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Friday Speakers
Minneapolis, MN
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Jan. 29 - Feb. 1, 2025
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150+ CE Hours
Dr. Rachel Allbaugh is a veterinary ophthalmologist at Iowa State University, where she also received both her BS and DVM degrees. After graduation, she completed a private practice internship in North Carolina and a veterinary ophthalmology residency and master’s degree at Kansas State University. She was on faculty at Kansas State University until 2011, then returned home to Iowa and is now a full professor in ISU’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and the Lora and Russ Talbot Endowed Professor in Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Allbaugh’s passion for veterinary ophthalmology began with her childhood cat’s nearly blinding eye disease. Since that time, she has been devoted to the field, enjoying clinical practice, teaching, and research. She is passionate about sharing knowledge and helping advance veterinary medicine through education efforts and scholarly pursuits with 70 peer reviewed publications and 200 presentations. Rachel also helps to serve the profession through active participation and leadership roles in numerous professional organizations with her varied professional efforts earning her numerous awards.
Dr. Joe Armstrong received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Minnesota-Morris in 2011. He graduated from the University of Minnesota-College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. After veterinary school, Joe worked as a private practitioner with beef and dairy farms at Anderson Veterinary Service in Zumbrota, MN. Dr. Joe then worked as the Cattle Production Systems Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota. Currently, Dr. Joe is a technical service veterinarian with Zoetis where he helps dairy and beef operations with the practical application of evidence-based medicine and management.
Al is the Chairperson of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary Technician committee. He retired after 28 years of teaching at Ridgewater College in Willmar. Dr. Balay is a member of the AVMA’s Committee for the Advancement of Veterinary Technicians and Technologists. He and his wife Claudia co-own a twelve-horse stable with another couple in New London, Minnesota and where he is the resident veterinarian.
Dr. Lauren Bernstein is an assistant professor of Community Medicine at the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bernstein has a background in private companion animal practice, community-engaged public health research, and One Health policy. Her primary interests include understanding how structural social, economic, political, or cultural barriers affect access to information, access to veterinary care, and dynamics of power and trust.
Dr. Kelsey Bertamus is the Hospital Director at Mission Animal Hospital, a nonprofit full-service companion pet hospital located in Eden Prairie, MN. Dr. Bertamus received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Minnesota and a certificate in Shelter Medicine from the University of Florida. Alongside the Mission Animal Hospital team, Dr. Bertamus is committed to developing and proving nonprofit care as a complementary business model in Veterinary Medicine. It is her hope that practicing and educating on the value of incremental care will increase community accessibility. Kelsey and her husband, Andrew, are the proud parents of two (under two!) human children as well as a bossy cat (Polly). In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and traveling with the family.
Dr. Graham Brayshaw is the Chief Medical Officer at Animal Humane Society. He is a 2004 graduate of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. He worked in private practice in DC, Washington state, and moved to Minnesota in 2008. He has been the head veterinarian at AHS since 2011 and helped grow the veterinary and behavior programs including expanding vet care provided to low-cost, full-service public clinics. He is a former board member of the Board of Animal Health and served on the Best Practices committee with AAWA. He has had the privilege of previously presenting with VetGirl, HSUS, ASPCA, MAVT, and AAWA on a myriad of veterinary and shelter-related topics.
Travis Bruns is a member of the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia & Analgesia and has been an anesthesia technician at the Animal Emergency & Referral Center of MN since 2015. His areas of interest include dental anesthesia, exotic animal anesthesia, and anesthesia in patients with heart disease. Travis also holds a Master’s Degree in Classical Music Performance from the University of Hartford and spent nine years as the principal double bass player of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and the Connecticut Lyric Opera.
Dr. Gail Carpenter is an Assistant Professor of Dairy Extension and Outreach in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Animal Sciences and Industry from Kansas State University and is experienced in practical dairy nutrition, with past roles as a dairy nutritionist at CSA Animal Nutrition and an assistant professor at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus. Dr. Carpenter’s work centers on applied dairy nutrition, focusing on practical solutions for dairy management including the management and early-life care of beef × dairy calves. In addition to her research, Dr. Carpenter is dedicated to mentorship and actively engages in extension activities to support dairy producers, sharing insights through workshops and webinars. Her industry involvement includes service on the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge Board.
