically shift the perception of corporate veterinary medicine and create a best-in-class customer experience.Ryan’s industry experience spans across many sectors, from Hollywood entertainment to online consumer tech. Immediately before founding GoodVets, Ryan served as the COO and CFO of PEAK6 Best Marble, an Italian based, luxury-grade marble excavation and wholesale distribution business.

Matt Brunke, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, is a native New Yorker, having grown up in New York, New York. He received his BS in animal science from Cornell University in 2000 and his DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts, graduating in 2004. He received his certification in rehabilitation in 2008 from the University of Tennessee Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner program, and now teaches for that program. He completed the practice experience pathway for the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR) in 2017 and passed ACVSMR boards in January 2018. As an ACVSMR diplomate, he believes in a big-picture, practical approach to his patients and enjoys both orthopedic and neurological cases. When not at work, he enjoys running with his dog Penny.

Our profession has so many opportunities to educate and inspire. More specifically, we love to teach and educate children about animals and the careers involved in veterinary medicine. Meet veterinarian, and author of the children’s book “The Doggy Doctor and The Upset Tummy," Jacqueline Johnson, DVM. Learn about her passion in writing and how this incredible story came to fruition!

Neil Shaw,DVM, DACVIM was the medical founder of BluePearl Veterinary Partners and served as the first Chief Medical Officer for Mars, Inc. Following a brief retirement, Neil founded SignalPET, proving the vision that independent primary care veterinarians can harness artificial intelligence to seamlessly expand their range and depth of care.

Legend Thurman is a third-year DVM Candidate at the Royal Veterinary College in London, England. Catholic University of America graduate, originally from Washington, PA and Washington, DC. Thurman aspires to be a full-time governmental veterinarian after graduation, advocating for change in veterinary medicine in legislation, public policy, and advocacy. Over the past three years she has served as the Junior and Senior Delegate for RVC on National SAVMA’s House of Delegates, National SAVMA’s Governmental Affairs Committee Chair and now, advisor, and is currently the RVC SAVMA Chapter President. During this time, she formed a COVID-19 Hardship Grant for students and helped write new legislation alongside other students for the National SAVMA By-Laws to alter membership guidelines for student chapters who have been affected by various disasters. Currently, she is focusing on advancing exposure to students on issues such as well-being, DEI, organized medicine, one health, and relationships in the field along with a charity drive for the Veterinary School in Afghanistan.

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. Join us as he talks about the importance of addressing dental disease to your clients, especially during National Dental Month, and what behavioral signs to look out for!

Michael Lucroy, DVM, MS, DACVIM (oncology), graduated from Purdue University, and went on to do a small animal internship at University of Saskatchewan. From there, Lucroy went to UC Davis to complete a medical oncology residency and graduate school, where he was a post-grad researcher at the Center for Companion Animal Health. He moved on up, starting a private speciality practice in central Florida, followed by a stint at Oklahoma State University as an associate professor and endowed chair, before returning to Purdue University as an Associate Professor and Chief of Clinical Oncology.After leaving academics, Lucroy worked in a private specialty practice at the VCA Veterinary Specialty Center in Indianapolis, before joining the R&D Team at Elanco Animal Health. Prior to joining Torigen, he was Director of Clinical Studies for MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets overseeing research in over 20 specialty hospitals. He is board-certified in medical oncology, and author of over 40 peer-reviewed publications. Lucroy is currently the Chief Medical Officer at Torigen.

Pam Hale, DVM, MBA, is the Chief Medical Officer for Destination Pet’s and a graduate of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. She earned her master of business administration from St. George’s University. Dr Hale is a member of the AVMA and Georgia VMA. 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.

Veterinary students are not only inspiring, but resilient as well with their overriding passion for veterinary medicine. Stacey Thomas is no exception, embarking on her new journey as a first-year veterinary student (Class of 2023) at the University of Arizona. Her path to veterinary medicine like most veterinary professionals is not linear, starting on the human side of medicine for many years previously. Sharing what sparked her new career path, (listen to find out!) Thomas gives us inspiration and hope as she enters the next chapter of her professional career.

Co-owner of Florida Veterinary Advisors and financial advisor, Tom Seeko, offers up a few tips on how to improve your clinics net worth. Seeko began his focus in the veterinary field in 2014, along with becoming approved to provide continuing education in the state of Florida in 2017. In early 2018, Seeko became an approved RACE provider through the AAVSB. As of now, Seeko and his team are involved within several associations in the state of Florida, VetPartners, and the VBMA (Veterinary Business Management Association) that provides students in the Veterinary field with resources and access to professionals to help them with solid advice to jump start their career.

Kash Kuruppu, DVM, 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 co-founder 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.