Speaker Bio's

Dr. Angel Abuelo is a Distinguished Professor at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his veterinary and PhD degrees from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and is board-certified in dairy practice. His area of work is bovine immunobiology.
 
Dr. Bailey Arruda is a research veterinary medical officer at the Agricultural Research Service (the research branch) of the USDA. Her research focuses on influenza A viruses, including, highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in livestock species.

Dr. Amy Baker is a research veterinary medical officer at the USDA-ARS National Animal Disease Center, conducting research on influenza A virus (IAV) in swine and the role of swine in interspecies transmission, vaccines, and intervention strategies. Baker recently joined the ARS response to the 2024 outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in cattle.


Alysha Biharz, RVT is an equine surgery veterinary technician at Iowa State University. She graduated from the technician program at Kirkwood Community College in 2019 and has been in Ames ever since!

Dr. Trent Bliss serves as an Equine Professional Services Veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.  After attending Oklahoma State University for his undergraduate degree, he then obtained his DVM from the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  After an internship at Idaho Equine Hospital, he then worked in private practice in northern Texas for one year before completing a Large Animal Surgical Residency at Texas A&M University.  Dr. Bliss then joined his home practice, Interstate Equine in Goldsby, Oklahoma in 2011.  He worked there until joining Boehringer Ingelheim as a professional services veterinarian in January 2020.  Trent is the proud father of Ryan, Hesston and Britt.  Given the opportunity, you’ll find Trent watching his kids’ extracurricular activities or at his family’s ranch in Lookout, OK, helping with the cattle operation, farming, hunting and soaking up the fresh air and starry skies.

Walter L. Brown, Jr. BS. RVTg VTS (ECC) is an Emergency and Critical Care specialty veterinary technologist, social media public figure, influencer, comedian, and founder of SKINNI GO LIVE LLC. Walter combines his background in veterinary medicine with comedy to bring education and relief to veterinary professionals worldwide. He has millions of views and continues to create viral content. While devoting his time to SKINNI GO LIVE LLC, Walter is a veterinary technologist program liaison for United Veterinary Care. He cultivates relationships with veterinary technology programs and provides students with opportunities and resources to pave the way for future career interests. In addition, Walter has plans to develop supplemental learning courses and seminars for veterinary technology students, pet parents, and kids of all ages. His ultimate dream is to create veterinary assistant programs for inner-city schools and charter schools in low-income areas. Walter received his veterinary technology degree from Fort Valley State University and was academically trained in emergency and critical care at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to social media influencing and education, he is an avid arachnid hobbyist. He enjoys the life stages and development of tarantulas and has a collection of over ten species.
 
Dr. Millie Cates graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017 and then started with the Animal Rescue League.  She began as a staff veterinarian and is currently the Director of Veterinary Medical Services. She oversees the Medical, Behavior, Foster, and Community Outreach Departments. She has been the attending veterinarian in animal welfare cases including the Gingerich puppy mill rescue.
 
Dr. Sara Chaplin has joined the team at ISU as a post-doctoral research associate in July of 2024.  Prior to this she developed a passion for working to help cow-calf producers fine-tune their programs to develop sustainable herds that would serve them and future generations while working as a cow-calf veterinarian in the mountains of Idaho.
 
Ms. Robyn Dobernecker has 30+ years of animal welfare experience from being an Animal Care Tech, Customer Service Associate, Vet Tech and as an Animal Services Officer position. She joined the ARL in 2012 as an Animal Care Supervisor and Community Adoption Coordinator. She joined Des Moines Animal Services in 2017 to be an Animal Services Officer and later became the Animal Welfare and Intervention Coordinator. She is now the Animal Welfare and Response Team Manager overseeing many of the ARL’s rescues. She serves as the Chair on IAVOAD (Iowa Disaster Humane Resource Council).

Dr. Gabi Doughan is a post-doctoral research associate with the Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC) at Iowa State University. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Central College in 2017 and her DVM from ISU in 2021. Her current position is a mix of educating veterinary students, professional practice, and taking coursework to obtain her Masters and PhD. Dr. Doughan’s research is focused on water line biology and biosecurity including identifying the composition of the biofilm and water line disinfection methods in swine barns.

Dr. Mohamad El-Gazzar is an Associate Professor at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. El-Gazzar's research is focused on development and validation of molecular diagnostic and molecular epidemiology assays for poultry disease. Accurate diagnosis and proper understanding of epidemiology are essential to successful poultry disease prevention, and control and eradication.

