We hope you enjoy learning about the 12 veterinarians\u2019 career paths and contributions to their respective fields: anesthesiology, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, neurology, nutrition, oncology, ophthalmology, surgery, and theriogenology.<\/p>\n
We found their dedication to excellence to be steadfast and inspiring. We hope you do, too.<\/p>\n
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![\"Hopkins](\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/Profiles-1-4.jpg\")
From left, Drs. Amber Hopkins, Kathy Wright, John Lewis and Russell Muse<\/p><\/div>\n
ANESTHESIOLOGY<\/span><\/h3>\nAmber Hopkins, DVM, cVMA, CCRT, CVPP, DACVAA<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Vice president of medical operations and national director of anesthesia and analgesia at Thrive Pet Healthcare<\/em><\/li>\n
- Owner of Summit Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (Castle Rock, Colorado)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. Amber Hopkins saw a dead deer in the back of a pickup when she was 6 and begged her parents to pull over and help it. \u201cSince that moment, I knew I wanted to help animals,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Dr. Hopkins worked as a veterinary technician during her undergraduate (Texas A&M University) and post-graduate (Ross University) years, including stints in anesthesia, general practice and emergency medicine.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnesthesia<\/a> was the perfect fit for me, in part because I love physiology, critical care and the opportunity to work closely with almost every discipline in veterinary medicine,\u201d she says. \u201cI also had the opportunity to work with a few clinicians in pre-veterinary school who had an interest in pain management from both Eastern and Western medical philosophies. I became enthralled with the pathophysiology of pain and the management of it.\u201d<\/p>\nBecause she worked in so many areas before veterinary school, \u201cIt was a no-brainer to specialize,\u201d Dr. Hopkins says. \u201cWhen I find something interesting, I go down the rabbit hole to learn as much about it as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d rather be amazing at a couple of specialties than OK at everything. As much as we want to believe we can know everything about everything all the time, not a lot of us can achieve or maintain that.\u201d<\/p>\n
After earning her DVM, she completed an internship at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in Northern California and a residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love so many things about my career in anesthesia,\u201d she says. \u201cI love putting clients at ease. I also love problem-solving. I have a tremendous drive for learning, self-reflection and being the best I can at the things I do.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a veterinary specialist is a lot of work, and it\u2019s not easy. You\u2019ll have to sacrifice some parts of your life and time to be successful, so it should be your passion. If it\u2019s something you love, it will still be fun, and if it\u2019s your passion, it will all be worth it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpecialists are hard to come by and needed everywhere, so you can\u2019t go wrong in any field you choose.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
CARDIOLOGY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nKathy Wright, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology and SAIM)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Cardiologist at MedVet Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cRemember the \u2018What I want to be when I grow up\u2019 assignments in kindergarten and elementary school? Mine always listed veterinary medicine as a career,\u201d says Dr. Kathy Wright.<\/p>\n
To that end, she started her professional journey with an undergraduate degree in physiology from Michigan State University, where she also earned her DVM. She completed an internship at North Carolina State University, followed by a residency in internal medicine at the University of Tennessee and a second residency in cardiology at Ohio State University. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in cardiology and small animal internal medicine.<\/p>\n
What drew her to specialize in cardiology<\/a>?<\/p>\n\u201cThe summer after freshman year in veterinary school, I volunteered with a pediatric cardiologist,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was an amazing experience that introduced me to the wonders of the cardiovascular system. I wasn\u2019t seriously considering specialization until one of my surgery professors encouraged me to do so. I am so grateful that he did.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy main considerations were the career satisfaction that specialization would bring me and the many avenues I could explore within cardiology. I enjoy the ever-changing challenge that veterinary specialty medicine presents. There is always an opportunity to grow and advance in one or many areas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clinical research is one.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something I feared I wouldn\u2019t be able to pursue in a busy private practice,\u201d she says, \u201cbut I\u2019m pleased to say that hasn\u2019t been the case. We have several projects in progress. We are investigating several aspects of arrhythmias and catheter ablation of certain tachyarrhythmias, including their genetic basis. In addition, we have a project to characterize canine cardiac tumors further. Plus, we\u2019re engaged in several multicenter trials. One is examining a potential drug therapy for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Wright enjoys the long-term relationships she forms with patients and their families. \u201cIt\u2019s a double-edged sword,\u201d she admits, \u201cas losing patients is painful, but lifelong friendships can be built with their owners.\u201d<\/p>\n
She says one of the veterinary profession\u2019s greatest challenges is the shortage of specialists.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s particularly painful in emergency care,\u201d Dr. Wright notes. \u201cSpecialists depend so much on the support of our emergency teams for the hands-on care of patients after hours. These past four years have acutely demonstrated how vital referral partners, emergency veterinarians and staff, and specialists are to the optimal care of our patients.\u201d<\/p>\n
To cope, she falls back on the advice she gives to younger veterinarians<\/p>\n
considering specialization: \u201cIn tough times, never forget why you originally fell in love with veterinary medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n
She adds: \u201cI always remember that God is in control, and every pressure has a purpose. I can choose to be crushed by the pressure or grow from it.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
DENTISTRY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nJohn R. Lewis, VMD, DAVDC, FF-OMFS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Co-owner of Veterinary Dentistry Specialists (Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania)<\/em><\/li>\n
- Founder and instructor at Silo Academy Education Center<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