Dr. Rosalind Chow is a Professor in Emergency and Critical Care and the Medical Director of the Lewis Small Animal Hospital at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, completed a small animal rotating internship at the University of Georgia and a residency in Small Animal Emergency and Intensive Care at the University of California, Davis, becoming board certified in 2006. As a criticalist, she has worked in both private specialty practices in California and Michigan before joining the University of Minnesota in 2016. Her clinical interests include respiratory medicine, sepsis, fluid and electrolyte disorders. She is also passionate about teaching and incorporating Spectrum of Care principles to promote effective client communications.
Dr. Robyn Corcoran is Minnesota’s Emergency Program Coordinator for USDA APHIS Veterinary Services, working with state officials and industry partners in emergency preparedness and response planning for Foreign Animal Disease events. She earned her DVM at the University of Minnesota in 1996 and after 19 years in companion animal and equine clinical practice, she joined APHIS VS in 2015 as a Field Veterinary Medical Officer before moving into her current position in 2018. Dr. Corcoran is Operations Section Chief on an APHIS National Incident Management Team and has extensive deployment experience responding to transboundary animal disease emergencies nation-wide. She serves as USDA representative on the Federal Advisory Team for Environment, Food, and Health as agricultural Subject Matter Expert on emergency response during radiological incidents, and has been an active member of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps since 2009.
Christine Culler is Director of Medical Quality at Veterinary Emergency Group. She joined VEG in 2023 as a traveling emergency doctor, which gave her the opportunity to experience a variety of teams, hospital setups, and communities, broadening her perspective on real-world needs. She was previously a Medical Director at a multi-location, multi-specialty hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. She acquired her DVM, Master of Science, and completed her residency in Emergency and Critical Care at The Ohio State University, then completed a fellowship in extracorporeal therapy at North Carolina State University. She loves making it easier for teams to practice excellent medicine and on clinics enjoys managing trauma, sepsis, and intoxications and has a passion for improving communication in end of life and quality of life decision-making.
Dr. Amanda Doran has been working from Duluth, Minnesota as a Veterinary Medical Officer with USDA APHIS Veterinary Services since February 2023. Dr. Doran grew up in a large dairy farming family in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota Duluth for undergraduate studies. She is a 2012 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, where she pursued a dual DVM/MPH degree. Prior to entering public practice, she worked as a mixed animal practitioner in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; a small animal general practitioner in Grand Rapids, Minnesota; and then ran a mobile end of life care service in the greater Duluth area. Dr. Doran shares her urban homestead with her husband and their two dogs.
Dr. Gilles has focused his career on accessible veterinary care for over a decade. In 2014, he started the WisCARES program at University of Wisconsin-Madison, a collaboration between the schools of Veterinary Medicine, Social Work, and many of the human health professions. In 2018, he shifted his focus to alternative models in the for-profit sector that can help increase access to veterinary care. He currently owns Access Veterinary Care, a dedicated Urgent Care clinic in Minneapolis. He has been involved in numerous projects and publications exploring solutions to the challenges in providing accessible veterinary care, collaborating with communities in need of veterinary care, and teaching veterinary students important skills such as cultural humility, clinical problem solving, and using spectrum of care approaches to delivering high quality medical care to their patients.
Coming Soon
Dr. Laura Greene graduated with her DVM from NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, completed a rotating small animal internship at the University of Georgia, and then returned to NC State for her residency in small animal internal medicine. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and spent several years in specialty private practice before joining Merck Animal Health as a Senior Professional Services Veterinarian and member of the Veterinary Insights and Medical Affairs department. In her role, she leverages her veterinary knowledge, communication and leadership skills, passion for education, and love for animals to build a better animal health community. She is published in multiple journals including JAVMA and the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, has spoken both nationally and internationally on topics including infectious disease, immunology, endocrinology, and oncology, and regularly presents continuing education to veterinarians around the country. She is passionate about many things, but particularly communication and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Coming Soon
Dr. Sonja Hendrickson began her career in marketing and public relations before transitioning to veterinary medicine. She earned her DVM degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. She completed an internship at a referral hospital, then worked in emergency medicine and general practice before moving into the veterinary nonprofit sector at Mission Animal Hospital and now with Animal Humane Society Veterinary Centers. While at Mission, Dr. Hendrickson discovered her passion for access to veterinary care and mentorship. She developed the Veterinary Student Externship Program, an initiative to teach senior veterinary students the practice of spectrum-of-care medicine. Currently, Dr. Hendrickson serves as the Managing Clinic Veterinarian at AHS Veterinary Centers, where she leads a team of veterinarians across two community clinics focused on increasing access to veterinary care through affordable medical services, HQHV spay/neuter, elective surgery and dental procedures. Dr. Hendrickson is dedicated to collaborating with pet owners, crafting individualized care plans that promote the health and well-being of their animal companions.
