AAEP adds 2 new members to its Board of Directors

Last month, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) expanded its Board of Directors by welcoming Jackie Christakos, DVM, and P. O. Eric Mueller, DVM, PhD, DACVS during its 67th Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Both Christakos and Mueller's 3-year term on the board will expire in 2024.

Upon receiving her DVM in 2012 from Colorado State University, Christakos took a position at the Littleton Equine Medical Center to complete her internship. After completing her internship, she joined the center’s staff as an assistant veterinarian before becoming an associate in 2015. Her primary focuses are lameness/sports medicine and musculoskeletal ultrasound, but Christakos also enjoys wellness care/general practice, emergency fieldwork, and acupuncture, according to an organizational release.¹

In addition, Christakos has served on the board of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association for 4 years including as association president in 2021. She is an FEI veterinary for eventing and FEI permitted treating veterinarian. Christakos also serves on the Member Engagement and Professional Conduct and Ethics committees at the AAEP.¹

Mueller has received his DVM from Michigan State University in 1989 and completed an internship, his surgical residency, and PhD at the University of Georgia. In 1996, he served as an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Georgia before becoming a professor in 2006. His clinical interests focus on lameness, equine gastrointestinal disease, orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.²

Apart from authoring over 60 scientific publications and 20 veterinary book chapters, Mueller speaks at various conferences both in the United States and abroad and owns and practices at his clinic, Southeast Veterinary Consultants, LLC.²

Mueller previously served on the boards of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association and the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition. He also held multiple positions within the American College of Veterinary Surgeons such as chairman and president. He currently serves as the AVMA Council of Education site visitor for the accreditation of Colleges in Veterinary Medicine.²

References

1. Sports Medicine Associate from Colorado Joins AAEP Board of Directors. News release. The American Association of Equine Practitioners. December 7, 2022. Accessed January 7, 2022. https://aaep.org/news/sports-medicine-associate-colorado-joins-aaep-board-directors
2. University of Georgia Professor Emeritus Joins AAEP Board of Directors. News release. The American Association of Equine Practitioners. December 7, 2022. Accessed January 7, 2022. https://aaep.org/news/university-georgia-professor-emeritus-joins-aaep-board-directors