Day 1: Friday May 2nd
Link to register for the symposium here!
Dr. Crystal Lee, DVM, DACVS
Opening Speaker
Dr. Crystal Lee is a partner in Burwash Equine Services near Calgary, Alberta. She is the sole surgeon at Burwash Equine, and she also enjoys the variety of performance horse care, general practice, and emergency medicine. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009, and completed an internship at the University of Missouri in 2010 and a residency in equine surgery at Oklahoma State University in 2013 before starting practice at Burwash Equine. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2015. She served on the Sustainability Task Force of the American Association of Equine Practitioners from 2022 – 2024, and is currently serving on the Student Education and Outreach Committee of the AAEP.
Dr. Juan Orjuela, DVM
Panel Moderator
Dr. Juan Sebastian Orjuela, otherwise known as “Juancho” is a 2022 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College and co-founder of the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA). A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in veterinary medicine, Juancho brings a global perspective shaped by his upbringing in Colombia and the U.S., and his academic training in biology and environmental conservation. Currently practicing emergency medicine in London, Ontario, his clinical interests include ER, soft tissue surgery, community outreach, and client education. Juancho is also a bilingual content creator behind the Instagram account @juancho.dvm, where he uses his platform to educate, advocate, and inspire through engaging, inclusive storytelling.
Dr. Michelle Yee, DVM
Panel
Dr. Yee completed her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the University of Guelph. During Dr. Yee’s undergraduate studies, her interest in veterinary medicine led her to working at the local wildlife centre, volunteering for an educational program that housed non-releasable raptors and traveling to Ireland to spend time at a referral veterinary clinic. Subsequently, she acquired her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College. After graduating from veterinary school, Dr. Yee went into general practice where she slowly discovered her inclination towards exotic animals – furry, feathered and scaled. This led her to work in various exotic animal general practices in Ontario. In addition, she continued to work at the Toronto Wildlife Centre and the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre helping to treat and rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife. After a few years out in general practice, Dr. Yee decided to return to school to enhance her exotic knowledge. She successfully completed a year-long internship in zoological, exotic and wildlife medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. As an intern, in addition to treating exotic pets, she treated animals at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, and injured wildlife (including golden eagles, snowy owls, porcupines and moose!). She also had the opportunity to publish research regarding subcutaneous sedation in ferrets. From this adventure, Dr. Yee discovered her passion and is aspiring towards becoming certified in exotic companion mammal medicine through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). Currently, Dr. Yee works in a unique veterinary clinic located in Seattle, Washington that only treats exotic animals on an emergency, urgent care, and routine basis. At home, Dr. Yee lives with Bishop (her rambunctious and bossy mini-rex rabbit), Salami (her loud lovebird) and 4 crested geckos. In her spare time, she enjoys indoor/outdoor rock climbing, yoga as well as traveling.
Tracey Brown, BSc, BComm
Panel
Tracy is currently the Executive Director of the Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association, a registered environmentally based charity located in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Additionally, she is a sessional instructor for the University of PEI teaching courses in Wildlife Field Practicum. Previous work experience has included roles with as a bird Banding technician (Parks Canada, NL), small mammal biologist (Island Nature Trust, PE), GPS GIS forestry technician Environment Canada (PE Dept. of Environment) and lab instructor (Holland College Wildlife Tech Program. PE). Since 2008 Tracy has owned and operated Bunny Trails Pet Ranch, which offers unique travelling zoological shows and educational events. Designed top both educate and entertain all ages and audiences through hands on interactive opportunities with such animals as reptiles, mammals and exotics.
Education: Bachelor of Science (Biology Major) from University of Prince Edward Island, PE. Renewable Resource Management Technologies Diploma (Wildlife Conservation Technician) from Holland College, PE. Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing and Advertising Major) from Saint Mary’s University, NS
Tracy has volunteered with 4H as a regional leader and an Atlantic judge, as well as with the Canadian Animal Distress Network. Additional volunteer work includes time spent in Central America where she volunteered as an animal caretaker at the Belize Zoo and Jaguar Sanctuary, as well as the Belize Iguana Sanctuary.