An errant ball hit Dr. John Lewis in the face when he was 12, breaking two incisors. Endodontic and restorative therapies helped for over a decade, but he needed extractions and implants after he graduated from veterinary school.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dentists were great about educating me throughout the process,\u201d he recalls, \u201cand it was then that I realized how much more veterinarians could be doing for our patients in dentistry.\u201d<\/p>\n
A seed was planted.<\/p>\n
As a fourth-year veterinary student at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Lewis thought each rotation was worth consideration, so he entered general practice to see what rose above the others. During his five years there, he performed many dental procedures, and the seed began to germinate.<\/p>\n
After an in-practice fellowship, he applied to Penn Vet\u2019s dentistry and oral surgery<\/a> residency program.<\/p>\n\u201cThe plan was to return to practice, but I enjoyed teaching at the university and spent 11 years at Penn Vet,\u201d he says. \u201cI loved my time in academia, but I needed to step up as a breadwinner.\u201d (He and his wife have six sons.)<\/p>\n
After working as an associate veterinarian for five years, he partnered with a colleague in 2019 to start a dentistry and oral surgery practice and a continuing education center. \u201cIt\u2019s been a wonderful experience to build something from the ground up, allowing for concierge-level patient care and small-batch learning opportunities for veterinarians and vet nurses,\u201d Dr. Lewis says.<\/p>\n
He is helping to advance veterinary dentistry through research, particularly canine mandibular reconstruction. \u201cI\u2019ve utilized a new type of bone graft material to span large gaps of missing mandibles, held in place with titanium miniplates and locking screws,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Today, his career is in full bloom.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecoming a specialist was the right move for me to become the best possible veterinarian in a focused area of expertise. It\u2019s allowed for the development of skills and knowledge at a deeper level than I was able to as a GP.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a specialist allows you to spend more time with individual clients and patients. It also allows for better client education regarding outcomes and expectations and, ultimately, more satisfied clients and patients.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
DERMATOLOGY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nRussell \u201cRusty\u201d Muse, DVM, DACVD, MANZCVS\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Medical director and clinical dermatologist at Animal Dermatology Group (Tustin and Long Beach, California)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As a youngster, Dr. Rusty Muse knew he wanted to be a veterinarian when he saw Rex Harrison as Dr. Doolittle on the big screen. \u201cWhile I\u2019ve never learned to talk with the animals, working with dogs and cats is my happy place,\u201d he says. \u201cMy early life and undergraduate studies focused me on becoming a veterinarian.\u201d<\/p>\n
He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Louisiana and his DVM from Louisiana State University. Then, he worked in private practice in Northern Virginia, completing what he calls the equivalent of a four-year internship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in general practice but found that I wanted to learn more about dermatology<\/a>,\u201d he says. \u201cI wanted the knowledge and expertise to take a patient from initial symptoms to resolution.<\/p>\n\u201cThe chronic nature of dermatological skin disease means you develop relationships with your clients and patients. I loved that, and it was a natural fit. Specialization was the best way forward for my personal growth and career goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
He acknowledges that the cost of a veterinary medical education can be a barrier to entry for would-be specialists. \u201cIf delayed earnings for a few years can be worked into the equation, the long-term rewards \u2014 both financial and personal \u2014 are well worth it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Muse landed a residency at Animal Dermatology Clinic in Garden Grove, California \u2014 a \u201cfew-and-far-between position in those days,\u201d he says \u2014 and achieved diplomate status from the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 1996.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like being on the cutting edge of my field, enabling me to provide the best clinical management for clients and patients,\u201d he says. \u201cThere is nothing more personally satisfying than to take frustrated clients and educate them about a pet\u2019s problems and then come up with a game plan together on how to manage it.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom a personal standpoint, becoming a veterinary dermatologist enriched my life far beyond what I could have envisioned. I\u2019ve had opportunities to visit places, work with people and influence aspiring veterinarians, which I would never have had if not for my career. I will be forever grateful that I chose this path.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Muse\u2019s peers hold him in high regard, as evidenced by his serving as president of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology, receiving the ACVD\u2019s Award of Excellence and being named secretary of the Ninth World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology.<\/p>\n
What advice would he give a younger veterinarian about specializing?<\/p>\n
\u201cDo it,\u201d he urges. \u201cFind out what you like and are good at and pursue that goal until you achieve it. Your career will be a long one. You have to love what you do. If it\u2019s general medicine, then do that. But if you are interested in specialization, educate yourself about the process. If you decide that\u2019s what you want, don\u2019t let anything get in your way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n![\"veterinary](\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/Profiles-5-8.jpg\")
From left, Drs. Elisa Mazzaferro, Leah Cohn, Fred Wininger and Martha Cline<\/p><\/div>\n
EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nElisa Mazzaferro, MS, DVM, Ph.D., DACVECC\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Staff criticalist at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (Stamford, Connecticut)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Like many veterinarians, Elisa Mazzaferro always loved animals. As a toddler, she would pick up ants, kiss them and gently put them down. \u201cThat love for animals and my passion for science led me along what I thought was the best path for me,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Why emergency and critical care medicine<\/a>?<\/p>\n\u201cThat was my first rotation during my clinical years at Michigan State University,\u201d Dr. Mazzaferro says. \u201cUntil then, I\u2019d anticipated becoming a veterinary endocrinologist. Once I was immersed in my ECC rotation, I realized this was where I needed to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fast pace, not knowing what will come through the door next, seeing critically ill animals get well with intense interventions \u2014 it was and still is fascinating to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Mazzaferro completed an internship at the Veterinary Institute of Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care in Wisconsin and a dual residency and doctorate in ECC at Colorado State University. She became board-certified in emergency and critical care in 2002.<\/p>\n