Dr. Hill has a degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in gastrointestinal physiology from North Carolina State University. She did her residency in small animal internal medicine at North Carolina State University. She’s currently enrolled in the MBA program at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. She has been the Director of Science for Ethos Veterinary Healthy since early 2024. Prior to that, she worked as an associate professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in Small Animal Internal Medicine and Interventional Radiology. Before that, she spent over four years as an assistant professor of small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia and nearly four years as a senior lecturer at The University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom.
After working in both small and mixed animal practices, Kim Horne spent most of her career at the University of Minnesota, Veterinary Medical Center where she found her passion in dermatology. She is one of the Co-Founders of the Academy of Dermatology Veterinary Technicians (ADVT) and is a co-editor of the book Small Animal Dermatology for Technicians and Nurses. Although Kim is now retired, she is still very active in her state and national vet tech associations.
Dr. Steve Just has served as a field Veterinary Medical Officer with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in Morris, MN for over 20 years. Prior to joining the USDA, Dr. Just was an associate veterinarian in a mixed animal practice in Morris serving swine, cow-calf, dairy, and small animal clients with an occasional horse thrown in the mix. Dr. Just has been a member of an APHIS national incident management team for over 15 years, serving as a Safety Officer and Operations Section Chief. He currently serves as Incident Commander of the team. In the 20 years with the USDA, Dr. Just has had the opportunity to deploy across the country more than a dozen times, to more than 9 states and territories in response to a variety of foreign animal diseases, including HPAI, vND and ASF. Dr. Just received his D.V.M. and MS from Iowa State University and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.
Dr. Kivisto graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. He’s a Minnesota native, growing up on the Iron Range who made his way slowly to the Twin Cities after a brief four year stop at the University of Minnesota, Duluth for his undergraduate work. Outside of a three-year stint in academia he has spent most of his career working as a practicing veterinarian in various small animal clinics in Minnesota. He currently oversees the companion animal branch of the Board. He shares his home with his girlfriend Lynne, her son Jordan and two cats, Keswick and Noodle. Outside of work he enjoys reading, fishing, gardening, performing the occasional (and ideally very uncomplicated) home improvement project, and when he’s feeling his least ambitious wasting time playing video games.
Dr. Sandra Koch is a Professor of Dermatology and Head of the Dermatology Service at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota. She earned her Veterinary Medicine degree by the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil and Masters Sciences in Veterinary Dermatology by the University of Minnesota. She completed a Veterinary Dermatology Residency at the University of Minnesota and is Board Certified by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. Dr. Koch authored of “Canine and Feline Dermatology Drug Handbook”, and is the author of many scientific articles and book chapters. She serves as a Scientific advisor and editor of several journals, along with an invited speaker in many national and international conferences. Dr. Koch has special interests in allergies, otic diseases, auto-immune disorders, multi-drug resistant infections and equine dermatology. She enjoys hiking and Mushroom identification and foraging.
Dr. Lindsey Knox is an assistant professor of Community Medicine at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Knox has a background in small animal clinical practice, shelter medicine, and public health with a special interest in well-being within the veterinary community. The combination of these interests and experiences has led to a passion for client connection, primary and preventative care, and quality of life while addressing barriers to accessible vet care. She loves working with the next generation of veterinarians and community organizations to support the human-animal bond with a clinical teaching focus on providing family-centered care.
