New faculty join the Fetch dvm360® family

We are excited to see welcome fresh faces along with veteran presenters at our new conference location.

Christopher G. Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ

Byers is a board-certi-fied veterinary emergency/critical care and small animal internal medicine specialist. He also is a certified veterinary journalist and is based in Omaha, Nebraska. Byers received his bachelor of science degree in animal sciences from Colorado State University and his DVM from Cornell University. Byers works as a teleconsultant in emergency/critical care and small animal internal medicine for VetCT. He is coeditor of the text-book Feline Emergency & Critical Care Medicine and has published chapters and articles in numerous textbooks and peer-reviewed medical journals. Byers publishes a blog at CriticalCareDVM.com to educate pet owners and promote the triad of care.

Craig Clifford, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)

Clifford is a graduate of Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and received a master’s degree in animal science/virology from the University of Delaware. After completing an internship and a medical oncology residency at the University of Pennsylvania, he became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in oncology in 2003. He is a medical oncologist and director of clinical studies at BluePearl Malvern in Pennsylvania. He is active in clinical research within a referral setting and serves as an advisory board member with industry and nonprofit founda-tions. He is a renowned oncologist who has authored or coauthored more than 70 papers and book chapters.

Darci Palmer, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)

Palmer has been a credentialed veterinary technician for 22 years and a veterinary tech-nician specialist in anesthesia and analgesia for 15 years. She works at Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama providing didactic lectures and clinical anesthesia case management for small animals. She is the executive secretary for the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia & Analgesia and serves as an administrator for the Facebook group Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds.

Dave Gibb

Gibb has more than 25 years of experience in the health care and business industry, including starting and managing his own businesses in the private sector and public arena. Gibb has authored and created several small business educa-tional programs that have been successfully marketed throughout North America. He has had articles published addressing specific areas of concerns to small businesses.

Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, MS, DABVP (Feline Practice)

Colleran is an author, keynote and veterinary conference speaker, consultant, and feline specialist certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. She has successfully created and managed 2 feline medicine veterinary practices. Her earlier practice was the first feline-only practice in Portland, Oregon, and her current practice, the Chico Hospital for Cats in California, was started in 1998. Colleran chairs the Cat Friendly Practice for the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). She has served on the AAFP board for several years, including as presi-dent in 2011 and treasurer from 2007 to 2009. She also serves on the American Veterinary Medical Association welfare committee and as a volunteer for other veterinary organizations. She received her DVM degree from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. She received her MS degree in animals and public policy also at Tufts with the thesis, “Politics, Economics and Biology of the California Mountain Lion.” Colleran is a frequent contributor to several peer-reviewed publications.

Gerelyn A. Henry, DVM, MBA, DACFE

Henry is president and CEO of YW August Companies, a health care orga-nization dedicated to advancing the One Medicine-One Health paradigm and accelerating global health for all world citizens. She is a veterinary medical executive who advocates for the develop-ment of young doctors as leaders in veterinary medicine, and for inclusion and diversity throughout the profession. As a translational medicine scientist-veterinarian, Henry has contributed to the development and safety assess-ment of medical devices, phar-maceutical products, and medical procedures. Henry is the former deputy director of the Tulane Xavier Center of Excellence in Women’s Health, and immuno-histochemistry section chief of Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Services. She is a former associate professor of pathology and has deep experience in toxicologic pathology with a focus on developmental, reproductive, and onco-logic pathology.

Imeldo Laurel, LVT, VTS (Dentistry)

Laurel was born and raised in southern California. He has worked in the veterinary field since 2004 and became a licensed veterinary technician in 2013. He has years of experience in general practice, emergency/critical care, and specialty dentistry. He obtained his designation of VTS in Dentistry in December 2020. He is excited to share his love of veteri-nary dentistry through teaching and mentoring.

Janice Huntingford, DVM, DACVSMR, CVA, CVPP, CCRT, CAVCA

Huntingford is a 1984 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, in Canada. She is certified in chiropractic, acupuncture, rehabilitation, and pain management. She is owner and medical director of the Essex Animal Hospital, Canine Rehab and Fitness in Ontario. In 2015, she became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and in 2018 she received her master’s degree in traditional Chinese veterinary medicine. Huntingford is a consultant for the VIN Rehab/Sports Medicine/Chronic Pain Board and lectures nationally and internationally on a variety of topics including rehabilitation, pain management and geriatric medicine. She has coauthored several textbook chapters on reha-bilitation and published several peer-reviewed manuscripts.

Jessica Taylor, DVM

Taylor is a 2006 graduate of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She worked in small animal general practice for 13 years, which lead her to her current role as a regional medical director with THRIVE Affordable Vet Care, part of the Pathway Vet Alliance. Throughout her career as an associate veterinarian, area medical director, and now a regional and national veterinary leader, Taylor has focused on building successful veterinary teams while emphasizing well-being in the hospital. She has collaborated with industry professionals to create educational content, coaching and leadership resources, and client education information. Taylor is Fear Free certified and continues to pursue training in workplace well-being and support.

