The National Suicide Hotline can be reached at 988.

Annika VanNoy, PhD, is an accomplished leader in the veterinary field, currently serving as the senior director of talent and learning at Thrive Pet Healthcare. With a solid academic background culminating in a PhD from The University of Texas at Austin, VanNoy has dedicated her career to advancing the veterinary industry by enhancing practice management and optimizing team development. Her work focuses on creating and implementing talent strategies that empower veterinary professionals, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to excel in their roles. In addition to talent strategies, VanNoy oversees Thrive's wellbeing strategy.  VanNoy's expertise and innovative approach to talent management have been instrumental in driving the growth and success of Thrive Pet Healthcare, making her a key figure in the company's mission to revolutionize veterinary care.

Christopher G. Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ, is a practicing board-certified veterinary emergency & 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. He is the Co-Editor of the textbooks, Feline Emergency & Critical Care Medicine and Canine Emergency & Critical Care Medicine. He has also published chapters and articles in numerous textbooks and peer-reviewed medical journals.  

Mariah Young, DVM, is a small town Montana girl with a passion for compassion. Her whole life she wanted to be able to make an impact on this world. As she grew up, this desire morphed into pursuing a career in veterinary medicine and a secondary career as a firefighter/EMT. Young achieved both goals simultaneously and currently work full time as a mixed animal veterinarian and part time as a firefighter/EMT.

Young has an Australian Kelpie named Dilly who is her constant adventure companion. She is fluent in Spanish and love to travel. Young volunteered in a vet clinic in Peru during undergrad, studied abroad in Spain, and has visited 13 different countries. Recently, she has been spending her time playing soccer, ultimate frisbee, rock climbing, hiking, traveling, snowboarding, running half marathons, and white-water rafting. Young also enjoy reading, baking, training Dilly, and cleaning

After seeing team after team struggle with staff morale, hospital after hospital face financial challenges, and too many incredible but disheartened veterinary professionals leave the field, Dr. Ingrid Pyka concentrates on implementing much-needed change in our ever-evolving veterinary profession.

Earning her DVM from Colorado State University and furthering her business training at Purdue University, Ingrid has owned her own practice, worked as an associate and relief veterinarian, as well as held executive management roles in large corporate and non-profit hospitals. In 2011, she established IBP Consulting Services LCC to guide effective and profitable strategies. More recently, she founded VetMatch with a focus to reduce burnout and bring like-minded veterinary professionals back together - strong.

A two-time TEDx Speaker, multi-award winning and internationally recognized author, Dr. Pyka promotes high-level communication pathways and effective tools. She embraces the multitude of perspectives, and, now collaborates extensively with corporate and private veterinary leaders and teams for general, specialty/emergency and mobile practices and the quickly emerging field of telemedicine. Owners/investors, managers, individual veterinary professionals alike rave about her interactive approach to establish efficient, productive and happy teams. “Long-term success of the veterinary profession (or any industry for that matter) builds from individual physical, mental and financial wellness,” says Ingrid.

Ingrid remains active in veterinary academia (currently a facilitator in Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital well-being programming). Her passions also include supporting younger generations to a more empowered future. She is the immediate past-President of Imagination StoryBooks, a non-profit supporting global literacy with vision- and hearing-impaired as well as other learning challenged children.

When not actively traveling for trainings and “exploring the world,” Ingrid resides in Colorado with her two cats Bert (aka Berticus or Albert) and Harvey (aka - Harvard).

Contact ingrid.pyka@vetmatchPRO.com

My name is Dr. Jennifer Remnes and my undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Illinois at Champaign- Urbana. I double majored in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. Believe it or not, I was on a pre-med track throughout college and planned to apply to medical school. I quickly realized humans are gross, and I am way more passionate about animals. I was inducted into the Phi Zeta National Veterinary Honor Society in 2014. I graduated from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 following completion of my clinical year at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. The wonderful small town of Chambana gifted me with endless country nights at Kams I’ll never remember with friends I’ll never forget. The small Spice Island of Grenada will forever remain a second home for me. I was fortunate enough to experience an authentic Caribbean culture, obtain a PADI scuba certification and bring home the world’s most handsome souvenir—my heart dog and Papillon, Nutmeg. 