Maria-Victoria Walker-Genovese, MSc, vet student
Panel
Hi Everyone! My name is Maria-Victoria Walker-Genovese and I’m so excited to be speaking at this years’ CPVMA Symposium! As a little bit about me, I completed my Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto before going on to complete my Masters of Science at the Ontario Veterinary College. There, I studied Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome and the surgical interventions available. After that, I worked in ER and specialty medicine before moving to Columbus where I began vet school at the Ohio State University. I absolutely love vet school! Apart from class, I’m involved in a bunch of organizations on campus including the Veterinary Integrated Oncology Club, Buckeyes4Greyhounds&K9s, the Exotic Animals in Private Practice Club, and OSU’s chapter of SAVMA. I also love research too much to give it up, so I’m currently working on a few papers as well!
I hope to see you at this years’ symposium! And if you ever want to discuss anything vetmed related, please feel free to reach out @mv.wg
Dr. Kristy Haines, DVM
Panel
Dr. Kristy Haines began her career in veterinary medicine as a Technician in 2004 and, after some great encouragement from a previous employer, she decided to go back to school to become a Veterinarian in 2007. She graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2015, and began her journey in mixed animal practice in a small town in New Brunswick. After three years in general practice, Dr. Haines suffered from severe burnout which led to her to change jobs looking for a better work-life balance. She joined the Veterinary Urgent Care team in 2024, as they are a clinic aimed at reducing burnout in veterinary medicine. Kristy enjoys internal medicine, surgery, and loves the fast-pace of emergency medicine/urgent care. Kristy is currently working on her certification in Emergency Medicine, and enjoying the transition to Urgent Care so far. In her free time, Kristy can be found at her farm where she and her husband have four horses, four dogs and one cat. She loves horseback riding, hiking, reading, yoga and traveling. She is currently working on her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training and just completed her Reiki Master Certification. She is also a member of the CVMA DEI/Wellness Committee, driven by her strong belief in the importance of mental health, not just within veterinary medicine, but in all aspects of life.
Dr. Colleen Fisher, DVM, MSc
Panel & Financial Sustainability (Sun)
Dr. Colleen Fisher obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1990 from the University of Saskatchewan. She developed a special interest in working dog medicine through her engagement with a number of police canine units, detector dog agencies, and assistance animal organizations. She is the veterinarian for the Canadian Task Force 4 (Manitoba) Urban Search and Rescue Team. Dr. Fisher received her MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Edinburgh in 2019. Her research focused on the ability of psychiatric (PTSD) service dog handlers and search and rescue dog handlers to recognize stress in their canine partners. She presently coaches pet parents and psychiatric service dog handlers regarding best practices to reduce anxiety and frustration in their animal partners. As Petsecure’s Veterinary Medical Director, she believes that pet insurance offers peace of mind to pet guardians who want the best life for their dogs and cats. Dr. Fisher is enthusiastic about sharing knowledge between the insurance professionals and veterinary team members that serve our mutual clients.
Day 2: Saturday May 3rd
Dr. Sue Burlatschenko, DVM, MPH
Managing a Vet Practice
Sue graduated with a B.Sc from the University of Guelph and a DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College. She worked in a mixed practice upon graduation, then worked with the Ontario Government delivering a pork industry initiative program. She returned to private practice where she began and still runs her solo swine consultancy. She obtained her Diplomate status in Swine Health and Production in 2005 and a Master of Public Health in December 2013. She also taught part-time at Ridgetown College for 15 years and has recently worked with Northern College in developing swine training programs for RVTs. Part of Sue’s practice also involves the provision of expert witness services, along with field research. Although practice keeps her busy in Ontario, she has travelled extensively “doing pig things” –to countries including China, South Africa, Malaysia, Philippines, Jamaica, and Estonia, to name a few. Sue resides on a farm outside of Tillsonburg, Ontario with an assortment of pets and enjoys cooking in her kitchen for the kids when they come home (when she isn’t photographing and travelling!).
Dr. Matthew Richardson, PhD, DVM
Climate Action
Dr. Richardson holds a BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Princeton University), a PhD in Zoology (University of Washington) and a DVM (OVC). He is a small animal practitioner and practice owner in downtown Toronto with a special interest in environmentally sustainable practice. He is the Past-President of the OVMA and The Farley Foundation, the founder of the OVMA’s Sustainability Committee and member of the CVMA Green Practice Initiative. A keen year-round cyclist and advocate for active transportation, Dr. Richardson can often be found on his bike or with a camera in his hand (or sometimes both).