After serving as the director of emergency services at a multispecialty practice in Colorado for 10 years, she joined Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Connecticut in 2012. She also is an adjunct associate clinical professor of emergency and critical care at Cornell University in New York.<\/p>\n
Dr. Mazzaferro has earned international recognition as a leader in her field. In addition to her fast-paced clinical practice, she lectures worldwide and has written four manuals and numerous chapters on emergency and critical care medicine. She is a past president of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society.<\/p>\n
How does she do it all?<\/p>\n
\u201cI live by the motto \u2018Life is a constant triage,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cAnd I could not have become successful without the support of very collegial and respectful teams. Without an excellent team to support me, I could not do what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
She truly loves what she does.<\/p>\n
\u201cI attribute my success to being happy in my career,\u201d she says. \u201cBecause I\u2019m happy, I have remained enthusiastic and passionate about being a veterinary criticalist and lecturer. If I could start my career over, I may not do anything differently. I have been so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
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INTERNAL MEDICINE<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nLeah A. Cohn, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM (SAIM)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Former interim dean of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and a professor of small animal internal medicine (Columbia, Missouri)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cVeterinary medicine is truly the only thing I wanted to spend my life doing,\u201d Dr. Leah Cohn says. \u201cMuch to my surprise, I fell in love with teaching veterinary students during my internship. It was as if a light bulb went off, and I knew that was what I wanted to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Specialization was the means to that end.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time, my mentors told me that to become an academic faculty member, I needed to specialize,\u201d she recalls. \u201cSmall animal internal medicine<\/a> offered the greatest breadth of any specialty out there, and all the internists I worked with were amazing veterinarians, educators and people. I wanted to be like them when I grew up.\u201d<\/p>\nAfter earning her DVM from the University of Tennessee and completing an internship and residency in small animal medicine and surgery at North Carolina State University, along with a doctorate in veterinary microbiology and immunology, Dr. Cohn was awarded diplomate status in small animal internal medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.<\/p>\n
In July 2023, she was named interim dean of the University of Missouri veterinary college, a position she relinquished this past summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a dean is pretty much a full-time job,\u201d Dr. Cohn says. \u201cAlthough I continued teaching and editing a textbook, I didn\u2019t have time to continue my research significantly. I look forward to starting some new projects when I return to my real job as a professor of veterinary medicine and surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teaching, research and hands-on clinical service are an ideal mix for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe interactions with other people, especially people who share my passion for understanding more about physiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach and treatment opportunities for dogs and cats, are what I enjoy most about being a specialist,\u201d she says. \u201cI also enjoy working with pet owners willing to go the extra mile to provide the best possible care for their animals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I could start over, I would definitely become a veterinarian, I would definitely become an internist, and I would definitely become an academic faculty member who is lucky enough to get to teach smart, compassionate, motivated students.\u201d<\/p>\n
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NEUROLOGY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nFred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon at The Animal Neurology Center (St. Louis)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. Fred Wininger was always fascinated by animals and how each species evolved complex abilities, like visual processing or sensitive smell, to gain an edge.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy interest in neurology<\/a> stemmed from that fascination,\u201d he says. \u201cI watched practitioners wave their hands at a dog\u2019s face, flip their feet over, watch them walk and suddenly know what was wrong with them. It was like magic. No fancy lab tests or instruments, just their eyes, hands and minds. This was the puzzle work I was looking for. And the secret to this Sherlock Holmes-like aptitude is an understanding of functional neuroanatomy.\u201d<\/p>\nDr. Wininger acquired that understanding as he completed the rigorous training that specialization requires. For him, it was a VMD from the University of Pennsylvania, a rotating small animal internship at the University of Georgia, a residency in neurology and a master\u2019s degree in neuroscience at Washington State University, and diplomate designation from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, with certification in neurosurgery.<\/p>\n
Today, he is the founder of The Animal Neurology Center, which leverages opportunities to teach students and help address the specialist shortage.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost residencies require the trainee to choose either the didactic approach of a university or the case volume of a private practice,\u201d he says. \u201cOur residency affords both.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the initiative is his proudest career achievement, practicing his profession fulfills him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intrigue of neurology is what drew me in,\u201d he says. \u201cThe ability to be a diagnostician, an epileptologist, a surgeon, an inventor was too great to pass up. And it\u2019s given me a sense of belonging, to be part of a bigger whole and bring others into that circle.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a specialist, I have two inherent members of my team: the client and their primary care veterinarian. I draw tremendous satisfaction knowing that my referral base can call me \u2018their guy\u2019 and reassure pet owners, \u2018Don\u2019t worry, he\u2019s going to take care of you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The residency program facilitates Dr. Wininger\u2019s research.<\/p>\n