I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. Yes, Chicago, Chicago—not the burbs. I grew up
a few miles west of Wrigley Field, and I’m absolutely ecstatic that I witnessed a Cubs
World Series championship within my lifetime. Hey Chicago, what do you say? I live in the Windy City with my husband, Brad, and our Great Pyrenees rescue, Ophelia.

Hi! My name is Dr. Jessica Trice! I graduated from Waubonsee Community College with an associate degree in Biological Sciences. I then received a bachelor's degree at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in Animal Science and Agricultural
Consumer and Environmental Sciences. I graduated from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine.

My multifaceted career has led me to wear many various hats in veterinary medicine,
including Chief of Staff and Medical Director. I have also served as a member of the
Medical Advisory Board for the Midwest and led a Mentorship Program for veterinary
students and new DVM graduates. I proudly collaborated with Banfield Pet Hospital
and co-authored a children's book called "My Very, Very Busy Day." You may have also viewed one of my many television media segments featuring pet current events, health and preventative care.

My long time passion of incorporating integrative medicine with conventional veterinary medicine finally became a reality when I received my certification of Veterinary Acupuncture along with Herbal Medicine through the Chi Institute. Additionally, I also earned certification as a Veterinary Chiropractor in the specialized area of Applied Kinesiology through the Health Pioneer Institute. Together, we can take a whole-pet approach to your pet’s therapy. My collaborative techniques blend Western medicine with holistic approaches to treatment.

Dr Courtney A. Campbell is a board certified veterinary surgeon who specializes in orthopedic, soft tissue, and minimally invasive surgery. He practices at VetSurg in Ventura, California. He is also a host, author, producer, and content contributor for Vet Candy. Dr Campbell is the host of 3  popular podcasts, Anything Pawsible, The Dr Courtney Show, and Vet Mysteries with Dr. Courtney. Dr. Courtney has been dedicated to veterinary journalism for the past 10 years. He had the honor of co-hosting Pet Talk, a first of its kind talk show on Nat Geo Wild. He is a recurring veterinary health correspondent expert on programs such as WebMD, The Rachael Ray Show, CBS’s The Doctors, Home & Family, KTLA, and other daytime talk shows. He was awarded the Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award at the Global Pet Expo in 2020. He shares his life between veterinary surgery, veterinary journalism, and exploring the depth of the human-animal bond. He’s looking forward to new possibilities in 2023.

Dr Jan Bellows received his undergraduate training at the University of Florida and doctorate in veterinary medicine from Auburn University in 1975. After completing a small animal internship at The Animal Medical Center in New York City, he returned to south Florida, where he still practices companion animal medicine surgery and dentistry at All Pets Dental in Weston. He is certified by the Board of Veterinary Practitioners (canine and feline) since 1986 and American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) since 1990 He was president of the AVDC from 2012 to 2014 and is president of the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry. Dr Bellows’ veterinary dentistry accomplishments include authoring 5 dental texts including, The Practice of Veterinary Dentistry: A Team Effort (1999), Small Animal Dental Equipment, Materials, and Techniques (2005, second edition 2019), and Feline Dentistry (2010, second edition 2022). He is a frequent contributor to DVM Newsmagazine and a charter consultant of Veterinary Information Network’s dental board since 1993. He was also chosen as one of the dental experts to formulate the American Animal Hospital Association’s Small Animal Dental Guidelines published in 2005 and updated in 2013 and 2019 

Brian Hurley, DVM, National Medical Director at AmeriVet Veterinary Partners

Dr. Hurley serves as AmeriVet’s National Medical Director. He received his education from the University of Florida Veterinary School in 1994. Since then, he has run a successful veterinary clinic in Gardner, Massachusetts, where he became AmeriVet's very first veterinary partner. Impressed with the professionalism and impact AmeriVet had made on his business, he began consulting for AmeriVet Veterinary Partners in 2017 while still overseeing his practice, Gardner Animal Care Center. Then in 2018, Brian was appointed as AmeriVet's medical director.

Louis DelGiudice, DVM, DACVECC, National Emergency Specialty Director at AmeriVet Veterinary Partners

Dr. DelGiudice has been in private practice emergency medicine since 2002. Dr. Delguidice has worked at emergency/specialty hospitals in California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. Louis has been involved with the training of interns, and emergency/critical care residents. In addition, he has served on several committees for both the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and the Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society.