Sharon earned her RVT certification in 2001 with specialization certification in Emergency Critical Care in 2016 and certified veterinary practice management certificate in 2022. She has worked in emergency, specialty, general, large animal ambulatory, and equine p[ractice throughout her career. She has designed and implemented many training courses in veterinary technology, having served as a program director for an AVMA VT program in her hometown, where she designed and instructed the curriciulum. She currently serves on the CVTEA as a site accreditation committee member. Sharon currently works for 2 equine veterinary practices in her Summit Point, VA performing general equine anesthesia. She is a “speaker resource” for Zoetis and has lectured at numerous veterinary continuing education meetings including IVECCS, HIVE, and state conferences.
Dr. Mollie Mesman, DACVD, is a board-certified specialist in veterinary dermatology. Dr. Mesman earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in 2007, followed by a DVM from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. After a small animal rotating internship at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Mesman then went on to complete her dermatology residency with the Animal Dermatology Group in Marina del Rey, CA from 2013-2016. As a board-certified veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Mesman is a consultant for all Southern Veterinary Partners (SVP) practices and trains dermatology residents with Animal Dermatology Group.
Dr. Elizabeth Mendoza is a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Her clinical years of practice consisted of small animal GP and many exciting nights in the ER. She began serving with Christian Veterinary Mission in 2018 as the North Central Region Representative. She serves the students and professionals of 8 states to challenge and empower them to share Christ’s love in the veterinary profession. Elizabeth and her husband, Jaime, live in East Tennessee on a small farm with 4 kids and lots of animals!
Dr Gregory Moulton, Veterinary Medical Officer, has been a field veterinarian for USDA APHIS for 6 + years, serving in Southeastern Minnesota. Dr. Moulton is also a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician, and has deployed for responses for High Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Minnesota and Virulent Newcastle Disease in California. Prior to his time with APHIS , Dr Moulton served with the Food Safety and Inspection Service as a Public Health Veterinarian. Prior to joining USDA spent 2 decades in private food animal practice, including owning his own practice for a dozen years in East Central Minnesota. Dr Moulton is a 1988 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.
Lorianne Nadaskay, CVT, Certified Equine Massage Therapist is a technician for the University of Minnesota West Metro Equine Practice. She’s a native Texan and began working with horses at the age of 5. She followed her passions to North Dakota State University with a degree in Equine Science and Animal Science. After her time at NDSU, she decided to pursue her degree in veterinary technology. Lorianne has worked in private practice, both small animal general practice and at an equine referral hospital prior to her joining the University of Minnesota large animal department. Her special interests include alternative therapies and nutrition.
Sarah Parsons is a Licensed Veterinary Technician with a passion for creating engaging and original social media content about the veterinary industry. Through her unique and relatable perspective, she aims to demystify what really happens at the vet’s office. Sarah’s goal is to inspire veterinary professionals to rediscover the joy and humor in their work while providing pet owners with an insightful look behind the scenes of veterinary practice. Join her as we laugh, learn, and bring a fresh spark to the field of veterinary medicine!
Dr. Mackenzie Reberg currently serves as the Epidemiology Officer for VS-Minnesota. Prior to this role, she was a Field Veterinarian for VS in southeast Minnesota. Upon graduation from the University of Minnesota in 2010, Dr. Reberg started out in mixed animal practice in southwest Minnesota for 8 years. Dr. Reberg is a Minnesota native and enjoys her public service role working with livestock producers, veterinarians, and others involved the livestock industry across the state.
Dr. Stephan Schaefbauer, with 17 years of dedicated federal service, currently serves as the Area Veterinarian in Charge for VS-Minnesota. Prior to this role, she held positions as an Epidemiology Officer in Des Moines, Iowa, and Raleigh, NC. She was recognized for her outstanding contributions, receiving the APHIS Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment Award in 2012 and later she was honored as a 2021 Civil Servant of the Year. Dr. Schaefbauer’s remarkable achievements were acknowledged by the University of Georgia, where she was honored with the Young Achiever Award and featured as a “40 Under 40” recipient in 2016. Before her tenure as an Epidemiology Officer, she worked as an Import Risk Analyst in the National Center for Import and Export (APHIS VS), following her completion of a Master’s in Public Health and residency at the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Schaefbauer’s career began with the attainment of her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the esteemed University of Georgia (UGA).
