Our Guest Speakers 2024

Dr. Natasha Kutryk

OPENING SPEAKER

Dr. Natasha Kutryk is currently a Senior Specialist in Scientific Marketing Affairs for a pharmeceutical company. Most recently she practised as a Feedlot Consultant for Telus Agriculture and Consumer Goods. Prior to consulting she was a mixed animal veterinarian in Alberta and Saskatchewan and practised large animal medicine in England and New Zealand.  Natasha has served on the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association Council since 2020 and was most recently the ABVMA’s President. She obtained her DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan.  When not working, she farms with her husband in North Eastern Alberta.

Dr. Katy Proudfoot

PANEL

Dr. Katy Proudfoot is currently an Associate Professor and Director of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island. Katy received her MSc and PhD at the University of British Columbia’s Animal Welfare Program, where she focused her research on understanding the welfare of dairy cattle. She then spent 6 years as an Extension Specialist in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine before moving to PEI. In her current role, Katy teaches animal behavior and welfare to veterinary students, conducts research on a wide range of species, and creates outreach opportunities for the veterinary community to help improve the lives of animals under our care.

Dr. Sarah Lim

PANEL

Dr. Sarah Lim received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 2014. Upon graduation from veterinary school, she completed a small animal rotating internship at the Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, MA. After her internship, she joined the General Medicine department at Angell, where she was a general practitioner for 6 years. Her professional interests include nutrition, endocrinology, and gastroenterology. Dr. Lim joined Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada as the Professional Consulting Veterinarian for Central Canada in November 2022. She enjoys working collaboratively with veterinary health care teams to improve the lives of pets.

Dr. Melanie Pinel

PANEL

Dr. Mel (Melanie) Pinel was born and raised near Dallas, TX and developed a love for animals at an early age.  Following her passion, she attended veterinary school and graduated from Texas A&M University in 2006.  She completed a small animal internship at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Colorado before beginning her career in small animal general practice.  She had the privilege of working with several outstanding veterinarians and practices in Minnesota, Florida, Tennessee, and Colorado and was able to explore many segments of veterinary medicine, including first opinion practice, emergency medicine, high volume spay/neuter, exotics/wildlife, and locum work.  In 2018, Dr. Pinel moved with her family to the Calgary, AB area and after a short period of adjustment, she took a job working with Hill’s Pet Nutrition.  She quickly realized that a career in veterinary industry was the perfect fit and moved on to a role as a technical services veterinarian with Elanco in 2021.  Dr. Pinel really enjoys her interactions with the sales team as well as with veterinarians and veterinary health care teams in her role and looks forward to new opportunities to expand her knowledge in all things veterinary medicine and beyond.  Dr. Pinel spends her free time reading, gardening, or with her husband and two young children and their menagerie of pets.

Dr. Cathy Furness

PANEL

Before joining the CFIA in November 2022 as the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Cathy worked at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), in the role of Lead Veterinarian for Planning and Preparedness since 2013, and in July 2019, Cathy was appointed to the role of Chief Veterinarian for Ontario. Cathy possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge in emergency management, work in partnership with veterinarians, farmers, industry and the community, as well as provincial ministries, provinces and the CFIA to support animal health and welfare needs in Ontario. She was responsible for provincial-level disease planning and preparedness, disease outbreak response and supporting various commodity and stakeholder organizations to enhance their respective emergency preparedness.

In addition to her time at OMAFRA, Cathy practiced in both small animal and equine practice shortly after graduating with Distinction, from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Guelph in 2000. She returned to OVC to complete an MSc in Clinical Studies and a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine, and is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine – Large Animal Internal Medicine.

Cathy and her family live on a small hobby farm in Rockwood, ON, with all creatures great and small (a pony, 2 dogs, 3 cats and numerous hens) and spends her spare time working in the garden, baking and hanging out with Butters the pony.

Dr. Stephanie Smith

PANEL

Stephanie Smith is the Chief Veterinary Officer and Director of the Veterinary Unit with the Livestock Branch, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. Stephanie and her team are engaged on a wide variety of files including disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response, animal welfare, and biosecurity. Stephanie grew up near Borden, SK and obtained her veterinary degree at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in 2015. Prior to working for government, Stephanie worked in a mixed animal veterinary practice as well as for the commercial poultry industry. Stephanie and her husband manage their grain and cow/calf operation near Saskatoon, where they spend time with their multiple horses, chickens, dogs, and pigs.

Dr. Melanie Barham

COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Melanie is a veterinarian, entrepreneur, speaker, educator, and mum. Melanie loves working with teams to create change, find new ways to think through problems, and collaborate.