Prior to becoming dental board certified, Curt Coffman, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, National Specialty Director of Dentistry at Thrive Pet Healthcare, worked as an associate veterinarian and partner in a small animal veterinary practice. Realizing that he enjoyed the dentistry portion of his GP role, he decided to seek specialty board certification. Dr. Coffman began working at Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists (AVDS) as a relief veterinarian and ultimately completed his residency training at the hospital. Today, Dr. Coffman is an AVDS partner, and the hospital has grown to encompass four locations across Arizona! Within Thrive Pet Healthcare, Dr. Coffman has launched a Dental Growth Program, a year-long training initiative to build more competent and confident dental champions across Thrive’s network. The program includes extensive training, including 30 hours of continuing education, with an opportunity to participate in a hands-on training at the Dental Growth Symposium at the end of the program. With the demand for pet dental services growing, Dr. Coffman is particularly passionate about helping current and future veterinarians deepen their dental training – something students spend very little time on in veterinary school – to improve the industry. As a member of Thrive Pet Healthcare’s Specialty Directors Board, Dr. Coffman supports training and mentorship opportunities for new and prospective dentists, recruits top talent, and ensures team members can truly thrive.

Dr. Coffman is the author of multiple publications in the field of veterinary dentistry and enjoys lecturing and presenting dental education topics to doctors and veterinary technicians. He has been fortunate to be invited to lecture and teach across the country and around the world. This pairs well with his interests outside of the office including traveling, food/wine, and golf.

Dr. Tracy Paukette founded the first clinic dedicated to reactive pets and their families. She earned her doctorate at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998.

Since 2018 her focus has been on animal behavior and stress-free handling in the veterinary environment.

The Reactive Referral Center was eventually created to provide veterinary care for reactive patients. Many of these patients had previously been fired from other veterinary clinics or unable to seek veterinary care due to their reactivity.

In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Paukette enjoys speaking events and working with her team to provide education and hands on training sessions within individual clinics.

Jennifer has been in veterinary medicine for 23 years. She has worked in all areas from kennel, to reception, to technician and finally ended up in hospital operational management. She served as President and COO for 6 years at a Non-Profit rescue One Love Pet Orphanage. For the last 2.5 years, she has been at Zoetis as a Diagnostic Technical Specialist where she has recently been named the Co-Lead for the colleague resource group Proud and Welcome. Even with being a full time colleague of Zoetis she still incorporates her dedication to veterinary medicine by serving on local boards and volunteering at local hospitals, as well as, veterinary based “give back events”.

Dr. Venable is Board Certified as a medical oncologist from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Dr. Venable has always been surrounded by animals growing up on a farm in the Midwest. She obtained her veterinary degree from the University of Missouri and graduated cum laude. After veterinary school, Dr. Venable pursued further training as a small animal intern at the University of Georgia. She then completed her 3-year medical oncology residency at the world-renowned Colorado State Flint Animal Cancer Center. During her residency, she achieved a master’s degree and studied new cancer therapies and clinical trials. She continues to seek out clinical trials and cutting-edge therapies for her patients. Dr. Venable has authored numerous publications and has been a speaker on local and national levels. She is the founder of Pet Cancer Care Consulting an innovative teleconsulting service which consults with the family vet and pet owner together to give personalized responses and needed information to make an informed decision on treatments. She is also a VIN consultant and was an adjunct professor of veterinary oncology at Midwestern University. She is a member of many organizations and currently a director to the board of the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. Her oncology philosophy is one of a team-based approach with the family and referring veterinarians for compassionate, individualized care, and optimal quality of life for cancer patients and their families.

Dr. Venable enjoys the outdoors and being on the trail with her wonderful husband and their young daughters. Service opportunities are important to them as they volunteer at church and abroad as her husband works for a non-profit building schools in the developing world. Together they go on projects all over the globe with Be The Change Volunteers. 

Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, is the Manager, Veterinary Medicine and Professional Services and Senior Veterinary Toxicologist for Pet Poison Helpline/SafetyCall International. She has been with the organization since 2013 during which time she has had the opportunity to lead the team of veterinarians that span across the country and contribute to veterinary outreach and daily operations of Pet Poison Helpline. Dr. Schmid graduated from Kansas State University with a BS degree in Agriculture/Animal Science as well as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

While at Pet Poison Helpline, Dr. Schmid has managed over 25,000 cases involving animal poisoning and has presented on leadership and various toxins at both state, regional and national conferences as well as national webinars. Dr. Schmid has published scientific book chapters on the topics of thyroid supplements, diuretic drug intoxication, xylitol intoxication, general poisoning therapy, strychnine toxicosis, Compound 1080 toxicosis, anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning, cholecalciferol rodenticide poisoning, toxicities from human drugs – cardiovascular and poisonous plants: house plants and ornamentals. Dr. Schmid has also published peer-reviewed scientific articles on intermediate syndrome after suspected organophosphate poisoning in a dog, xylitol and mirabegron poisoning in dogs, as well as anesthesia induction in cats (Schmid et al. Suspected intermediate syndrome in a dog after organophosphate poisoning, JVECC. Schmid et al. Acute Hepatic Failure in a Dog after Xylitol Ingestion and Schmid et al. Mirabegron Toxicosis in Dogs: A Retrospective Study, both in Journal of Medical Toxicology. Schmid et al. Comparison of anesthetic induction in cats by use of isoflurane in an anesthetic chamber with a conventional vapor or liquid injection technique, JAVMA). Most recently, Dr. Schmid has joined the Editorial Advisory Board for DVM360.

Doug Aspros, DVM, joined the VPP team in 2015 to help develop the promise of co-ownership into a transformational reality for the profession. With his extensive experience as a clinician and practice owner and strong relationships in the wider veterinary community, he worked to improve many aspects of our partnerships and practices, focused on clinician development, leadership training, and building our veterinary community.

Aspros served as the 150th president of the AVMA, the largest member organization in veterinary medicine. He worked to make AVMA more engaging for the new generations entering the profession, responsive to their needs and reflective of those of a changing society. Among other roles in the profession, Aspros chaired the AVMA Council on Education, served as a trustee of the AVMA-PLIT, was appointed a member of the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and currently chairs the New York State Board for Veterinary Medicine.

A graduate of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Aspros and his wife split their time between the NY Metro area and Tucson, AZ, and are the proud pet parents of a Norfolk Terrier, an African Grey Parrot, and one awesome cat.

Erica Brandt (Mattox) CVT, VTS (ECC) is the Clinical Manager of Surgery and Anesthesia at WestVet in Boise Idaho. Erica passed her VTS exam in 2009 to become 1 of the first VTS (ECC) in Idaho. She served as the president of the Idaho Society of Veterinary Technicians and Assistants for 10 years. She is passionate about emergency medicine, anesthesia, surgery, feline medicine, and the profession of Veterinary Technology in general. When not helping pets, teaching, or mentoring her amazing team, she enjoys anything outdoors with her husband Curtis, and her 2 children Sean and Alexandra.

Ashley Bourgeois, DVM, DACVD, completed her bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University and graduated from the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. She then completed a small animal internship at Purdue University. Upon finishing her internship, she accepted a residency position with the Animal Dermatology Clinic’s Tustin, California, location in 2011. She became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 2014. Bourgeois moved to Portland, Oregon, in 2016 to help expand the company. She is an owner within the company and on the board of directors. She has a strong interest in autoimmune skin diseases, allergies, and ontology. 

In her leisure, Bourgeois enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and watching sports. She and her husband stay busy with their daughter, their son, and their rescue terrier mix. Bourgeois is passionate about educating veterinarians in dermatology and work-life management through her podcast and social media presence (@theDermVet). 

Dr. Smith graduated in 2008 from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed her clinical year at Cornell University. She has worked as a small animal associate veterinarian and relief emergency medicine veterinarian. Dr. Smith is also a speaker and writer who has contributed articles to well-known veterinary and medical websites such as KevinMD and Dr. Andy Roark and has spoken at vet schools and prominent conferences including AVMA and Western Veterinary Conference. She is the creator of The Vetitude, a website and social media presence that promotes improved client-veterinary relationships through empathy, healthy boundaries, and emotional intelligence.

