Symposium

12th Annual Practitioner's Symposium

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Speaker Bios

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Natalie Antinoff, DVM, DABVP

Dr. Antinoff graduated from the University of Wisconsin, after which she completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery, and a residency in exotic pet medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York. In 1997 she opened Gulf Coast Avian and Exotics as part of Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists. This is the first private exotics-only referral practice functioning within a specialty referral group in the country. She has authored chapters in several texts, and lectures nationally and internationally, and is also a consultant on the Veterinary Information Network small mammal board.

Tony Buffington, DVM

Dr. Buffington is professor of veterinary clinical sciences at The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital. Following service in the United States Coast Guard (1968-72) he attended the University of California at Davis, where he received the DVM degree (‘81), and BS (‘76), MS (‘82), and PhD (‘88) degrees in nutrition. He is board certified in veterinary nutrition (ACVN) and served as president of the ACVN in 2001. He teaches a clinical nutrition elective, lectures in other medicine courses and conducts nutrition rounds in the 4th year general medicine rotation.

Dr. Buffington’s research focuses on idiopathic cystitis in cats as a naturally occurring disease analog of interstitial cystitis in human beings, and on the role of neurogenic inflammation and stress in the pathogenesis of these diseases. His other clinical interests include obesity, lower urinary tract diseases in dogs and cats, evidence-based medicine, and critical care nutrition. He is a member of the AVMA and 4 invited professional societies. He has authored more than 75 scientific publications, 25 book chapters, and co-authored the book Manual of Veterinary Dietetics.

Scott Echols, DVM, DABVP

Dr. Echols received his DVM from Texas A & M University in 1995 and completed his residency at the Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, CA. He earned board certification from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 1999. Currently, Dr. Echols is Director of Avian Medical & Surgical Services at Westgate Pet & Bird Hospital in Austin, TX. Dr. Echols received the Ted Lafeber Avian Practitioners of the Year Award in 2005.

He is the current President-Elect of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. He received the Texas Non-Traditional Species Practitioner of the Year Award for 2007.

Stephen Foulke, DVM, DABVP

Dr. Foulke is a 1990 graduate from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Foulke is a partner in a 9-doctor dairy practice in 2001. His practice has been using laparoscopic surgery in the field for two years. Dr. Foulke currently is a member of AABP, AVMA, SFT, NMC, AASRP, IVAPM, and is the Dairy Regent for the ABVP.

F. A. (Tony) Mann, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, ACVECC

Dr. Mann obtained his AAS in Veterinary Technology at Morehead State University and his DVM from the Ohio State University in 1982. He completed a 13-month small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1983 and completed a small animal surgical residency and MS in veterinary medicine and surgery at Texas A&M University in 1986. Dr. Mann served as an assistant professor in small animal surgery at Auburn University from 1986 to 1988.

He joined the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1988 as an assistant professor, passed the board certification examination of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1989, was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 1994, passed the board certification examination of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 1995, and was promoted to full professor in 2006. Currently, Dr. Mann is Director of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Services, Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery Service Chief, and Small Animal Surgery Instructional Leader at the University of Missouri-Columbia Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. He is also President of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (2005 to 2007).

Bonnie Rush, DVM, DACVIM

Bonnie R. Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Professor, Equine Internal Medicine Interim Head, Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University. Dr. Rush’s clinical emphasis is equine respiratory, neurologic, and immune-mediated disease. She earned her DVM degree from The Ohio State University in 1989, completed internship training at North Carolina State University in 1990, and completed internal medicine residency training at The Ohio State University in 1993. She has been awarded the 1996 and 2003 Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, the 2002 Pfizer Award for Research Excellence, and the 2004 Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year. Her book Equine Respiratory Diseases (Blackwell Publishing), co-written with Dr. Tim Mair, is intended to serve as a practical guide to the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of common and uncommon equine respiratory disorders for equine practitioners.

Philip J. Seibert, Jr., CVT

Mr. Seibert is a Certified Veterinary Technician. He is also a full-time author and consultant to the profession. His books, The Complete Veterinary Practice Regulatory Compliance Manual and Safety Issues for the Veterinary Hospital Staff are in their fifth editions. By taking the lead in “deciphering” the regulatory agency rules affecting the veterinary profession, Mr. Seibert has earned a reputation as the veterinary profession’s OSHA expert. Mr. Seibert is the founder and Director of the OSHA Center on the Veterinary Information Network and regularly teaches an interactive OSHA course on VIN and VSPN.