She holds a DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College, and MBA in Sustainable Commerce from the University of Guelph, and a Project Management Professional designation.  She is the CEO of Community Veterinary Outreach and Vets: Stay, Go, Diversify

Dr. Jordan Woodsworth

COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Dr. Jordan Woodsworth is a small animal clinician who graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. In 2012, she returned to the WCVM to start the Wellness and Preventive Medicine program in the teaching hospital, and to spearhead the Northern Engagement and Community Outreach (NECO) program. In 2023 Jordan completed a PhD in community and population health which allowed her to engage in collaborative research with members of a northern Saskatchewan community she has served through the NECO program for almost a decade. Jordan’s primary role is now as Director of NECO, and she continues to explore new ways to bring awareness to animal health and welfare inequities in Canada with an ultimate goal to devise creative, community-led solutions to improving access to animal health and welfare services. Jordan continues to learn from colleagues and mentors about how to foster and develop anti-racist, anti-oppressive and anti-colonial environments within veterinary medicine and is playing a key role in development of WCVM’s anti-racism strategy. Outside of work, Jordan is married to her high school sweetheart and is a mum to two amazing kids and a lovely dog. She loves being in her garden or at the lake, travelling with her family and friends, crafting, and cooking and eating amazing food.

Dr. Leann Benedetti

MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING IN THE VETERINARY FIELD

Dr. Leann Benedetti has 27 years of clinical experience in mixed animal, small animal, and mobile veterinary practice, having designed, built, and managed two practices over 13 years.  In her current business ‘The Veterinary Coach’ Leann is focused on supporting the human beings of veterinary medicine.  As a trauma-informed, ICF Certified Coach Leann supports the mental and emotional health of veterinary professionals and their professional quality of life, with the goal to co-create resilient, agile, rewarding, positive, psychologically safe veterinary ecosystems.

Leann is the co-chair of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Wellness Committee Group, a Peer Advisor for the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, and a passionate advocate for well-being and whole-hearted living.

Dr. Ian Sandler

MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING IN THE VETERINARY FIELD

Dr. Ian Sandler is the Co-Founder and Chief Veterinary Medical Officer of Grey Wolf Animal Health, a Canadian specialty animal health company founded in 2015. Grey Wolf Animal Health is focused on improving the lives and well-being of vets and pets in Canada and abroad. After graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1994, Dr. Sandler practiced small animal medicine in the United States. He returned to Canada, and in 1999 and along with 3 colleagues founded the Ontario Veterinary Group, which grew to be one of the largest privately-owned veterinary hospital groups in Canada. For over 29 years Dr. Sandler has practiced small animal medicine and surgery in Toronto, primarily at the VCA-Rosedale Animal Hospital, and now the Toronto Humane Society Dr. Sandler is a well-respected animal health expert and is frequently quoted and interviewed. He served on the Animal Health Technologist / Veterinary Technician (“AHT/VT”) Accreditation Committee of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (“CVMA”) from 2009 to 2016, and now Chairs the National Issues Committee. Grey Wolf Animal Health was founded with the mission to identify and bring to market products, solutions, and services that meet the underserved needs of vets, pets, and clinics across Canada.

Cerys Goodall

GENDER, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Cerys Goodall is a change agent with more than 20 years of experience helping leading tech companies including LEAGUE, Kobo and Innerspace.io. to move from ideation to growth. As the COO of Vetster, the world’s leading telehealth platform and veterinary marketplace, Goodall is responsible for the company’s marketing, sales, and business operations. She is deeply passionate about empowering veterinary entrepreneurs with the technology they need to shape the future of veterinary care.

Dr. Charlotte Williams

GENDER, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Dr. Charlotte Williams is a graduate from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. She has worked in mixed practice for the last 30 years, the last 28 as an owner. Dr. Williams was the first female black veterinarian in Saskatchewan and the first black president of the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association. But what she feels is her greatest accomplishment is her marriage of 33 years and raising 3 adult children whom she loves and appreciates.

Dr. Marty Becker

LAB- FEAR FREE HANDLING

Dr. Marty Becker is a trailblazer in the world of pet health. With his groundbreaking initiative Fear Free, Dr. Becker is on a mission to ensure that our pet friends live their happiest, healthiest lives. His impact goes beyond veterinary clinics, reaching out to pet parents and the staff and volunteers in animal shelters.

Dr. Becker has captured the hearts of millions with his dynamic presence. As the go-to veterinary expert on popular shows like “Good Morning America,” he brings a fresh and relatable perspective to pet care. His commitment to animal welfare is evident through his past involvement on the Board of Directors of American Humane, where he was a driving force in advocating for our beloved pets. Dr. Becker’s compassion extends to senior dogs, and he actively serves on the Advisory Board of The Grey Muzzle Organization, ensuring that our older canine companions find loving homes.

Dr. Becker is not just a TV personality. He’s a prolific author with 23 books under his belt. From New York Times best-sellers to invaluable pet care guides, his words resonate with pet lovers across the globe. Together with his talented writing partner, Kim Campbell Thornton, Dr. Becker shares his insights through their widely syndicated newspaper feature, Pet Connection.