\u201cI own a company that creates customized surgical tools for safe and effective therapy of individual animals, using 3D printing,\u201d he notes. \u201cI\u2019m also intrigued by MRI, which we can use to look not just at the brain but also at how it works. And we\u2019re investigating the role of artificial intelligence in optimizing MR images for the best diagnostic results.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe virtue of veterinary medicine is that it\u2019s a professional degree without vocational limits. While the training is very linear, the degree offers opportunities to interface with entrepreneurs and innovators in science and engineering, business and legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n
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NUTRITION<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nMartha G. Cline, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Senior manager of North American veterinary technical communications at Nestl\u00e9 Purina PetCare<\/em><\/li>\n
- Part-time clinical consultant at Red Bank Veterinary Hospitals (New Jersey)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. Martha Cline\u2019s desire to work with animals hasn\u2019t wavered since she declared her intention at a kindergarten career day. After completing an undergraduate degree in biology, she earned her DVM at the University of Tennessee.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring my first year of veterinary school, I became a Purina student ambassador, which gave me my first exposure to veterinary nutrition<\/a>,\u201d she says.<\/p>\nThat summer, she worked on a research project at UT\u2019s Veterinary Nutrition Service and in a clinic. Joining the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition as a student provided her with networking opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew early in my veterinary education that I wanted to pursue a specialty,\u201d she says. \u201cI took an interest in nutrition because I enjoyed the subject matter and connected to the topic on a personal level. I also recognized that the nutrition specialty college was a small group of brilliant minds with a big influence.\u201d<\/p>\n
She soon became one of them, completing her residency in small animal clinical nutrition at Tennessee and becoming a nutrition-certified diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in July 2013.<\/p>\n
Specialization has afforded tremendous career opportunities and visibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing one of a few practicing clinical nutritionists, especially in private practice, I had many requests to speak, write or be interviewed, enabling me to get my name out there and develop my confidence and skills,\u201d she says. \u201cShifting into an industry position has also been a unique opportunity that put me on a steep learning curve.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have the opportunity to lecture, write, edit, network with key opinion leaders, engage in research and work cross-functionally with others in the industry, like marketing, sales, and research and development. And by stepping into private practice part time, I continue to engage with clients, patients and colleagues while keeping up my clinical skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n![\"veterinary](\"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/Profiles-9-12.jpg\")
From left, Drs. Philip Bergman, Christian Nettune, David Dycus and Bruce Christensen<\/p><\/div>\n
ONCOLOGY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nPhilip J. Bergman, DVM, MS, Ph.D., DACVIM (Oncology)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Global director of clinical studies at Mars Veterinary Health<\/em><\/li>\n
- Veterinary oncologist at Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center (Bedford Hills, New York)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. Philip Bergman\u2019s favorite quote, revealed on his Veterinary Information Network bio, is, \u201cWe learn from our tumors every day.\u201d While unattributed, the line arguably could be the motto of any doctor or scientist in the oncology field. For Dr. Bergman, it\u2019s the essence of what he does, and it understates his impact on pets diagnosed with cancer and the people who love them.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bergman knew from childhood that he wanted to be a veterinarian. During summers, he\u2019d visit small-town Plain, Wisconsin, where \u201cAbout half are Bergmans, and they\u2019re almost all dairy farmers,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought when I got to vet school that I was going to become a dairy veterinarian. But then I realized it was not for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
What informed that realization?<\/p>\n
\u201cI had some amazing mentors,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd then I had a grandfather with metastatic prostate cancer. That\u2019s when I said, \u2018Well, maybe I should think about pivoting to cancer.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
After earning his DVM from Colorado State University in 1990 and completing an internship at Kansas State University, Dr. Bergman returned to CSU for a three-year medical oncology residency and a master of science degree. He was board-certified in oncology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1994. He then went on to complete a Ph.D. fellowship in human cancer biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.<\/p>\n
Today, he is the global director of clinical studies at Mars Veterinary Health, a network of nearly 3,000 veterinary clinics. Before that, he was the director of clinical studies for VCA Animal Hospitals. Notably, he served as the principal veterinary investigator of Oncept, a fully licensed canine melanoma vaccine. He also teaches at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and keeps a hand in patient care as a veterinary oncologist at Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center, a post he\u2019s held since 2007.<\/p>\n
While Dr. Bergman\u2019s path to specialization was long and challenging, \u201cI never thought twice about not pursuing oncology<\/a> as a specialty,\u201d he says. \u201cI think I\u2019ve been successful because I have a strong work ethic and sense of caring, no matter how hard it was.\u201d<\/p>\nHe says his best professional habits are to \u201cwork hard and read scientifically for one hour a day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reward is what drives so many veterinarians to the profession: \u201cI enjoy helping people and their beloved pets,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bergman urges would-be veterinarians to \u201cFollow your heart.\u201d As for what he would do differently if he restarted his career, he says, \u201cNothing. I wouldn\u2019t change a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
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OPHTHALMOLOGY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nChristian R. Nettune, DVM, DACVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Founder of Blink Veterinary Eye Specialists (Dallas)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. Chris Nettune didn\u2019t enter veterinary school until his late 20s, after a career in finance. But coming from a family of human eye specialists \u2014 his father and brother are ophthalmologists \u2014 perhaps it was inevitable that he\u2019d see his way into the medical field.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Vice president of medical operations and national director of anesthesia and analgesia at Thrive Pet Healthcare<\/em><\/li>\n