Mr. Seibert became the first veterinary technician to evaluate and accredit veterinary hospitals for the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). The experience of “inspecting” over 1200 hospitals has given him a unique perspective that he uses to provide the most practical answers to our profession’s issues. He has authored many articles dealing with veterinary hospital administration which have appeared in national publications such as Journal of the AVMA, AAHA Trends, Veterinary Forum, Veterinary Economics, DVM Newmagazine, the Veterinary Technician, and Veterinary Practice News. Mr. Seibert is also the founder and Managing Editor of The Veterinary Safety & Health Digest.

Debra Sellon, DVM

Dr. Sellon completed her undergraduate and DVM at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge in 1983. She did large animal rotating internship at Texas A&M University, College Station. She had two years in private practice at a large Standard bred farm in Lexington, KY. She completed large animal internal medicine residency at North Carolina State University, Raleigh. Dr. Sellon was board certified in large animal internal medicine in 1989. In 1991, she earned her PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences (Virology) with a minor in Biotechnology at North Carolina State, Raleigh. Dr. Sellon was a faculty member in equine medicine at NC State, Raleigh from 1992 until 1997. She continued to be a faculty member in equine medicine at Washington State University, Pullman. Currently, Dr. Sellon is Professor of Equine Medicine, WSU, Pullman. Her professional interests include infectious diseases and pain management.

Bob Smith, DVM, DABVP

Dr. Smith earned his BS, MS, and DVM degrees at Kansas State University, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Following a large animal medicine and surgery internship at Oklahoma State, he served as a Field Services Clinician in the Large Animal Clinic for 15 years. After a stint in private feedlot practice, he returned to Oklahoma State as the McCasland Chair in Beef Health and Production, where he was responsible for stocker/feeder cattle research, beef cattle extension and industry service. Dr. Smith returned to private practice in 2002, where he consults with feedlots and ranches with capacities of 2,000 to 60,000 head. His primary interests include BRD management, animal welfare, and beef quality programs.

He is past-president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Western Veterinary Conference and the US Animal Identification Organization (USAIO). He is also immediate pastchairman of the NCBA’s Cattle Health and Well-being Committee. His awards include the AABP Bovine Practitioner of the Year, the AVC Consultant of the Year, the Oklahoma Food Animal Veterinarian of the Year, and most recently was named the 2006 Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Distinguished Alumnus.

Brad Stroud, DVM

Dr. Stroud graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M Univ., in 1979. He then did a one year internship at The Ohio State University, College of Vet Medicine in the Large Animal Ambulatory Division. Stroud Veterinary Embryo Services was established in 1980 in his hometown of Weatherford, Texas. SVES is an all bovine reproductive specialty practice with emphasis on embryo transfer. Dr. Stroud produced the first live calves from an innovative technique called “Modified GIFT Technique” and also produced the first IVF calves in a commercial environment from clinically diagnosed infertile females. In addition, he was a pioneer in the art of bovine reproductive ultrasonography. He has produced several veterinary training videotapes in the areas of ultrasound and embryo transfer.

Dr. Stroud’s professional ambition is to link emerging reproductive biotechnologies to progressive cattle breeders for the improvement of production and entertainment livestock. Dr. Stroud has served as the president of the American Embryo Transfer Association [AETA] and as the President of the International Embryo Transfer Society.

Todd Tams, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Tams received his DVM degree from The Ohio State University in 1977 and then entered into a mixed practice in Vermont from 1977-78. He then completed an internship at the West Los Angeles Animal Hospital in 1978-79, followed by a residency in internal medicine at Colorado State University from 1979-81. He was a staff internist at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston from 1981-84, and achieved board certification in internal medicine in 1982. Dr. Tams returned to Los Angeles in 1984 and is now Chief Medical Officer for Veterinary Centers of America, as well as a staff internist at the VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital. Dr. Tams has presented numerous seminars in the U.S. and abroad in his special interest area of gastroenterology.

Dr. Tams was recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from The Ohio State University in 2000. Dr. Tams has published two textbooks: Small Animal Endoscopy (Mosby), second edition published November 1998; Handbook of Small Animal Gastroenterology (W.B. Saunders), second edition published summer 2003.

Jodi Westropp, DVM

Dr. Westropp did her undergraduate work at The Ohio State University and stayed at Ohio State to complete her veterinary degree in 1997. She then to moved New York City for a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery and returned to Ohio State for her internal medicine residency and PhD. She was board certified in internal medicine in 2001 and finished her PhD in 2004. She is currently an assistant professor in the department of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Her primary research focus is on lower urinary tract disorders in dogs and cats. She is also the director of the Gerald V. Ling Urinary Stone Analysis Laboratory at UCD.