Dr. Doug Mader is a triple board-certified veterinary specialist and has been a veterinarian for nearly four decades. He is an internationally recognized speaker, has written three best-selling medical textbooks, numerous book chapters and scientific publications. He has had long standing pet columns in the Long Beach Press Telegram, Reptiles magazine, and the Key West Citizen. Dr. Mader is the recipient of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Conservation Award, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Achievement Award, and the Fred L. Frye Lifetime Achievement Award for Veterinary Medicine. He is a seven-time winner of the North American Veterinary Community Speaker of the Year award and a four-time winner of the Western Veterinary Conference Educator of the Year award. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine in the United Kingdom. Dr. Mader is Human Animal Bond Certified and practiced in California for many years, but today lives and works in the Florida Keys.

DR. RENEE ALSARRAF has created four different veterinary oncology practices and led three veterinary radiation facilities. She has performed numerous veterinary clinical trials, co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles, and has lectured both locally and on the national level. She completed a medical oncology residency in New York City at The Animal Medical Center. She lives in Montclair, New Jersey, and is married to a veterinary ophthalmologist. They have one son, whom she cherishes, as well as Dusty, her beloved, bossy, six-year-old female boxer.

Dr. Meghan Vaught obtained her doctorate from St. George University in May 2013 after completing her clinical rotations at the University of Pennsylvania. In June 2014, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties hospital.  Dr. Vaught completed a three-year Emergency and Critical Care Residency at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 2017. Later that year, she earned board certification as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. 

Dr. Vaught’s clinical and research interests include but are not limited to respiratory disease/mechanical ventilation, sepsis, polytrauma and severe acid/base or electrolyte disorders. Dr Vaught’s priority is to provide the highest quality of care and medicine to each patient and their family. In her free time, Dr. Vaught enjoys spending time with her husband, their young daughter and their kitty. 

Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, is the Manager, Veterinary Medicine and Professional Services and Senior Veterinary Toxicologist for Pet Poison Helpline/SafetyCall International. She has been with the organization since 2013 during which time she has had the opportunity to lead the team of veterinarians that span across the country and contribute to veterinary outreach and daily operations of Pet Poison Helpline. Dr. Schmid graduated from Kansas State University with a BS degree in Agriculture/Animal Science as well as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

While at Pet Poison Helpline, Dr. Schmid has managed over 25,000 cases involving animal poisoning and has presented on leadership and various toxins at both state, regional and national conferences as well as national webinars. Dr. Schmid has published scientific book chapters on the topics of thyroid supplements, diuretic drug intoxication, xylitol intoxication, general poisoning therapy, strychnine toxicosis, Compound 1080 toxicosis, anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning, cholecalciferol rodenticide poisoning, toxicities from human drugs – cardiovascular and poisonous plants: house plants and ornamentals. Dr. Schmid has also published peer-reviewed scientific articles on intermediate syndrome after suspected organophosphate poisoning in a dog, xylitol and mirabegron poisoning in dogs, as well as anesthesia induction in cats (Schmid et al. Suspected intermediate syndrome in a dog after organophosphate poisoning, JVECC. Schmid et al. Acute Hepatic Failure in a Dog after Xylitol Ingestion and Schmid et al. Mirabegron Toxicosis in Dogs: A Retrospective Study, both in Journal of Medical Toxicology. Schmid et al. Comparison of anesthetic induction in cats by use of isoflurane in an anesthetic chamber with a conventional vapor or liquid injection technique, JAVMA). Most recently, Dr. Schmid has joined the Editorial Advisory Board for DVM360.

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

Dr. Neal Mauldin

National Specialty Director of Radiation Oncology at Thrive Pet Healthcare Medical Director of PetCure Oncology

A leader in the field of veterinary radiation oncology, Dr. Mauldin is one of the only triple-boarded veterinarians, certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and radiation oncology. He has treated more than 2,000 pets with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) since 2010. A veterinary radiation oncologist for more than three decades, Dr. Mauldin's professional career has included clinical leadership positions at VCA Canada Western in Calgary, Canada, the Animal Medical Center in New York City, and Louisiana State University, where he serves as an associate professor and section head, therapeutic radiology for eight years. As Medical Director of PetCure Oncology since 2015, a Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner, Dr. Mauldin provides remote treatment planning and telemedicine for facilities throughout PetCure's network of 8 radiation oncology care centers across the country.

