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Kim Albin, LVT, VTS (Oncology)
After gaining a strong foundation as a Licensed Technician, Kim became a VTS (oncology). She has worked with the Oncology Unit at Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital 6 years, focusing on animal and handler safety. She has published several articles in Veterinary Technician magazine, the Canadian Veterinary Technician magazine, and is currently working on a Chemotherapy Safety Book.
Kim is Past President of the Veterinary Technician Cancer Society and is the Safety Coordinator for many Veterinary Oncology clinics.
In her spare time, Kim is a mother, wife, and a sponsored amateur triathlete on the Lansing Triathlon Team, as well as a fitness instructor at the YMCA.
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Danielle Bolm, RVT, LVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)
Danielle graduated from The Vet Tech Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her associate degree in Veterinary Technology. After graduation she moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked in emergency and general practice for a total of 10 years. During her 10 years in practice, she became passionate about animal behavior and started to dedicate herself to it.
Since then she has worked in veterinary practices that were only limited to behavior. Her interest in behavior led her to become a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner in 2017 and finished her journey to become a Veterinary Technician Specialty in Behavior in the fall of 2021. Her behavioral interests are, but not limited to, aggression, reactivity, inappropriate elimination for cats, and low-stress veterinary visits. She is passionate about resolving fear-related issues in horses.
In July 2022, Danielle opened her own behavior consulting business Dedication-N-Behavior.
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Robert Cruz, DVM, MSc. Dipl. ACVR
Dr. Cruz completed his degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Zulia, Venezuela. He completed a combined residency/master of science program in Veterinary Radiology/Radiological Health Sciences, respectively, at Colorado State University. He then obtained the diplomate status of the American College of Veterinary Radiology(ACVR). Dr. Cruz was a visiting assistant professor at Oklahoma State University and an assistant professor of veterinary radiology at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He then decided to go into private practice. He is currently a consultant/staff radiologist at Antech Imaging Services.
Dr. Cruz has multiple publications in indexed scientific journals. In addition he has had research papers/abstracts, from previous university work, presented, in oral and poster format, at scientific meetings in America and Europe.
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Lauren R. Forsythe, PharmD, MBA, DICVP
Dr. Lauren Forsythe is an Assistant Professor at the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy. She is also a diplomat of the International College of Veterinary Pharmacists. Dr. Forsythe graduated from the University of Findlay, College of Pharmacy in 2015 and completed her veterinary pharmacy residency at Purdue’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She earned her MBA in 2024 from the University of Illinois. Following completion of her residency, Dr. Forsythe spent three years at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital as a Clinical Pharmacist followed by four years at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy and the Pharmacy Service Head. In addition to her teaching position, Dr. Forsythe is a co-author of the book Drug Compounding for Veterinary Professionals and provides consulting services to veterinary practices through her company Foresight Pharma Solutions.
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Mary Ellen Goldberg LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP, VTS-lab animal medicine (research anesthesia-retired), VTS-Physical rehabilitation-retired, VTS-H (anesthesia/analgesia)
Mary Ellen Goldberg is a graduate of Harcum College and the University of Pennsylvania in 1976. She worked at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Division of Animal Resources and for Research Scientists advising on their choices for anesthesia and pain management on their protocols. She was a member of VCU’s IACUC for 10 years.
She has been the instructor in Anesthesia and Pain Management at VetMedTeam since 2003. She is a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner through IVAPM. Mary Ellen is retired as a Surgical Research Anesthetist certified through the Academy of Surgical Research. Currently, she is a staff member at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute since 2012, as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse. (CCRVN) where she is the examination coordinator. She is a member of the IACUC at the Manheimmer Foundation, Inc.
Mary Ellen was chosen NAVTA’s Veterinary Technician of the Year 2017. In 2019, Mary Ellen received the VTS-anesthesia, analgesia – honorary title from the Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthesia and Analgesia. Mary Ellen has written several books, and contributed to numerous chapters regarding anesthesia, pain management and rehabilitation. She has worked in various aspects of veterinary medicine from small animal and equine to mixed practice, coccidiosis research for a pharmaceutical company,zoo animal medicine
and laboratory animal medicine since 1976.
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Megan Johnson, LVMT
Megan has been working in emergency and critical care for about 7 years. Currently she is an ICU veterinary nurse at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Megan is owned by two cats. She enjoys all things outdoors and love to travel when she has the chance.
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Kris Kruse-Elliott, DVM, PhD, DACVAA
Dr. Kruse received her DVM from Oregon State University in 1984. The following year was spent in mixed animal practice in Seattle, WA before moving on to advanced specialty training in anesthesiology. She completed her anesthesia residency at North Carolina State University from 1985-1988, becoming board certified and
a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia in 1989. Dr. Kruse received her PhD in pulmonary physiology from North
Carolina State University in 1992 and joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison the same year. Dr. Kruse was a member of the UW faculty for 15 years and then she moved to California with her husband and their various bird and cat family members.