As a cutting-edge educator, Dr. Becker empowers the next generation of veterinary professionals. He teaches as an adjunct professor at esteemed veterinary colleges like Washington State University, Colorado State University, and the University of Missouri. His enlightening lectures have touched aspiring veterinarians across the country. Dr. Becker’s dedication goes even further, as he contributes his expertise to the advisory board of World Vets, supporting global veterinary and disaster relief programs.

Dr. Becker is a staunch advocate for the special bond between humans and animals. He serves as an honorary board member of Pet Partners and the Humane Society of New York, championing the meaningful connection we share with our pets. Locally, he actively supports organizations such as Second Chance Animal Adoption of Bonner Ferry, ID, and contributes to the Panhandle Animal Shelter in Sandpoint, ID, the Kootenai Humane Society in Coeur d’Alene, ID, and the Whitman County Humane Society in Pullman, WA.

When he’s not busy revolutionizing pet health, Dr. Becker can be found at VCA North Idaho Animal Hospital, where he continues to work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of our furry companions.

Dr. Marty Becker is the voice of a new generation of pet lovers, inspiring change and nurturing the bond we share with our four-legged friends. Join him in his quest to create a world where pets thrive and enjoy their lives to the fullest.

Dr. Samuel J. Ujewe

ONE HEALTH

Dr Ujewe is a researcher and expert in applied ethics and global population health, specialising in equitable access to health (-care) resources, global indigenous ethics, justice and social determinants, infectious disease management, inequities in health emergencies, cross-cultural ethics, and global mental health. Over the past twelve years, he has led research, delivered teaching and dissertation supervision, led policy development initiatives and impactful community-oriented engagements across the globe.

His research integrates major justice and equity theories with Indigenous principles and approaches to enhance equitable, responsible, and actionable health reforms globally. It explores the social determinants of inequities against the background of socio-cultural and moral experiences in local and global contexts.

One of his significant contributions to global health remains the successful translation of research knowledge and output into policy tools for impactful health intervention. These include providing high-level input to the WHO on Ebola and global response to Covid-19 research and development, among others. Some core outputs of his engagements include one published book and several journal articles, book chapters and policy documents.

He is a Senior Ethics Research Advisor, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Adjunct Assistant Professor, Arrupe Jesuit University; Global Health Ethics Expert, European Commission; and Chair of the Cultural, Anthropological, Social & Economic impact (CASE) Sub-Faculty within the Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium (GET-Africa). He holds a PhD in Applied Ethics and Global Health from the University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom; a Master of Health Sciences in Bioethics from the University of Otago, New Zealand; and BA Hons. in Philosophy from the University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe.

Dr Ujewe has broad and diverse international-lived experience, having lived, studied, and worked in 9 countries and across four continents.

Dr. Colleen Duncan

ONE HEALTH

Dr. Duncan is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology. She is passionate about how the environment, particularly how climate change influences animal health. She uses epidemiology and pathology to investigate disease in a wide range of domestic and wild animals. She’s actively involved in the Colorado School of Public Health, the CSU One Health Institute, the CSU School of Global Environmental Sustainability, and the CSU Presidents Sustainability Commission.

Dr. Cliff Redford

VETERINARIANS WORKING IN INTERNATIONAL CRISES

Dr. Cliff Redford graduated from OVC in 1998 and jumped right into practice ownership. He has owned his companion animal hospital, Wellington Veterinary Hospital, for 25 years and has a special interest in soft tissue surgery and wildlife medicine. Since 2016, he has devoted his vacation time to volunteering around the world and has worked with animal rescue groups in Jamaica, Panama, India twice, Greece, and Ukraine during the current war twice, and recently returned from volunteering in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
Once a week for the past six years, he has volunteered at Shades of Hope Wildlife Rehab. On top of being a veterinarian, Dr. Cliff is a documentarian and in his spare time, he enjoys boxing and surfing.

Susan Groenveld

INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Susan Groeneveld, B.Sc. is a distinguished serial entrepreneur with specialization in agricultural/animal science and technology based businesses. Her 25 year career has included leading commercialization for some of the largest global companies in animal health and agriculture, co-founding an award winning North American marketing agency- WS, a globally recognized not for profit in animal health and most recently Sylvester.ai. In 2023, her outstanding contributions were recognized as a top 5 finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year for Women in AI across North America.  Her passion for innovation, coupled with her dedication to addressing global challenges, positions her as a driving force in the ongoing transformation of animal care sectors.