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

Jill Clark, DVM, spent 17 years as an Assistant Director on feature films, commercials, and documentaries before changing direction and becoming a veterinarian in 1996.  She practiced in a multi-doctor group of small animal practices known for creating an exceptional client experience as an associate and then as Medical Director before joining a group of entrepreneurial veterinarians who grew their hospital group from 8 to 80 hospitals.  She was vice president of Operations for this group before joining VCA, managing 22 general and specialty practices with a continued focus on client experience as a competitive advantage.  In 2009, she joined VCA’s Executive Team and was responsible for VCA’s doctor recruiting team as well as creating VCA’s corporate university, WOOF-U, which served over 24,000 veterinary team members.  In 2016, Clark founded IGNITE Veterinary Solutions, a modern learning company focused on bringing high-end learning experiences to all veterinary teams across the globe.  She has a special passion for Client Service teams and elevating their role to its fullest in our profession. She is one of the founders and President of the newly formed, North American Association of Veterinary Receptionists.

Sarah Machell, DVM,  is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College and previously owned and operated a Small Animal Practice outside of Toronto, Canada for 18 years.  Since transitioning her practice in 2018 she has worked in a variety of industry spaces, with a special interest in technology and virtual care. Machell is passionate about maximizing the capacity of veterinary practices to engage with and effectively leverage technologies to improve practice efficiencies, patient outcomes and professional satisfaction.  One of Sarah's current roles is the Medical Director for PetPath, a digital tool that provides a critical bridge between inpatient and outpatient care.

Alex Ehrich, co-founder of PetPath and Liberty University graduate, is passionate about transforming lives and bringing innovative ideas to life.  Ehrich has spent the past four years in the tech space, bringing products to market that enhance organizational effectiveness and improve user experiences.  In 2022, Ehrich teamed up with a veterinary neurologist and several business partners to launch PetPath. This digital care companion guides pet owners through their pet's most stressful moments, while freeing up veterinary care teams to focus on their core passion: providing exceptional animal care.

Kathryn Primm, DVM, CVPM, has spoken with students, pet owners, and other veterinarians about effective communications, marketing and the roller coaster that is private practice. She has a social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and enjoys interaction with others about her passions, animals, and communication. She is owner, founder, manager, and chief veterinarian at Applebrook Animal Hospital, opened in 1998. She obtained her CVPM in 2019 and is the world’s first Fear Free-certified professional. She has been on the Fear Free Advisory Panel since 2016 and hosts 2 popular podcasts, Nine Lives with Dr Kat and Dr Kat Gone to the Dogs on Pet Life Radio. She recently joined the Editorial Advisory Board for MJH Life Sciences™/dvm360®. Dr Primm is a Registry of Approved Continuing Education-approved national conference speaker, appearing at well-known venues like Fetch dvm360Ⓡ, VMX, Fear Free Symposia and New England Vet Conference.   Dr Primm also wrote a book for pet lovers, Tennessee Tails: Pets and Their People, published in 2013. She is a blogger and media personality, granting interviews to Woman’s Day, Prevention, Health, and Forbes magazines.  

Art Markman, PhD is the Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology, Human Dimensions of Organizations, and Marketing and Vice Provost of Continuing and Professional Education and New Education Ventures at the University of Texas at Austin. He has written over 150 papers on topics including reasoning, decision making, and motivation. Art brings insights from cognitive science to a broader audience through his blogs at Psychology Today and Fast Company and his radio show/podcast Two Guys on Your Head. He is the author of several books including Smart Thinking, Smart Change, Brain Briefs, and Bring Your Brain to Work.

Dr. Jess is the Chief Veterinary Officer of Anipanion, a leading veterinary telehealth platform. After working in general practice, urgent care, and house call settings across northern California, she started working with veterinary startups in 2016. She now advises veterinary startups in addition to providing telehealth consulting to private practices. When she’s not working, Dr. Jess is painting, woodworking, hiking with her dog, reading with her cats, or hanging out with her husband and fellow veterinary entrepreneur, Dr. Rob Trimble.

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

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

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

Anderson is the Vice Chairman of Texas Biomedical Research Institute, one of the leading infectious disease focused research campuses in the nation. Dr. Anderson resides in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife Kim and two dogs, Gunny and Tillie. The Andersons attend Christ Episcopal Church.