- Owner of Summit Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (Castle Rock, Colorado)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. Amber Hopkins saw a dead deer in the back of a pickup when she was 6 and begged her parents to pull over and help it. \u201cSince that moment, I knew I wanted to help animals,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Dr. Hopkins worked as a veterinary technician during her undergraduate (Texas A&M University) and post-graduate (Ross University) years, including stints in anesthesia, general practice and emergency medicine.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnesthesia<\/a> was the perfect fit for me, in part because I love physiology, critical care and the opportunity to work closely with almost every discipline in veterinary medicine,\u201d she says. \u201cI also had the opportunity to work with a few clinicians in pre-veterinary school who had an interest in pain management from both Eastern and Western medical philosophies. I became enthralled with the pathophysiology of pain and the management of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because she worked in so many areas before veterinary school, \u201cIt was a no-brainer to specialize,\u201d Dr. Hopkins says. \u201cWhen I find something interesting, I go down the rabbit hole to learn as much about it as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d rather be amazing at a couple of specialties than OK at everything. As much as we want to believe we can know everything about everything all the time, not a lot of us can achieve or maintain that.\u201d<\/p>\n
After earning her DVM, she completed an internship at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in Northern California and a residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love so many things about my career in anesthesia,\u201d she says. \u201cI love putting clients at ease. I also love problem-solving. I have a tremendous drive for learning, self-reflection and being the best I can at the things I do.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a veterinary specialist is a lot of work, and it\u2019s not easy. You\u2019ll have to sacrifice some parts of your life and time to be successful, so it should be your passion. If it\u2019s something you love, it will still be fun, and if it\u2019s your passion, it will all be worth it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpecialists are hard to come by and needed everywhere, so you can\u2019t go wrong in any field you choose.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
CARDIOLOGY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Kathy Wright, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology and SAIM)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Cardiologist at MedVet Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cRemember the \u2018What I want to be when I grow up\u2019 assignments in kindergarten and elementary school? Mine always listed veterinary medicine as a career,\u201d says Dr. Kathy Wright.<\/p>\n
To that end, she started her professional journey with an undergraduate degree in physiology from Michigan State University, where she also earned her DVM. She completed an internship at North Carolina State University, followed by a residency in internal medicine at the University of Tennessee and a second residency in cardiology at Ohio State University. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in cardiology and small animal internal medicine.<\/p>\n
What drew her to specialize in cardiology<\/a>?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe summer after freshman year in veterinary school, I volunteered with a pediatric cardiologist,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was an amazing experience that introduced me to the wonders of the cardiovascular system. I wasn\u2019t seriously considering specialization until one of my surgery professors encouraged me to do so. I am so grateful that he did.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy main considerations were the career satisfaction that specialization would bring me and the many avenues I could explore within cardiology. I enjoy the ever-changing challenge that veterinary specialty medicine presents. There is always an opportunity to grow and advance in one or many areas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clinical research is one.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something I feared I wouldn\u2019t be able to pursue in a busy private practice,\u201d she says, \u201cbut I\u2019m pleased to say that hasn\u2019t been the case. We have several projects in progress. We are investigating several aspects of arrhythmias and catheter ablation of certain tachyarrhythmias, including their genetic basis. In addition, we have a project to characterize canine cardiac tumors further. Plus, we\u2019re engaged in several multicenter trials. One is examining a potential drug therapy for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Wright enjoys the long-term relationships she forms with patients and their families. \u201cIt\u2019s a double-edged sword,\u201d she admits, \u201cas losing patients is painful, but lifelong friendships can be built with their owners.\u201d<\/p>\n
She says one of the veterinary profession\u2019s greatest challenges is the shortage of specialists.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s particularly painful in emergency care,\u201d Dr. Wright notes. \u201cSpecialists depend so much on the support of our emergency teams for the hands-on care of patients after hours. These past four years have acutely demonstrated how vital referral partners, emergency veterinarians and staff, and specialists are to the optimal care of our patients.\u201d<\/p>\n
To cope, she falls back on the advice she gives to younger veterinarians<\/p>\n
considering specialization: \u201cIn tough times, never forget why you originally fell in love with veterinary medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n
She adds: \u201cI always remember that God is in control, and every pressure has a purpose. I can choose to be crushed by the pressure or grow from it.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
DENTISTRY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
John R. Lewis, VMD, DAVDC, FF-OMFS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Co-owner of Veterinary Dentistry Specialists (Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania)<\/em><\/li>\n
- Founder and instructor at Silo Academy Education Center<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
An errant ball hit Dr. John Lewis in the face when he was 12, breaking two incisors. Endodontic and restorative therapies helped for over a decade, but he needed extractions and implants after he graduated from veterinary school.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dentists were great about educating me throughout the process,\u201d he recalls, \u201cand it was then that I realized how much more veterinarians could be doing for our patients in dentistry.\u201d<\/p>\n
A seed was planted.<\/p>\n
As a fourth-year veterinary student at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Lewis thought each rotation was worth consideration, so he entered general practice to see what rose above the others. During his five years there, he performed many dental procedures, and the seed began to germinate.<\/p>\n