Dr. Amy Fertig is a graduate of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  Dr. Fertig is the Program Director of the DMACC Veterinary Technology Program.  She is Chairperson of the IVMA Committee on Veterinary technician Educational Activities. She served as a member of the IVMA Legislative Taskforce that helped propose HF 670 and draft the new rules in Ch. 811 for Veterinary Auxiliary Personnel.

Dr. Roman Ganta is a Curators’ Distinguished Professor and the McKee Endowed Professor at University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.  He has an internationally well-recognized research program on rickettsial diseases caused by Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia species.  His basic and translational research comprises developing vaccines against several important rickettsial diseases, including bovine anaplasmosis.

Dr. Jenna Gibbs, MPH, PHD is the Director of Operations for the Ag Health and Safety Alliance(TM), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on training the next generation of agriculture. Over the past decade, Dr. Gibbs has published more than 30 academic articles on agricultural safety, zoonotic disease prevention, respiratory protection, pesticide safety, agriculture and mental health, and personal protective equipment (PPE). She has 12 years of experience in pesticide safety and training individuals on the proper use of PPE for emergency scenarios. She has extensive international experience training on the proper use of PPE to prevent pesticide exposures and zoonotic disease in West Africa and South America. In 2016, she received a CDC Certificate of Excellence for her PPE training efforts in Sierra Leone and Guinea during the Ebola outbreak and in 2023-24 she completed two HPAI preparedness trainings in Nigeria for poultry producers.
 
Dr. Bailey Goos is a 2014 graduate of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Goos spent 2 years in a private mixed animal practice in Eastern Iowa before joining the USDA. She spent 3 years with the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) before joining APHIS Veterinary Services as a Veterinary Medical Officer in April of 2019. She currently lives in Tama, Iowa with her partner, daughter, two bonus kids, two dogs, two cats, and 10 chickens. She enjoys traveling, gardening, baking and DIY projects.
 
Dr. Andrew Hennenfent, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, is the State Public Health Veterinarian for Iowa, overseeing zoonotic disease prevention and response.  Dr. Hennenfent completed an applied epidemiology fellowship in infectious disease at the District of Columbia Department of Health, then oversaw the city’s emerging and zoonotic disease program and served as the city’s public health veterinarian. After joining the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Hennenfent oversaw the Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Program, leading planning and response efforts for antimicrobial stewardship efforts and infection prevention technical assistance provided to Iowa healthcare personnel to improve infection control practices in all settings. Prior to joining Iowa HHS Dr. Hennenfent worked for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS).  

Dr. Brian Herrin is an associate professor at the Kansas State University CVM. He graduated from Oklahoma State University. His current research focus is vectorborne parasitic infections and the control of ectoparasites. Dr. Herrin enjoys working with all parasites of veterinary importance through the diagnostic service at the KSVDL.

Dr. Lisa S. Hindle is a graduate of Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently the APHIS Field Operations Emergency Coordinator for Iowa. Dr. Hindle frequently deploys with the Federal Incident Management Teams in response to HPAI and enjoys presenting and teaching courses on Emergency Management. She joined the USDA in 2016 after retiring from small animal practice. Dr. Hindle completed the Professional Animal Cruelty Investigator Course at the University of Missouri Law Enforcement Training Institute and was privileged to complete the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician course at Plum Island, New York.

Dr. Megan Hindman is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Veterinary Field Services. She earned her DVM and MS in Veterinary Preventative Medicine from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her interests are beef cattle and show pigs and enjoys spending time on the farm with her husband and two boys.
 
Dr. Andrea Holmes is a 2014 graduate of Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Holmes worked at a mixed animal practice before joining USDA with FSIS. She has been a field Veterinary Medical Officer with APHIS Veterinary Services since October 2020. She lives in Marcus, Iowa with her husband Tim, sons TJ and Andrew, and their two dogs.
 
Dr. Chad M. Johannes, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, Oncology) is an Associate Professor and Executive Director of Clinical Services within the Veterinary Health System at Colorado State University. Dr. Johannes joined CSU in 2022 after 7 years working to develop the oncology program at Iowa State University. His industry experience includes former Medical Director at Aratana Therapeutics, a veterinary biotech startup, and coordination of the launch of Palladia®, the first FDA-approved cancer therapeutic for dogs, during his time with Zoetis. Dr. Johannes’s practice experience includes primary care, specialty care and academic settings. His areas of research interest include oncology therapeutic development and market introduction, cancer immunotherapies, and effective management of treatment-related side effects.
 