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

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

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

Dave Lasus is the CEO of Heart + Paw. He is a dedicated, collaborative, and entrepreneurial executive with extensive experience strategically and aggressively scaling business operations, footprint and financial results for rapidly growing companies.

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

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

Alex Sigmund, DVM, DACVO, “The Vet Eye Guy” on Instagram, and founder of Insight Veterinary Eye Care, LLC that provides continuing education and teleconsultation services. He enjoys combining his passion for ophthalmology by engaging owners and veterinarians via social media, continuing education events, and one-on-ones. Sigmund wants every veterinarian to be comfortable with the basics of ophthalmology to improve patient care and client understanding. He has plans to start his own private practice in the near future that will focus on the client/patient experience in addition to high quality medicine. 

Sigmund enjoys working with exotic animals at local zoos and aquariums to ensure health and comfort for animals ranging from puffins to elephants. He completed veterinary school at the University of Georgia and a residency in comparative veterinary ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee. His publications have ranged from feline stem cell therapy to cataract surgery in raptors. Sigmund has a wonderful partner, an “old lady dog” named Asima, and a fluffy Ragdoll cat named King Louie that help occupy his time outside of the clinic.

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

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

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

Valerie Marcano, DVM, PhD, is a poultry veterinarian in the Carolinas as well as the co-founder and CEO of Pawsibilities Vet Med, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that aims to increase the recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups to the veterinary profession. She is the chair of the first ever Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) and a member of the AVMA/ AAVMC Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission. Marcano received a Bachelor of Science at Cornell University, and her DVM and PhD degrees from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017 and 2020, respectively. 

Seth Andrews, PhD, is a process engineer with Precision BioSciences. He completed a post-doc at the University of Georgia after earning his PhD in Biological Engineering from the University of Georgia in 2019. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering from Cornell University. Over the course of his graduate work, Seth has mentored numerous high school and undergraduate students. He also served as the president of the University of Georgia’s Engineering Graduate Club.

Patricia White received her BS degree from the University of Georgia in 1977 and her DVM from Tuskegee University's School of Veterinary Medicine in 1983. After graduation, she completed a 13-month small animal internship at Michigan State University then returned to Tuskegee's School of Veterinary Medicine where she served on the small animal medicine faculty for 3 years. She completed a three-year dermatology residency training and Master's degree program at The Ohio State University in 1990, then was awarded a two-year Merck, Inc. research fellowship, which allowed her to continue clinical fatty acid research initiated during her residency.  

White is a Board Certified Diplomate of the American College of  Veterinary Dermatology. She has authored numerous articles for both veterinary journals and lay publications, and enjoys lecturing nationally and internationally. In her spare time, Dr. White enjoys traveling, scuba diving, gardening, working with clay, and clay work designs.

White can be reached at shantiwhitecoaching@gmail.com

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

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

Shadi J. Ireifej DVM DACVS graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (2001, Magna cum laude). He then attended Cornell University where he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (2006, DVM). 

After completing his studies at Cornell, Ireifej participated in an intense one-year small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at Angel Animal Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts (2007), followed by 2 rigorous one-year small animal surgical internships at Long Island Veterinary Specialists (LIVS) in Plainview, New York (2009). 

Ireifej achieved his board certification in small animal surgery by completing a three-year small animal surgery residency at LIVS (2012), and subsequently became a Diplomat for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (DACVS). After operating for almost 10 years at LIVS, Dr. Ireifej elected for warmer weather, and transplanted to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2016.
 
In Las Vegas, Ireifej became a staff surgeon at Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center (LVVSC). In 2017, he began flying across the United States, performing surgeries at a number of emergency and specialty hospitals in need of surgical assistance. This was followed by a Chief of Surgery position at United Veterinary Specialty and Emergency in Silicon Valley, California. Managing their 3 locations, Ireifej and his team successfully cared for dogs and cats in the Campbell, Mountain View, and San Jose areas.
 
In 2018, Ireifej joined TrueCare for Pets in the Los Angeles, California area as Chief of Specialty, where he was instrumental in morphing the after-hours and weekend emergency hospital to a successful 24-7 emergency and multi-specialty veterinary hospital. While the size of the hospital tripled, Ireifej instituted hospital-wide protocols, managed the surgery, internal medicine, and oncology departments, and became a leading force on social media platforms. 