After an in-practice fellowship, he applied to Penn Vet\u2019s dentistry and oral surgery<\/a> residency program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plan was to return to practice, but I enjoyed teaching at the university and spent 11 years at Penn Vet,\u201d he says. \u201cI loved my time in academia, but I needed to step up as a breadwinner.\u201d (He and his wife have six sons.)<\/p>\n
After working as an associate veterinarian for five years, he partnered with a colleague in 2019 to start a dentistry and oral surgery practice and a continuing education center. \u201cIt\u2019s been a wonderful experience to build something from the ground up, allowing for concierge-level patient care and small-batch learning opportunities for veterinarians and vet nurses,\u201d Dr. Lewis says.<\/p>\n
He is helping to advance veterinary dentistry through research, particularly canine mandibular reconstruction. \u201cI\u2019ve utilized a new type of bone graft material to span large gaps of missing mandibles, held in place with titanium miniplates and locking screws,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Today, his career is in full bloom.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecoming a specialist was the right move for me to become the best possible veterinarian in a focused area of expertise. It\u2019s allowed for the development of skills and knowledge at a deeper level than I was able to as a GP.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a specialist allows you to spend more time with individual clients and patients. It also allows for better client education regarding outcomes and expectations and, ultimately, more satisfied clients and patients.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
DERMATOLOGY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Russell \u201cRusty\u201d Muse, DVM, DACVD, MANZCVS\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Medical director and clinical dermatologist at Animal Dermatology Group (Tustin and Long Beach, California)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As a youngster, Dr. Rusty Muse knew he wanted to be a veterinarian when he saw Rex Harrison as Dr. Doolittle on the big screen. \u201cWhile I\u2019ve never learned to talk with the animals, working with dogs and cats is my happy place,\u201d he says. \u201cMy early life and undergraduate studies focused me on becoming a veterinarian.\u201d<\/p>\n
He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Louisiana and his DVM from Louisiana State University. Then, he worked in private practice in Northern Virginia, completing what he calls the equivalent of a four-year internship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in general practice but found that I wanted to learn more about dermatology<\/a>,\u201d he says. \u201cI wanted the knowledge and expertise to take a patient from initial symptoms to resolution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe chronic nature of dermatological skin disease means you develop relationships with your clients and patients. I loved that, and it was a natural fit. Specialization was the best way forward for my personal growth and career goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
He acknowledges that the cost of a veterinary medical education can be a barrier to entry for would-be specialists. \u201cIf delayed earnings for a few years can be worked into the equation, the long-term rewards \u2014 both financial and personal \u2014 are well worth it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Muse landed a residency at Animal Dermatology Clinic in Garden Grove, California \u2014 a \u201cfew-and-far-between position in those days,\u201d he says \u2014 and achieved diplomate status from the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 1996.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like being on the cutting edge of my field, enabling me to provide the best clinical management for clients and patients,\u201d he says. \u201cThere is nothing more personally satisfying than to take frustrated clients and educate them about a pet\u2019s problems and then come up with a game plan together on how to manage it.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom a personal standpoint, becoming a veterinary dermatologist enriched my life far beyond what I could have envisioned. I\u2019ve had opportunities to visit places, work with people and influence aspiring veterinarians, which I would never have had if not for my career. I will be forever grateful that I chose this path.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Muse\u2019s peers hold him in high regard, as evidenced by his serving as president of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology, receiving the ACVD\u2019s Award of Excellence and being named secretary of the Ninth World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology.<\/p>\n
What advice would he give a younger veterinarian about specializing?<\/p>\n
\u201cDo it,\u201d he urges. \u201cFind out what you like and are good at and pursue that goal until you achieve it. Your career will be a long one. You have to love what you do. If it\u2019s general medicine, then do that. But if you are interested in specialization, educate yourself about the process. If you decide that\u2019s what you want, don\u2019t let anything get in your way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nFrom left, Drs. Elisa Mazzaferro, Leah Cohn, Fred Wininger and Martha Cline<\/p><\/div>\n
EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Elisa Mazzaferro, MS, DVM, Ph.D., DACVECC\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Staff criticalist at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (Stamford, Connecticut)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Like many veterinarians, Elisa Mazzaferro always loved animals. As a toddler, she would pick up ants, kiss them and gently put them down. \u201cThat love for animals and my passion for science led me along what I thought was the best path for me,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Why emergency and critical care medicine<\/a>?<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was my first rotation during my clinical years at Michigan State University,\u201d Dr. Mazzaferro says. \u201cUntil then, I\u2019d anticipated becoming a veterinary endocrinologist. Once I was immersed in my ECC rotation, I realized this was where I needed to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fast pace, not knowing what will come through the door next, seeing critically ill animals get well with intense interventions \u2014 it was and still is fascinating to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Mazzaferro completed an internship at the Veterinary Institute of Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care in Wisconsin and a dual residency and doctorate in ECC at Colorado State University. She became board-certified in emergency and critical care in 2002.<\/p>\n
After serving as the director of emergency services at a multispecialty practice in Colorado for 10 years, she joined Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Connecticut in 2012. She also is an adjunct associate clinical professor of emergency and critical care at Cornell University in New York.<\/p>\n
Dr. Mazzaferro has earned international recognition as a leader in her field. In addition to her fast-paced clinical practice, she lectures worldwide and has written four manuals and numerous chapters on emergency and critical care medicine. She is a past president of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society.<\/p>\n