Dr. Jeff Kaisand serves as State Veterinarian at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship working with federal, state and industry partners to protect the health of Iowa’s livestock industry and develop foreign animal disease response plans. He earned his DVM from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993.
 
Molly Lee, DVM (ISU ’14), MPH (UI ’17), DACVPM is an Associate Director at the Center for Food Security and Public Health at ISU CVM. Dr. Lee's work focuses on veterinary educational capacity building, zoonotic disease prevention, biosecurity, foreign animal disease preparedness and response, and One Health.

Dr. Betsy Armenta-Leyva is a DVM from Mexico whose career has been broadly focused on veterinary diagnostics.  During 2020, she worked in a veterinary diagnostics laboratory in Mexico.  In 2021, she enrolled at Iowa State University as a graduate student under the guidance of Drs. Jeff Zimmerman and Luis Giménez.  She earned a master's degree in veterinary preventive medicine on Spring 2023 and she is currently working towards her PhD with her research focused on issues related to pathogen detection for swine surveillance.

Dr. Isadora Machado is a veterinary graduated in Brazil. She gained experience in swine production during a year-long program in Germany. Following this, she worked for three years as a swine veterinarian with BRF Company (Brazil). In 2023, Isadora completed her MS degree and now is a Ph.D. student in Population Sciences in Animal Health at Iowa State University.

Dr. Drew Magstadt is a clinical associate professor and veterinary diagnostician at Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. In addition to necropsy floor duties, Dr. Magstadt coordinates bovine molecular testing submissions and BVDV testing. His research interests include various infectious diseases in production animal species.
 
Dr. John McAfee is employed at the epidemiology position and stationed in Des Moines, Iowa is Dr. John McAfee. Dr. McAfee has a Masters degree in animal science and a DVM from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Richard McManimon completed undergraduate courses at Winona State University. He then attended and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Rich joined Central Veterinary Clinic in 2001 working as a production animal veterinarian ever since.
 
Dr. Melinda Merck is the owner of Veterinary Forensics Consulting in Austin, Texas. Her background includes private practice and shelter medicine. She provides expert case consultations and testimony. She provides training nationally and internationally on the use of veterinary forensics in the investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty cases.
 
Dr. Brenda L. Mulherin graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a residency in Dentistry and Oral Surgery at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She became a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College in 2015. Dr. Mulherin is currently a Full Clinical Professor at ISU.

Dr. Shawn Nicholson originated from a small family century farm in southern Minnesota.  He attended Iowa State University earning his B.S in Animal Science in 1993. Doctor Nicholson then attended our own Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine earning his DVM in 1998. He is a mixed animal veterinarian practicing in central Iowa. He practices with 7 other veterinarians based out of two full-service clinics in Stuart and Anita. Dr. Nicholson spends most of his time with beef cattle with an emphasis in reproduction and ultrasound.   Doctor Nicholson also enjoys doing small animal medicine and surgery when he's not out in the country. He has a specific interest in shelter medicine. In vet school, he also met and married his classmate and love of his life, Doctor Amy Crane. Currently, they work together at the Stuart location. When he is not hitting the road, Dr. Nicholson spends his time with his wife, Dr. Amy Crane and their three children Olivia, Kallin, and Campbell. In his spare time, Dr. Nicholson enjoys going to his kids events, hunting, fishing, and hiking.

Dr. Onyekachukwu Henry Osemeke earned his DVM from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, in 2014. He joined Dr. Linhares' lab at Iowa State University in January 2020, completing his Master's in 2021 and PhD in 2023. Currently a Postdoctoral associate, Henry's research has focused on applied statistics, epidemiological modeling, disease surveillance, and disease economics.

Dr. Brian Payne has been a practicing swine/feedlot veterinarian and served other veterinarians and clients as an Industry veterinarian for 20 years. His current role is R&D and Technical Services Manager for Veterinary Pharmaceutical Solutions, a compounding pharmacy serving the livestock and poultry industries.

Dr. Meredith Petersen is a director of swine health for the National Pork Board. She earned her DVM and PhD from Iowa State University, and her MPH from the University of Iowa. In her current role, she supports the Secure Pork Supply plan and the Certified Swine Sample Collector program.