In 2020, Ireifej changed gears in his already illustrious career, finding a novel and state-of-the-art means of reaching concerned pet owners and their ill pets worldwide, VetTriage. Dr. Ireifej currently serves as their Chief Medical Officer. He has been published in scientific and medical journals and enjoys lecturing to a variety of audiences. He is known for being a positive force and energetic force, both professionally and personally.

Jackie Dueñas, DVM is an associate veterinarian at the dynamic Sunset Animal Clinic in Miami, Florida. She attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St. Kitts. She then returned to the Sunshine State to attend the University of Florida to complete her clinical studies. Following graduation, there was no doubt that Dueñas would return home to practice in Miami.

Her love for her work shows in everything she does. Dr. Dueñas was featured on the discovery+ series Pop My Pet, where she performed life saving surgeries to pets in need. She also likes to share her life as a veterinarian on her social media channels, garnishing her a large following and a platform to bridge the gap between veterinarians and pet parents. Dr. Dueñas is most passionate about her role as a mom and finding balance between motherhood and vet med. She and her husband are the proud parents of two little boys. 

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

After an earlier career as a carpenter and builder, Jon Geller, DVM, DABVP emeritusr graduated from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995.. After graduating, he practiced as a house call veterinarian for several years, and then embarked on a 20 year career as an emergency clinician in Colorado. During that time, Geller and his partners started up 4 emergency clinics. He became Board Certified as Veterinary Practitioner in Canine and Feline Medicine in 2010.

After seeing a homeless man and his pit bull on a bridge in Nashville in 2015, he founded The Street Dog Coalition, a non-profit charity, which provides free medical care, and other related services, to pets of owners at risk of, or experiencing homelessness in over 50 US cities.

In March of 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, The Street Dog Coalition went international, and Geller worked with several Romanian veterinarians to set up a vet clinic in a blue tent at the Romania-Ukraine border, where teams of veterinarians, vet students and technicians, known as the ‘Blue Vet Group’, have been providing free veterinary care to pets of Ukraine refugees. Since setting up the tent clinic, over 800 pets have been cared for and provided European Union pet passports to allow their owners to continue their travels westward. Currently, The Street Dog Coalition is partnering with other non-profits to bring the first mobile veterinary clinic into Ukraine to provide care for injured pets, as well as providing preventive care and sterilization services, in a long-term project with a goal of caring for 10,000 pets and horses.

Geller was named Veterinarian of the Year by the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association for 2019. In the spirit of unbridled learning, he is currently enrolled as an MPH candidate at the University of Minnesota. He received the ASPCA Henry Bergh Humane Award for 2022, and also is an Instructor in the Colorado School of Public Health teaching a class on ‘Homelessness in America.’

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

Charles E. Short, DVM, PhD, DACVA, DECVAA established the programs in veterinary anesthesiology at the University of Missouri and then at Cornell University during his 64 year career as a veterinarian. He received his DVM from Auburn University in 1958. Dr. Short is an international speaker and meeting organizer on anesthesia and pain management and has provided over 700 invited lectures. In addition, he completed over 350 publications including coeditor of the textbook, "Animal Pain". He, with 6 colleagues, founded the ACVAA as a specialty in veterinary anesthesia and analgesia. He was a cofounder of the IVAPM. His passion included sharing his expertise with others.

Jennifer Johnson, VMD, CVPP has been a small animal veterinarian for 28 years, working as an associate, then owning and operating a busy 6-doctor practice in the Philadelphia suburbs. Pain management education is her passion, and Dr. Johnson has spent the last 15 years teaching colleagues about multimodal pain management options.  Her special interest is the use of photobiomodulation (laser therapy) and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as non-pharma approaches to pain management.  In 2012, she achieved Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) qualification through the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM).  Now relocated to Arizona and a full-time educator, Dr. Johnson speaks nationally on pain management and digital thermal imaging, stressing the importance of pain identification in general practice.  She has published numerous articles and blogs, most recently authoring the chapter on pain management for Laser Therapy in Veterinary Medicine (Wiley 2017).  Dr. Johnson is the Immediate Past-President of the IVAPM. She consults for multiple veterinary medical advisory boards and is also a board member of eagleYcondor, providing children’s education and veterinary care to rural communities in Ecuador.

This episode is sponsored by Nationwide

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