How does she do it all?<\/p>\n
\u201cI live by the motto \u2018Life is a constant triage,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cAnd I could not have become successful without the support of very collegial and respectful teams. Without an excellent team to support me, I could not do what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
She truly loves what she does.<\/p>\n
\u201cI attribute my success to being happy in my career,\u201d she says. \u201cBecause I\u2019m happy, I have remained enthusiastic and passionate about being a veterinary criticalist and lecturer. If I could start my career over, I may not do anything differently. I have been so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
INTERNAL MEDICINE<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Leah A. Cohn, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM (SAIM)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Former interim dean of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and a professor of small animal internal medicine (Columbia, Missouri)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cVeterinary medicine is truly the only thing I wanted to spend my life doing,\u201d Dr. Leah Cohn says. \u201cMuch to my surprise, I fell in love with teaching veterinary students during my internship. It was as if a light bulb went off, and I knew that was what I wanted to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Specialization was the means to that end.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time, my mentors told me that to become an academic faculty member, I needed to specialize,\u201d she recalls. \u201cSmall animal internal medicine<\/a> offered the greatest breadth of any specialty out there, and all the internists I worked with were amazing veterinarians, educators and people. I wanted to be like them when I grew up.\u201d<\/p>\n
After earning her DVM from the University of Tennessee and completing an internship and residency in small animal medicine and surgery at North Carolina State University, along with a doctorate in veterinary microbiology and immunology, Dr. Cohn was awarded diplomate status in small animal internal medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.<\/p>\n
In July 2023, she was named interim dean of the University of Missouri veterinary college, a position she relinquished this past summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a dean is pretty much a full-time job,\u201d Dr. Cohn says. \u201cAlthough I continued teaching and editing a textbook, I didn\u2019t have time to continue my research significantly. I look forward to starting some new projects when I return to my real job as a professor of veterinary medicine and surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teaching, research and hands-on clinical service are an ideal mix for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe interactions with other people, especially people who share my passion for understanding more about physiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach and treatment opportunities for dogs and cats, are what I enjoy most about being a specialist,\u201d she says. \u201cI also enjoy working with pet owners willing to go the extra mile to provide the best possible care for their animals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I could start over, I would definitely become a veterinarian, I would definitely become an internist, and I would definitely become an academic faculty member who is lucky enough to get to teach smart, compassionate, motivated students.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
NEUROLOGY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon at The Animal Neurology Center (St. Louis)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. Fred Wininger was always fascinated by animals and how each species evolved complex abilities, like visual processing or sensitive smell, to gain an edge.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy interest in neurology<\/a> stemmed from that fascination,\u201d he says. \u201cI watched practitioners wave their hands at a dog\u2019s face, flip their feet over, watch them walk and suddenly know what was wrong with them. It was like magic. No fancy lab tests or instruments, just their eyes, hands and minds. This was the puzzle work I was looking for. And the secret to this Sherlock Holmes-like aptitude is an understanding of functional neuroanatomy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Wininger acquired that understanding as he completed the rigorous training that specialization requires. For him, it was a VMD from the University of Pennsylvania, a rotating small animal internship at the University of Georgia, a residency in neurology and a master\u2019s degree in neuroscience at Washington State University, and diplomate designation from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, with certification in neurosurgery.<\/p>\n
Today, he is the founder of The Animal Neurology Center, which leverages opportunities to teach students and help address the specialist shortage.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost residencies require the trainee to choose either the didactic approach of a university or the case volume of a private practice,\u201d he says. \u201cOur residency affords both.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the initiative is his proudest career achievement, practicing his profession fulfills him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intrigue of neurology is what drew me in,\u201d he says. \u201cThe ability to be a diagnostician, an epileptologist, a surgeon, an inventor was too great to pass up. And it\u2019s given me a sense of belonging, to be part of a bigger whole and bring others into that circle.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a specialist, I have two inherent members of my team: the client and their primary care veterinarian. I draw tremendous satisfaction knowing that my referral base can call me \u2018their guy\u2019 and reassure pet owners, \u2018Don\u2019t worry, he\u2019s going to take care of you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The residency program facilitates Dr. Wininger\u2019s research.<\/p>\n
\u201cI own a company that creates customized surgical tools for safe and effective therapy of individual animals, using 3D printing,\u201d he notes. \u201cI\u2019m also intrigued by MRI, which we can use to look not just at the brain but also at how it works. And we\u2019re investigating the role of artificial intelligence in optimizing MR images for the best diagnostic results.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe virtue of veterinary medicine is that it\u2019s a professional degree without vocational limits. While the training is very linear, the degree offers opportunities to interface with entrepreneurs and innovators in science and engineering, business and legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
NUTRITION<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Martha G. Cline, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Senior manager of North American veterinary technical communications at Nestl\u00e9 Purina PetCare<\/em><\/li>\n