Dr. Chris Rademacher is a Clinical Professor and Swine Extension Veterinarian at Iowa State University as well as the Associate Director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center.  In 2014, he joined the faculty at Iowa State University after serving for 16 years as a Director of Health for New Fashion Pork and Director of Production Improvement for Smithfield Foods.

Dr. Berenice Munguia-Ramirez (DVM, MS) is a PhD student in Population Sciences in Animal Health at Iowa State University under the mentorship of Dr. Zimmerman. Her research focuses on advancing molecular diagnostics for swine diseases, aiming to improve real-time PCR for viral pathogens in different specimens.

Dr. Rachel Ruden is the State Wildlife Veterinarian for the Wildlife Bureau of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Rachel oversees morbidity and mortality investigations, facilitates wildlife health projects, and co-coordinates the Chronic Wasting Disease response in Iowa. She is also a creator and instructor of the Chronic Wasting Disease Ambassador curriculum. Rachel is affiliated with Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and serves as CWD-only case coordinator for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Dr. Katie Rumsey serves as the Assistant State Veterinarian and Deputy Division Director for the Animal Industry Division within the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. She is a 2005 graduate of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, received her Master of Public Health from the University of Iowa in 2019, and is a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. She spent 14 years in private practice before joining the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in 2019.

Liesel Schwartzkopf graduated from Iowa State University in 2017 with a B.S. in Animal Science. She then attended Des Moines Area Community College and graduated in May of 2019 with her A.A.S in Veterinary Technology and began her career at Iowa State University’s Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center later that May working overnights in the Large Animal ICU. Here she developed skills related to emergency critical care for both equine and production animal species. However, a unique position opened up in the Theriogenology service so she made the transition in August of 2020. She now works as a mixed animal technician in the department and continues to hone her specialized skills and knowledge in animal reproduction. Her career goal is to obtain a VTS in Theriogenology once it becomes a NAVTA approved specialty.
 
Dr. Jill Shriver is a Veterinary Medical Officer with the USDA's APHIS Veterinary Services and has previous experience with the Food Safety Inspection Service. Dr. Shriver graduated from Tufts University with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2016) and is credentialled as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS).

Dr. Scott Shuey is the senior and managing partner of Southern Hills Veterinary Services Inc. He received a Bachelor‘s degree in Animal Science from Kansas State University, A Master’s degree in Ruminant Nutrition from South Dakota State University and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State in 1995. They have six full time and one part time Veterinarians and along with a staff of 15 additional employees.  In 2016 Dr. Shuey was named the Iowa Veterinarian of the year and in 2022 he was appointed to the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine. He has spoken at several state and national meetings on the topic of Human Resource Management in Veterinary practices. He has volunteered for several IVMA committees and is currently serving on a committee for the Secretary of Agriculture working on the rural Veterinary shortage. Dr. Shuey and his wife Karin, who is a flight attendant for American Airlines have three children including Dr. Ryan Shuey who is a associate Veterinarian and Southern Hills.

Dr. Grzegorz Tarasiuk obtained his DVM degree at the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland in 2019.  After that, he worked for over 2 years in large integrated company where he serviced sow farms and GDUs. He started a Ph.D. program at Iowa State University in the fall 2021, working with Dr. Zimmerman as his major professor and graduated in 2024.
 
Mike Telford has served as Executive Director of Iowa Farm Animal Care since 2016. He is a graduate of Iowa State in Animal Science. During his career Mike has been a farm broadcaster, Executive Director of several organizations including Iowa Pork Producers, ISU Agriculture Foundation, and has been a private consultant for over 25 years. He is here to tell us why the Iowa Farm Animal Care coalition was formed, how it operates and answer any questions.
 
Dr. Jessica Young is a 2004 graduate of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Young spent 10 years as an ambulatory equine veterinarian in Iowa before coming to work for the USDA. She spent one year with FSIS, and then joined APHIS Veterinary Services as a Veterinary Medical Officer in September 2015. She currently lives in Ogden, Iowa with her husband Scott and their two sons, Colton (17 years) and Chase (13 years). Both of her children extensively compete in youth rodeo, and that keeps them busy as a family most of the year! Otherwise, together they enjoy horseback riding, fishing, camping, and taking care of their small hobby farm.