Dr. Christian Catalano, DVM
Public’s Understanding
My name is Christian and I have been an emergency veterinarian at the Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital since January 2022. After earning my undergraduate degree in Zoology from the University of Guelph, I moved to St. Kitts to attend Ross University followed by my 4th year clinical rotations at Tufts University in Massachusetts. After graduation, I completed a rotating internship at the Mississauga Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital where I was drawn to the fast-paced world of emergency medicine. In 2020, I joined VCA South Shore’s Emergency and Critical Care team as an emergency clinician in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. After working at South Shore as a lead ER doctor, I eventually moved back to Toronto to work at TVEH. My special interests include acute gastrointestinal distress and pediatrics. I was born and raised in Toronto and currently live in the east end with my partner and black cat with cerebellar hypoplasia, Zelda.
Dr. Diccon Westworth, BVSc, DACVIM (Neurology)
Anthropogenic Climate Change: The Effects on Health and Impacts of Providing Veterinary Care & Practicing Sustainable Veterinary Medicine
Diccon is a veterinary neurologist working at a specialty private practice in California. He is on the board of directors at the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance. He has completed the IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management and is Certified Carbon Literate. He is leading efforts in the US clinical sustainability domain by bringing people together and highlighting practical methods to enable the veterinary industry to limit our carbon and ecological footprints, so we can all flourish sustainably.
Antonia Laoutaris, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)
Public’s Understanding
Antonia began her career as an RVT in Ontario, Canada in 2006 after graduating with honours from Georgian College. She commenced her training at a primary care practice but quickly transitioned to an emergency/referral hospital in 2008, gaining experience while working in various departments such as the ER, ICU, and the hospital’s surgery service. Shortly thereafter, she found her passion for anesthesia and in 2010 accepted a full-time position with the Surgery Department at the VCA Canada Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital (TVEH). In 2014, Antonia successfully completed accreditation as a VTS with the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia. Feeling the need to make a geographical change, Antonia relocated to Vancouver in 2016 to join the team at VCA Canada Vancouver Animal Emergency and Referral Center (VAERC) as Head Technologist and Lead Anesthesia Technician. Moving into a leadership role at VAERC inspired her to establish a niche for tech training and development. Over the past six years Antonia has not only provided training for the team at VAERC but has also visited numerous practices providing onsite training, in addition to lecturing at various conferences such as the BCVTA Fall Symposium, Canadian Veterinary Virtual Symposium and regional VCA Canada conferences. Antonia is also a published author and has written articles for the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technician’s (OAVT) quarterly Tech Journal and the West Coast Veterinary Magazine. Additionally, Antonia is a major advocate for hands-free radiology. She joined the team at the Hands-Free Initiative in 2017, allowing her to travel to practices throughout North America providing training workshops and helping clinics transition towards utilizing hands free radiology techniques. She is committed to making hands free radiology standard practice at VCA, to protect our RVTs and assistants from radiation exposure. Antonia was extremely proud and very excited to step into the role of Director of Veterinary Technologist Development and Training in May of 2022 collaborating with all the fantastic people who make VCA an industry leader while Caring For Life’s Greatest Companions.
Tracey Lawrence, RVT, VTS (ECC, Anesthesia/Analgesia)
Public’s Understanding
Tracey has been a RVT for over 25 yrs, first working in equine medicine and then transitioning to small animal general practice followed by a move to emergency and referral care in 1999. She holds veterinary technician specialist designations in both emergency and critical care (2005) as well as anesthesia and analgesia (2010). Tracey has spoken at numerous continued education events throughout Canada and the United States, provided online training sessions and has authored multiple veterinary journal articles and textbook chapters. Tracey currently resides in Toronto, ON., where she divides her time between working at a large specialty referral and emergency hospital, teaching part time in the veterinary technician program at Seneca College and pursuing a teaching degree in Adult Education. Tracey is also a trainer with Hands-Free X-rays, a group dedicated to providing virtual and in person education to the veterinary community about non-manual radiography techniques and radiation safety.