- Part-time clinical consultant at Red Bank Veterinary Hospitals (New Jersey)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. Martha Cline\u2019s desire to work with animals hasn\u2019t wavered since she declared her intention at a kindergarten career day. After completing an undergraduate degree in biology, she earned her DVM at the University of Tennessee.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring my first year of veterinary school, I became a Purina student ambassador, which gave me my first exposure to veterinary nutrition<\/a>,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
That summer, she worked on a research project at UT\u2019s Veterinary Nutrition Service and in a clinic. Joining the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition as a student provided her with networking opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew early in my veterinary education that I wanted to pursue a specialty,\u201d she says. \u201cI took an interest in nutrition because I enjoyed the subject matter and connected to the topic on a personal level. I also recognized that the nutrition specialty college was a small group of brilliant minds with a big influence.\u201d<\/p>\n
She soon became one of them, completing her residency in small animal clinical nutrition at Tennessee and becoming a nutrition-certified diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in July 2013.<\/p>\n
Specialization has afforded tremendous career opportunities and visibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing one of a few practicing clinical nutritionists, especially in private practice, I had many requests to speak, write or be interviewed, enabling me to get my name out there and develop my confidence and skills,\u201d she says. \u201cShifting into an industry position has also been a unique opportunity that put me on a steep learning curve.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have the opportunity to lecture, write, edit, network with key opinion leaders, engage in research and work cross-functionally with others in the industry, like marketing, sales, and research and development. And by stepping into private practice part time, I continue to engage with clients, patients and colleagues while keeping up my clinical skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nFrom left, Drs. Philip Bergman, Christian Nettune, David Dycus and Bruce Christensen<\/p><\/div>\n
ONCOLOGY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Philip J. Bergman, DVM, MS, Ph.D., DACVIM (Oncology)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Global director of clinical studies at Mars Veterinary Health<\/em><\/li>\n
- Veterinary oncologist at Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center (Bedford Hills, New York)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. Philip Bergman\u2019s favorite quote, revealed on his Veterinary Information Network bio, is, \u201cWe learn from our tumors every day.\u201d While unattributed, the line arguably could be the motto of any doctor or scientist in the oncology field. For Dr. Bergman, it\u2019s the essence of what he does, and it understates his impact on pets diagnosed with cancer and the people who love them.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bergman knew from childhood that he wanted to be a veterinarian. During summers, he\u2019d visit small-town Plain, Wisconsin, where \u201cAbout half are Bergmans, and they\u2019re almost all dairy farmers,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought when I got to vet school that I was going to become a dairy veterinarian. But then I realized it was not for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
What informed that realization?<\/p>\n
\u201cI had some amazing mentors,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd then I had a grandfather with metastatic prostate cancer. That\u2019s when I said, \u2018Well, maybe I should think about pivoting to cancer.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
After earning his DVM from Colorado State University in 1990 and completing an internship at Kansas State University, Dr. Bergman returned to CSU for a three-year medical oncology residency and a master of science degree. He was board-certified in oncology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1994. He then went on to complete a Ph.D. fellowship in human cancer biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.<\/p>\n
Today, he is the global director of clinical studies at Mars Veterinary Health, a network of nearly 3,000 veterinary clinics. Before that, he was the director of clinical studies for VCA Animal Hospitals. Notably, he served as the principal veterinary investigator of Oncept, a fully licensed canine melanoma vaccine. He also teaches at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and keeps a hand in patient care as a veterinary oncologist at Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center, a post he\u2019s held since 2007.<\/p>\n
While Dr. Bergman\u2019s path to specialization was long and challenging, \u201cI never thought twice about not pursuing oncology<\/a> as a specialty,\u201d he says. \u201cI think I\u2019ve been successful because I have a strong work ethic and sense of caring, no matter how hard it was.\u201d<\/p>\n
He says his best professional habits are to \u201cwork hard and read scientifically for one hour a day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reward is what drives so many veterinarians to the profession: \u201cI enjoy helping people and their beloved pets,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bergman urges would-be veterinarians to \u201cFollow your heart.\u201d As for what he would do differently if he restarted his career, he says, \u201cNothing. I wouldn\u2019t change a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
OPHTHALMOLOGY<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Christian R. Nettune, DVM, DACVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Founder of Blink Veterinary Eye Specialists (Dallas)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. Chris Nettune didn\u2019t enter veterinary school until his late 20s, after a career in finance. But coming from a family of human eye specialists \u2014 his father and brother are ophthalmologists \u2014 perhaps it was inevitable that he\u2019d see his way into the medical field.<\/p>\n
- Veterinary oncologist at Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center (Bedford Hills, New York)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Part-time clinical consultant at Red Bank Veterinary Hospitals (New Jersey)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Senior manager of North American veterinary technical communications at Nestl\u00e9 Purina PetCare<\/em><\/li>\n
- Veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon at The Animal Neurology Center (St. Louis)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Former interim dean of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and a professor of small animal internal medicine (Columbia, Missouri)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Staff criticalist at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (Stamford, Connecticut)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Founder and instructor at Silo Academy Education Center<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Co-owner of Veterinary Dentistry Specialists (Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania)<\/em><\/li>\n
- Owner of Summit Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (Castle Rock, Colorado)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n