Dr. Michael Accardi

INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Dr. Michael Accardi received his PhD degree in Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University with a focus on the metabolic regulation of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Accardi entered the preclinical arena wherein, as a Study Director at Charles River Laboratories, he performed both in vivo and in vitro toxicology and safety assessments. Dr. Accardi soon became the Associate Director in Safety Pharmacology at Charles River Laboratories overseeing the safety pharmacology portfolio (e.g., in vivo and in vitro cardiovascular, neuroscience and respiratory assessments, amongst other) at the Laval, Quebec site. Dr. Accardi has since transitioned into a governmental setting where he is now the Team Lead of the Veterinary Health Products (VHP) Notification Program. The VHP Notification Program aims to assist companies in meeting the rules for importing and selling, in Canada, low-risk VHPs which are used to maintain or promote the health and welfare of companion and livestock animals. Throughout his career, Dr. Accardi has had the unique privilege of working with cutting edge scientific and veterinary technologies within both academic and clinical settings in the pursuit of scientific advancement and improved treatment strategies for both human and animals alike.

Dr. Michael Blackwell

ADDRESSING FINANCIAL ISSUES IN THE VETERINARY FIELD

Dr. Blackwell currently serves as the Director of the Program for Pet Health Equity at the University of Tennessee. He is the founder of AlignCare Health, a One Health interprofessional system to improve access to veterinary care, especially for families with limited means.

Previously, Dr. Blackwell served as: Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee; Chief of Staff, Office of the Surgeon General of the United States; Deputy Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration; Chief Veterinary Officer, U.S. Public Health Service

During 23 years on active duty with the U.S. Public Health Service, he achieved the rank of Assistant Surgeon General and Rear Admiral.

Dr. Blackwell has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and two Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medals. He is the 2020 recipient of the Avanzino Leadership Award and the 2021 recipient of the Senator John Melcher, DVM Leadership in Public Policy Award.

Darren Osborne

ADDRESSING FINANCIAL ISSUES IN THE VETERINARY FIELD

Darren Osborne is the Director of Economic Research for the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) and Economic Consultant for the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, and Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Darren conducts economic research and analyses data in order to provide thousands of veterinarians with Fee Guides, Economic Reports, Personal Benchmark Reports, Reports on Compensation and Benefits for Associate Veterinarians and Non-DVM Wage Reports.  More recently, Darren has partnered with Idexx to create a Practice Dashboard Report that automatically extracts financial information from veterinary practice management software to provide monthly metrics that track performance and  compare to the average veterinary hospital in the region.  Darren attended York University and completed his Master’s Degree in Economics in 1992.  When he is not crunching numbers, you can find Darren ultra-running, marathon swimming or napping with his two dogs.

Dr. Kat Sutherland

LAB- COMMUNICATIONS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Kat is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Relationship-Centred Veterinary Medicine research group at the Ontario Veterinary College. Kat’s research interests are motivated by wanting to understand how veterinary-client communication can be enhanced to improve the quality of life for pets with excess weight. She completed her MSc in animal nutrition and a PhD in Population Medicine. Her PhD research explored pet weight-related communication in small animal veterinary practice, with emphasis on obesity-specific communication. Since 2018 Kat has also been active in the OVC’s Medical Communications Program, where she enjoys working with student veterinarians to refine their clinical communication skills.

Dr. Paul Manesis

NEW AND EMERGING AREAS OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Paul Manesis grew up down the shores of New Jersey, USA. He graduated from LaSalle University in Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Science degree then completed a veterinary degree from the University College of Dublin in Ireland. Dr. Manesis then went on to complete an intensive rotating internship at a specialty hospital in Brooklyn, NY before moving to Canada in 2016. Since then he has worked in small animal GP, small animal ER and opened Fish and Bee Mobile Veterinary Services to focus on these underserved fields in Ontario. He has worked his way up to be the trusted veterinarian for large apiaries in Ontario and aiding in bringing the first insect vaccine to Ontario apiaries. He earned a certificate from the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA) and serves both large and small clients but mainly focuses on pet fish wholesale and aquariums. In his free time, Dr. Manesis enjoys leather working and tending to his own pond, fish tanks, and honey bees.

Dr. Gillian Muir

CLOSING SPEAKER

Dr. Gillian Muir was appointed dean of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) on July 1, 2021, after serving one year as interim dean. She is the first WCVM graduate and the first woman to fill the college’s leadership role.

Dr. Muir grew up in Alberta, received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree at the WCVM in 1988, and completed a PhD degree in neuroscience at the University of British Columbia. Since joining the WCVM faculty in 1996, Dr. Muir has become a gifted instructor and neuroscientist who uses animal models to study functional recovery from spinal cord injury.

While serving as head of the WCVM’s Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences from 2014 to 2020, Dr. Muir was involved in renewing the WCVM’s curriculum for its DVM program and in developing the college’s strategic plan as part of the University Plan 2025.

Since becoming dean, she has continued to move the college forward with strategic planning and has been instrumental in expanding Indigenous engagement and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) at the college. Dr. Muir has energized the WCVM with her goal-oriented focus, leadership and vision for the future