Since 2006 she has worked as an anesthesiologist in private specialty practice and is currently the anesthesiologist for Sage Veterinary Centers in the San Francisco Bay area and AnimalScan MRI Centers. She also consults on anesthesia and analgesia
in a wide variety of species in private practice and research settings and is a frequent speaker at continuing education events. Dr. Kruse is currently the President of the newly formed North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society (NAVAS). In her spare time she can be found outdoors biking, hiking, and most especially skiing down whatever slopes she can find.
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Shana Filipek, CVT, VTS-EVN
Shana has worked as a technician since 2011, both in small animal and academia. She is a surgery technician and senior veterinary technician at the University of Minnesota Large Animal Veterinary Medical Center. Shana has also co-edited a textbook for Elsevier: Mosby's Comprehensive Review for Veterinary Technicians, 5th edition.
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Juliann London RVT, VTS Dermatology
Juliann started her career in the veterinary field in 2010 in general practice, obtained her Registered Veterinary Technician license in 2012 and transitioned over to dermatology full time in 2013. Juliann received her VTS in Dermatology in July 2017.
Juliann enjoys working with her clients and patients on a daily basis in helping to manage chronic skin and ear diseases and improve the quality of life of not only her patients, but her clients as well. She is passionate about client education and enjoys the area of immune mediated skin diseases.
Juliann lives with her husband, 3 children, Chihuahua, and Bernese Mountain Dog in Rocklin, CA.
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Erin Macdonald, CVT, BAS, CVPM, CVBL
Erin Macdonald was the Hospital Administrator and managed a busy five doctor practice in St. Petersburg, FL for twenty one years. in 2020, she built, opened, and grew a brand new practice in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. She recently left both practices to pursue veterinary consulting. She has worked in the veterinary field since 1999, her first position as a receptionist.
In 2006, she received an Associate in Arts Degree in General Studies and an Associate's in Science Degree in Veterinary Technology from St. Petersburg College. That year, she became a Certified Veterinary Technician. After receiving a Certificate in Hospital Management and a Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Technology Management, she achieved the designation of Certified Veterinary Practice Manager in 2009. In 2022, she completed and passed the exam to become a Certified Veterinary Business Leader. She is level two and Elite Fear Free Certified.
Erin is a member of both the Florida Veterinary Technician Association and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. Erin lives in Palm Harbor, Florida with her fiance and their three sons, Kingston, Isaac, and Jordan. They also share their home with their dog, Gemma and cat, Roxanne.
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Linda Merrill, LVT, VTS (Small Animal Internal Medicine) Emeritus
Linda received her AS degree in veterinary technology and an AA degree, both from Pierce College in Washington State. She has worked in specialty practice (cardio-pulmonary and oncology) and the majority of her time in small animal practice. She retired from clinical practice in 2021 but remains active in other areas of veterinary medicine.
She is an author and editor; her most recent works are as an author for the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 9th edition and as the editor for Small Animal Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, 2nd edition (in print 2024).
Linda is the former President of the Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians and former President of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA).
Linda has achieved two Veterinary Technician Specialists credentials. Her first is the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians (AIMVT), she was the Founding Chair and is the current Executive Director. She currently holds Emeritus status. Her second specialty was as a Canine & Feline Veterinary Technician Specialist in Clinical Practice (AVTCP). At the time of her retirement, she withdrew her VTS in Clinical Practice.
In her spare time, Linda is an avid scuba diver and has traveled the 7 continents. Her husband, Jeff, is employed in the Alaskan seafood industry. They enjoy the company of their rescue cat, an adorable but clueless Persian named "The Cat Formerly Known as Philbert." Her household is also the home to 2 rescue dogs. Linda loves Corgis and currently and currently has the sweetest Cardigans named Ember and Stewie.
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Jody Nugent-Deal, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia), VTS (Clinical Practice-Exotic Companion Animal)
Jody Nugent-Deal is a Registered Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Anesthesia/Analgesia and Clinical Practice – Exotic Companion Animal. She has worked for the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital since 1999, working in the Companion Exotics Department for 10 years and currently the Anesthesia Department where she is the supervisor.
She is a founding member of the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice and currently serves as the executive secretary for the group as well as the appeals committee chair. Jody is also an active member with the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia having served on the nominations, credentials, and appeals committees. Currently she serves as the President for the AVTAA as well as the appeals committee chair.
Jody is passionate about teaching and life-long learning. She recently started her own company where she provides CE via online webinars and in-clinic hands-on training. She regularly lectures for VSPN and VetMedTeam, teaching anesthesia, analgesia, and exotic animal medicine. Jody has had the opportunity to lecture throughout North America since 2000 on anesthesia and various exotic animal topics as well as publishing numerous articles and book chapters for both canine/feline and exotic animal medicine and
anesthesia topics.