Day 3: Sunday May 4th
Dr. Susan Kilborn, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM (SAIM)
Community Veterinary Outreach – One Health and community practice in action
Dr. Susan Kilborn received her DVM degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. After several years of emergency and critical care practice in Winnipeg, she completed a post-graduate degree in epidemiology and acid- base physiology – DVSc program in Clinical Studies at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph.
She became board certified in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Medicine) in 1995. Dr Kilborn currently sees referral internal medicine cases in Ottawa, consults for Antech Diagnostic Laboratories, and is the Chief Operating Officer and One Health Director for Community Veterinary Outreach.
Community Veterinary Outreach is a Canadian and US registered charity that provides pro bono veterinary care to pets of unhoused, street-involved, and vulnerably housed adults and youth, while providing health and social services for the clients. Vet Outreach serves clients in 11 regions across Canada.
For more information, please visit vetoutreach.org.
Dr. Stef Lim, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)
Mental Health
Dr. Stef Lim was born and raised in Toronto. After completing her BSc, at Western University at the top of her class in 3rd and 4th year with an honours specialization in Animal Physiology, she went to the pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She studied abroad at the University of Melbourne in Australia, and in second year she developed a keen interest in the study of neurology after seeing her first ever brain surgery. During her time in Australia, she enjoyed being proactive in academic societies and was voted as president of the Veterinary Student Society of Victoria. She graduated in December 2012. After graduating Dr. Lim went on to complete an internship in small animal medicine in Rochester, New York in 2014– staying on to practice small animal emergency and general medicine for an additional 2 years. In 2016, she returned to Canada to undertake a specialized neurology internship at the University of Guelph. Eager to deepen her knowledge and expertise, Dr. Lim then pursued a research fellowship at the University of Missouri in comparative neurological diseases in dogs and humans where she is published in multiple papers. Dr. Lim started her neurology residency in Yonkers, New York but completed her final 2 years of her residency at Mississippi State University in 2022. (COVID…) During her time in Mississippi, she engaged in student run veterinary interest groups and gave student lectures. Dr. Lim contributed and is published in the latest edition of “Advanced Techniques in Canine and Feline Neurosurgery” textbook. Dr. Lim is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology). When she is not in the clinic, Dr. Lim enjoys spending time with her family and two spunky and adorable Dachshunds, Squish and Lealu. Her interests extend beyond neurology to include cooking, dancing, snowboarding, and exploring the wonders of travel where she can experience culture through art, architecture, wildlife and food.
Melanie Savage, RSW
Mental Health
Melanie is a Registered Social Worker based out of Ottawa Ontario. She runs a province wide virtual private practice that supports pet parents in navigating the emotional complexities of anticipatory grief and pet loss. Her innovative approach helps clients transition from a relationship of presence to one of memory, guiding them to find ways to live with both grief and joy simultaneously. Melanie also hosts pet loss related Talk and Share events in her local community and delivers lectures to the veterinary community on topics such as grief and loss as well as how to better support veterinary teams and clients when faced with challenging situations.
Additionally, Melanie works in community mental health where she has seen firsthand the invaluable impact that pets have on the well-being of marginalized populations. She incorporates this relationship into discussions, goals, and interventions, noting that the relationship at times is the single most valuable connection that individuals have.
As a former Master of Social Work practicum student with Community Veterinary Outreach, she spearheaded a mental health and social support service and developed a comprehensive community resource guide for pet parents who attend the charity’s Ottawa region clinics. She currently volunteers as the mental health team lead where she focuses on coordinating support and finding ways to enhance the mental healthcare offered to clients while attending their appointments.
Dr. Jim Berry, DVM, CVPP
Sustaining Animal Welfare
Jim Berry has been in clinical practice for 34 years, working in 3 different areas of Canada. In the past 15 years, Jim has concentrated on companion animal lameness and pain management employing an integrated approach to patient care. Jim is currently certified in veterinary acupuncture (IVAS), canine rehabilitation (CRI), animal chiropractic (Options for Animals), and he is a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (IVAPM). Jim is actively involved in veterinary association work, having served on the executive boards and various committees of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association, and the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. Jim still works in clinical practice but tries to spend as much time as possible hiking, running, or snowshoeing with his wife and 3 dogs. His cat is invited but prefers to stay inside by the food bowl.