Joni Scheftel was a partner in a mixed animal practice in Watertown Minnesota for 19 years and served as State Public Health Veterinarian at Minnesota Department of Health for 22 years. During both careers, she built solid, professional, teams that got bigger, better and more cohesive with time. Now retired, Dr. Scheftel, often described as a strong leader, looks back at the similarities between the two experiences and what she learned in the process.
Michelle Smith is a Safety Consultant Principal with Workplace Safety Consultation. She has spent the past 15 years of her 25+ year safety career helping employers in general industry and construction become OSHA compliant and develop better safety and health programs within their organizations. She has been the veterinarian services outreach consultant over the past year. Workplace Safety Consultation is a division of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry that offers free services to Minnesota employers and Michelle works with employers across the southern portion of the state.
Jordin Tillison LVT, CVT, VTS (ECC), CWR, CCFP, FFCP has been in the field for 29 years. She has been an LVT since 2003, and received her Veterinary Technician Specialty in Emergency and Critical Care in 2011. She is a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator, a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, and has completed QPR Suicide Prevention Training. She is Fear Free Level 2 Certified as well as RECOVER Rescuer Certified. She has experience in general practice, animal health distribution, learning and development, referral specialty/emergency critical care, Certified Level 1 Trauma Center, VetCot Certified Emergency/Critical Care Facility, ICU Coordinator, Emergency Critical Care Technician, Student Internship Coordinator, Infection Control Board Member, and Blood Bank Coordinator. Her interests include blood banking and transfusion medicine, as well as peritoneal dialysis and critical care medicine. Since education is her passion, she speaks nationally, locally, and at colleges to veterinary technician students. She has been published in MAVT, RVT, local publications, and continues to perform speaking engagements and written publications. She is currently on the board to establish the Academy of Transfusion Medicine and Blood Bank Technicians as a technician specialty. She has also been on AVECCTs’ Nursing Care Standards Committee. She is a member of NAVTA (National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America), MAVT (Michigan Association of Veterinary Technicians), AVECCT (Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians), VECCS (Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society), ISDVMA (International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association), AVHTM (Academy of Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine), IAVBB (International Association of Veterinary Blood Banks), NAVEMS (National Association of Veterinary Emergency Medical Services), IAVPM (International Association of Veterinary Pain Management), and AVTE (Association of Veterinary Technician Educators). She is a part of the veterinary medical team at CanAm Crown Dog Sled Race annually and in her free time, she enjoys camping, backpacking, hiking, knitting, and spending time with her family.
Dr. Emily Walz MPH DACVPM is a veterinarian who has worked to provide shelter and community-based veterinary care to animals in Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. They have also pursued specialized training in public health, community needs assessment, and preventive medicine. Emily currently provides contract veterinary services across Massachusetts, teaches and consults on community programming and integrated safety net services to support the special bond between people and their pets.
Dr. Cara Williams is a Veterinary Medical Officer in the Division of Global Migration Health at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She earned a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and a Certificate in Global Health in 2013 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and became a board-certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 2021. Dr. Williams practiced livestock, exotic, and companion animal medicine on farms and in clinics for four years prior to joining the federal government in 2017 as a Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian for the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Dr. Williams joined CDC as a Veterinary Medical Officer in July 2020 with a focus on regulatory compliance in the importation of animals that pose a human public health risk. She is on the management team for both the CDC dog importation program and the nonhuman primate importation program. Additionally, Dr. Williams co-founded the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association in 2014, served as the first president in 2019, and served on the leadership board until 2022. Her professional interests include zoonotic diseases, foreign animal diseases, and disparities in health outcomes for humans and their animals attributable to institutionalized systems of oppression.
Spencer Wolter is a 2022 graduate from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. He is currently an associate veterinarian at 4 Star Veterinary Services. He travels around Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa feedlots helping producers improve animal health and welfare through better management, protocols, and educating employees.
Dr. Young’s expertise is cellular immunology, developmental immunology, antibody production and analysis and foreign animal diseases. He founded Medgene 13 years ago while also serving as a Professor of Veterinary & Biomedical Science at South Dakota State University—a position he’s held since 2001. Prior moving to South Dakota, Dr. Young was an instructor at Harvard Medical School and a Scientific Member, Basel Institute for Immunology, Basel, Switzerland, for five years. Alan has a doctorate in immunology/pathology from the University of Toronto.