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Jeanne Perrone, MS, CVT, VTS (Dentistry)
Jeanne received her degree in veterinary technology from Parkland College in Champaign, IL. She earned her credentialing as a VTS (Dentistry) in 2006. Currently, she is self-employed as a consultant, trainer, and educator for technicians in veterinary dentistry. Jeanne instructs for the BAS VT program in dentistry at St. Petersburg College. She edited and published the book Small Animal Dental Procedures for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, published by Wiley-Blackwell.
Jeanne is a founding member and former president of the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians, a NAVTA Specialty Group which mentors, trains and certifies credentialed technicians to be specialists in dentistry.
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Brandy Tabor, BS, CVT, VTS (ECC)
A native of Colorado, Brandy graduated from Colorado State University in the spring of 2003 with a BS in Equine Sciences. While attending CSU, she worked as a nurse's assistant in the Critical Care Unit at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Here, she learned just how far you can go with a career as a veterinary technician. She enrolled in Front Range Community College in Loveland, CO, graduating in 2005. Brandy then moved to Parker, CO where she currently works as a senior emergency and critical care technician. She had the honor of becoming a member of the Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians in 2008.
Brandy has a passion for writing and has written several papers for Today's Veterinary Practice, Veterinary Nursing Journal, Today's Veterinary Technician, and Veterinary Technician. She is also a contributor in the 5th edition of Review Questions and Answers for Veterinary Technicians. In addition she is the current chair of the AVECCT Credentials Committee.
Brandy currently lives with two birds, two cats, and two dogs.
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Deena Tiches, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)
Dr. Tiches is a northern Virginia native that currently resides in North Carolina with her dog, two cats, two horses and a donkey. She received her veterinary degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993. Her small animal internship at Michigan Veterinary Specialists was followed by a neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She remained there as a clinical instructor until achieving board certification in 1997.
Dr. Tiches was in private practice in Maryland and Virginia for 16 years before forming Neurowebvet.com, an online consulting website for general practitioners. She designed an interactive online neurology course with VetMedTeam in 2017 to fulfill continuing education requirements for general practitioners. She has been teaching the course since. She enjoys training veterinary students, interns and residents as well as educating veterinarians and pet owners. Her areas of interest are epilepsy and encephalitis.
In her free time, she competes in dressage with her Canadian Sporthorse.
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Cathy Trebold, CVT, LVT
Cathy graduated from Bel- Rea Institute of Veterinary Technology. She started her career with Banfield as a technician, then a Hospital Director, and finally as Field Trainer. The family relocated and she started a new career path, entering the world of Vet Tech education.
She taught for 5 years at an onsite Vet Tech program in Omaha, NE and 3 years with a Distance Learning Program in Dallas. She is very passionate about this field and loves sharing that passion and knowledge with her students. Training and educating have always been in her blood.
Cathy went back to small animal medicine with Banfield Pet Hospital in 2012 as a Practice Manager. She currently runs two hospitals and does extensive training and development for her market in Colorado
Cathy is married
to an Air Force officer and moves around quite a bit. She currently lives outside of Colorado Springs, CO. Cathy, and her husband Brian, have three daughters that keep them quite busy. She also has 3 Labrador Retrievers- Buddy, Dexter and Penny.
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Rebeccah Vaughan, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia) (Clinical Practice- canine/feline)
Becky Vaughan is a Certified Veterinary Technician and a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Anesthesia/Analgesia and in Clinical Practice - Canine/Feline. After graduating from Manor College in Jenkintown, PA in 2002, Becky's career has taken her to General Practice and Specialty Surgery, Radiology, Dentistry, and Emergency services in Philadelphia, Vermont, and the Chicagoland area in a variety of patient care and leadership roles.
Becky is currently an ER Veterinary Nurse for Veterinary Emergency Group in Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL, where the hospital provides a unique open-concept experience for pet owners throughout all aspects of emergency care, even during anesthesia and surgery. She also serves on the Credentials Committee as well as is the Vice President (becoming President afterward) for the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice.
Becky has lectured on anesthesia and dentistry topics throughout the US since 2006. She has contributed to magazines, textbooks, and VSPN on a number of topics, as well as being an instructor for VetMedTeam courses. Becky also spent many years as part of a Technician and Assistant Task Force for the VCA corporate Medical Operations division in an effort to improve and standardize support staff education nationwide.
Becky has a special interest in critical anesthesia, dentistry, and feline pain management. She loves working with all species of patients. She shares her home in Downers Grove, IL with her family and pets.
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Liza W. Rudolph, BAS, RVT, VTS (CP-CF, SAIM)
Liza Rudolph has been working in veterinary medicine for over 20 years and is a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Canine/Feline Clinical Practice and in Small Animal Internal Medicine. Liza is the Program Director for the Veterinary Technology Program at Rowan College of South Jersey and provides education and training to veterinary technicians as a course instructor for VetMedTeam, a webinar instructor for Penn Foster, by traditional lecturing, and online continuing education opportunities. When not teaching, Liza is an active member of multiple veterinary organizations and practices as a relief veterinary technician; spending most of her clinical time in specialty practices in both the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.
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