Dr. Bettina Bobsien, DVM, DABVP (Equine Practice)
Sustaining Animal Welfare
Bettina Bobsien is a practicing veterinarian with a lifelong passion for both animal care and animal welfare. She has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, specialized in Equine Practice. After developing a full service equine practice on Vancouver Island, Bettina focused her attention on animal welfare and has been very active in that role for the past decade and a half. Bettina is currently the Chair of the Equine Code Development Committee who are in the process of updating the current Equine Code of Practice, the national horse care standards document that is referenced in provincial law in BC. She is also the Vice Chair of the National Farm Animal Care Council where she represents the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and the Veterinary Ethics editor for the Canadian Veterinary Journal. She actively advocates for horses that are “unwanted” or at the end of their careers by engaging in public education on the matter. She continues to practice part time on Vancouver and the Gulf Islands, with a practice focus on performance horses, nutrition, geriatric horse care, podiatry, and equine endocrine diseases. Her personal riding goals include dressage and jumping, with a new passion for trail riding with the Back Country horsemen.
Dr. Stephanie (Steph) Schiavone, DVM
Environmental Sustainability
My name is Steph Schiavone, and I am currently a surgical resident at the University of Georgia. I grew up in the Netherlands and moved to the U.S. in elementary school. I attended veterinary school at Colorado State University, where I conducted research on environmental sustainability in veterinary medicine. During my time at CSU, I was fortunate to work alongside faculty dedicated to creating a more environmentally friendly teaching hospital. Our research contributed to meaningful changes within the hospital and highlighted areas where further improvements could be made.
Dr. Emma Borkowski, DVM, DACVP, PhD, MRCVS
Lab – Pathology
Emma obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Ontario Veterinary College in 2015. She became board certified in Anatomic Pathology in 2018 and completed her PhD in 2019. Her PhD work assessed immunity to gastrointestinal parasites in sheep. Following graduation, in September 2019 she moved to England and joined the University of Surrey as a Teaching Fellow in Anatomic Pathology. After 2.5 years and a global pandemic, Emma rejoined the Ontario Veterinary College as an Assistant Professor in Anatomic Pathology in January 2022. She is continuing her research to understand and leverage host immune responses in control of parasites in both sheep and goats, and also supports diagnostic cases for the Department of Pathobiology.
Dr. Stephen Atkinson, PhD, DVM
Effects of Climate Change
Originally from England, Dr. Stephen Atkinson has practiced veterinary medicine for 18 years; most of that time in Manitoba. He graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 2007. Since then, he has worked in a variety of areas including large, small and exotic animal medicine and surgery. Currently, his focus is on small animal practice, but he also spends time working with horses and smaller farm animals such as goats, pigs and sheep, as well as exotics. Stephen has also been a wildlife research biologist for over 35 years. For his PhD, he studied the energetics, physiology, body condition and reproduction of wild polar bears in the Canadian Arctic. He then went on to live and work for government agencies in northern Canada as a polar bear biologist and later as a director of wildlife management. Since leaving government, he has continued to conduct field-based research on Arctic species (mostly polar bears) under contract to government wildlife agencies in Canada and the USA. His recent research has focused on population dynamics, health, genetics, habitat use and energetics with an emphasis on the effects of climate change. At times, his backgrounds as a veterinarian and biologist have converged in projects require clinical skills, special sampling techniques, chemical immobilization and health.
Dr. Tracey Young, DVM,
Closing Speaker
Dr. Tracey Young is a 1999 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College. Tracey has been actively engaged in primary care medicine for most of her professional career. Tracey calls VCA Pretoria Animal Hospital her work home where she helps promote a positive and engaging culture while balancing the ongoing challenges of our evolving profession. Dr Young was Pretoria’s medical director for 5 years, and loves to mentor veterinarians. She is currently doing dental procedures several days a week, and is on the local leadership team for Community Veterinary Outreach. She loves teaching, sharing her knowledge and experience with new graduates, and emphasizes the importance of work-life balance. Tracey is a whirlwind of positivity and loves to laugh and look on the bright side of life!
In her spare time Tracey loves walking with her rescue pooch Mojo, travelling with her 2-legged family members and volunteering with her local Community Veterinary Outreach program.
The Canadian Pre-Veterinary Medical Association | L'Association des pré-médecins vétérinaires 