Julia E. Miller, DVM, DACVD

Miller is an upstate New York native. She tried her hand at vocal perfor-mance (opera) as an undergraduate at Indiana University but decided that her first true love, animals, offered a more stable and satisfying career. She graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012 and then completed a large animal rotating internship at the University of Georgia. Mixed animal general practice kept her busy for the next few years while she also found herself falling in love with dermatology. She completed a dermatology residency at Cornell and is now an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the university.

Kathleen Cooney, DVM, CHPV, CCFP

Cooney has been practicing advanced end-of-life care since 2006. She is well-known for her work in companion animal euthanasia and has authored 2 books on the subject. Cooney has collaborated in euthanasia training for professional organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC), and the Fear Free program. She is founder and director of education for the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy. The core certificate program is Cooney’s design and is based around the 14 Essential Components of Companion Animal Euthanasia. She is a strong advocate for best practices in all aspects of end-of-life care and speaks nationally and internationally on topics. Cooney is also chief medical officer for Caring Pathways Inc and past president of the IAAHPC.

Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC) (SAIM)

During his 20 years in the field, Yagi refined his role as a veterinary technician by promoting compassionate and progressive care for patients and their families. He obtained his VTS certification in emergency and critical care as well as small animal internal medicine and achieved his master’s degree in veterinary science. He is the chief veterinary nursing officer for Veterinary Emergency Group, and program director for the RECOVER Initiative. He received the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America’s Veterinary Technician of the Year award in 2016, the California Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary Technician of the Year award in 2016, and the California Registered Veterinary Technician Association of the Year award in 2017. Yagi coedited the Manual of Veterinary Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking. He publishes articles and presents internationally on topics in emergency and critical care, transfusion medicine, and the veterinary nursing profession.

Leilani Alvarez, DVM, DACVSMR

Alvarez is head of integrative and rehabilitative medicine at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York, New York. She is a board-certified diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and is certified in veterinary acupuncture, canine rehabilitation, and advanced Chinese herbal medicine. Alvarez graduated with high honors from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and completed her internship and residency. She has been practicing rehabilitation and integrative veterinary medicine for nearly 15 years and leads one of the few tradi-tional residency programs in canine sports medicine/rehabilitation. In addition to running a busy integrative and rehabilitation practice, Alvarez is a frequent lecturer at national and international confer-ences, teaches interns and residents, and has published peer review articles and book chapters. Her research interests include geriatric medicine, regenerative therapies, and joint supplements.

Michael Q. Bailey, DVM, DACVR, AAAS/AVMA Fellow

Bailey is originally from New Jersey, where he completed his undergraduate degree at Rutgers University. He obtained his DVM from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine and then completed a small-animal rotating internship and radiology residency at Michigan State University. Before joining IDEXX Telemedicine Consultants, he served on the faculty at Tuskegee University and Michigan State University and was tenured faculty at The Ohio State University. He spent 5 years supplying imaging services in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, referral and emergency facility and was lead radiologist for a large national hospital practice. He is also an active member of the board of directors of the American Veterinary Medical Association,.

Michael James, MHA, PHR, LVT, RVT

James is a veterinary nurse, educator, and hospital leader. He has experience in private practice and academia, and he enjoys general practice, emergency, and specialty environments. James is passionate about communication within veterinary settings and holds a master’s degree in health administration as well as certification as a profes-sional in human resources.

Sonja Olson, DVM

Olson graduated from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine with a focus on exotic animal and conservation medicine. Her professional path led to more than 25 years of practicing clinical small animal and exotic emergency medicine in both private and corporate practice environments in Virginia and in Florida. Myriad opportunities to teach, mentor, and lead arose during these years and were deeply fulfilling for her. Additionally, she developed an increased awareness of the far-reaching need for veterinary well-being skills. This fostered Olson’s passion to better understand and then support the holistic health of veterinary caregivers. Olson’s full-time role is as a health and well-being educator for the BluePearl Health & Well-being Team, working alongside licensed veterinary social workers. She is certified as a mental health first-aid trainer and as a compassion fatigue educator through The Figley Institute.

Stuart A. Walton, BVSc (Hons), BSCAGr (Hons), MANZCVS (SAIM)

Walton is a clinical assistant professor in small animal internal medicine at the University of Florida. He is a clinician of 20 years and received his veteri-nary degree at the University of Queensland in Australia. He has completed 2 internal medicine residencies at Veterinary Specialist Services and Louisiana State University. Walton resides in Gainesville, Florida, where he trains students, interns, and residents by promoting common-sense veterinary medicine. He has a broad range of interests, including infec-tious and inflammatory diseases; immune mediated disease; respiratory, urinary, gastrointestinal, and hepatic diseases; and extracorporeal blood purification techniques. He is the coeditor of the textbook Clinical Medicine of the Dog and Cat4th Edition, which is soon to be released, and has authored multiple articles and book chapters.