The Integrative Veterinarian

Dr. Rachel Ramesar was raised in Central Illinois. While in High School, she got a position in a mixed animal veterinary practice and decided that she would make veterinary medicine her career.She earned her DVM from the University of Illinois in 2000. She had been on a US Army scholarship during veterinary school, so she entered the Army as a Captain in the Veterinary Corps after graduation. She served for 3 years, then left the service and entered private small animal practice.She held positions doing relief work and working part time at a few clinics before settling at her current clinic in Harker Heights, Texas. She started her holistic journey by taking the Animal Chiropractic course at Parker University, and has since been certified in acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Food Therapy.In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Ramesar is now teaching in the Animal Chiropractic program at Parker and is the Integrative Track Coordinator for the Southwest Veterinary Symposium.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Rachel Ramesar as we discuss her education, time in the military, holistic journey, and her professional activities outside of clinical practice.

Dr. Laura Taylor was raised outside of Toronto, Canada. She had her sights set on veterinary medicine from a young age, and earned her veterinary degree from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1989. After some time in small animal practice in Ontario and the UK, she relocated to Calgary, Alberta and began her holistic journey.She took the Basic Chiropractic course at Options for Animals in 1995, then completed the Diplomat program there, when she had her first exposure to Craniosacral Therapy. With that interest, she took several courses in human craniosacral therapy from the Upledger Institute.She was certified in acupuncture by IVAS in 1997, and in that same year limited her practice to acupuncture, chiropractic, and craniosacral therapy for both small animals and horses. In 2000, she did both Dr. Pitcairn's basic and advanced homeopathy programs. In 2004, she started training in visceral manipulation and osteopathy, taking courses for humans as well as horses. With this knowledge she started to develop her own system of osteopathy for her patients.Dr. Taylor now sees small animal patients at a Holistic Veterinary Clinic in Calgary and has been teaching osteopathy since 2010.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Laura Taylor as we discuss her veterinary education, holistic training, and her practice evolution from chiropractic into osteopathic manipulation

Dr. Kimberly Schmidt was raised in the Chicago, Illinois area. She is the daughter of two veterinarians, and grew up in their Feline Only Practice.She did her undergraduate and veterinary studies at the University of Illinois, earning her DVM in 2008. Afterwards, she did a small animal internship in private practice.Following the internship, she moved to California and worked in general small animal practice for 7 years. It was during this time that she started her holistic education, looking for additional ways to help her patients.She earned her acupuncture certification from IVAS, Chinese Herbal and Food Therapy certifications from Chi University, and a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine from CIVT.She started her own mobile holistic practice in Napa Valley California in 2016. Since then she has added two additional veterinarians to the staff. Dr. Schmidt is the President Elect of the VBMA and her practice also offers a Pet Loss Support Group (https://www.napaholisticvet.com/services#/pet-loss-support-group).Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Kimberly Schmidt as we discuss growing up in the family veterinary practice, her training, holistic interests, and her small family farm.

Dr. Viv Harris was born outside Wellington, New Zealand on a property with animals of all shapes and sizes. She knew early on that she wanted to be a Veterinarian.She earned a Bachelor degree in Zoology and also one in Veterinary Science from Massey University in 1986. After graduation, she went into mixed practice in New Zealand briefly, then went overseas for five years; doing locum work in the UK as well as working with camels in Kenya.Upon her return home, she purchased a small animal practice in Wellington and remained there for ten years. During that time, she started her holistic training, earning a certification in acupuncture by IVAS, certifying in NAET, and taking courses in Homeopathy, Trigger Point Therapy, Flower Essences, Herbal Medicine, and Neutraceuticals. While she was a practice owner, she also appeared regularly on radio and television, discussing veterinary medicine and natural living.She sold the practice and now sees patients in a room on her property as well as attending to her four acre garden.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Viv Harris as we discuss her education, clinical practice, holistic education, and her approach to natural health and gardening.

Dr. Ian Bidstrup was raised on a farm in Victoria, Australia. He earned his veterinary degree with honors from the University of Melbourne in 1980. Afterwards, he spent time in small and mixed animal practices in Victoria and the UK, before returning to do an Equine Ambulatory Residency at the University of Melbourne in 1986. Following, he was a partner in an Equine mixed practice before transitioning to limiting his practice to Equine and Canine spinal care.He was first introduced to Chiropractic while a veterinary student. He did some training in Chiropractic early in his career, then was exposed to Acupuncture and Chiropractic by Drs. Sheldon Altman and Allen Schoen at an Australian Veterinary Conference. In 1993, he and his family visited numerous holistic veterinarians in the United States.In 1994, he was instrumental in bringing Dr. Sharon Willoughby to Australia to teach Chiropractic, and was certified by the AVCA and IVAS in 1995.Between 2002 and 2009 he was one of the principle lecturers in the RMIT University Graduate Diploma program in Animal Chiropractic. He is also heavily involved in the study and teaching of proper saddle fit.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Ian Bidstrup as we discuss his education, holistic training, practice evolution, and upcoming CIVT webinar on Prolotherapy.

Dr. Lisa Pinn McFaddin was raised in the Baltimore, Maryland area. She identified at an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian.She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Kenyon College in 2003 and her DVM from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. Afterwards, she did a Small Animal Rotating Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery in a private specialty hospital in the Chicagoland area.After her Internship, she worked in both Emergency and General practice as well as doing Relief work in the Chicagoland area. Looking for a new challenge, she earned her CVA from Chi University in 2013, followed by her Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine from CIVT in 2015. She also is certified in Food Therapy from Chi University, and in Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy as well as Veterinary Massage and Rehabilitation Therapy from the Healing Oasis.She moved back to Virginia in 2014 and worked in a few practices there before settling into her current position at Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Bristow, Virginia.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Lisa Pinn McFaddin as we discuss her education, work history, holistic training, her service on the AHVMA Board, and her book "Integrative Medicine in Veterinary Practice."

Dr. Lorrie Hale was raised in the Chicago area as well as Kentucky. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Illinois in 1995. Afterwards, she worked in two practices in the Chicago area.She then worked for twelve years in general practice in Louisiana before returning to teach clinical veterinary skills at the University of Illinois. She started her holistic education by completing her acupuncture training at Chi University in 2012.In 2016 she joined the faculty at Louisiana State University, starting a clinical skills program and expanding the Integrative Medicine and Rehabilitation Service in the Teaching Hospital. She completed her Master's in TCVM from Chi University in 2020, and also has certifications in Chinese Herbal Medicine, Food Therapy, Tui-Na, and Palliative and End of Life Care from Chi.In 2019, she became Service Chief at LSU. Dr. Hale is also a Charter Fellow of the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine and serves on the Board of Directors.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Lorrie Hale as we discuss her education, holistic training, and work as an Academic Integrative Educator and Practitioner.

Dr. Laura Weis was raised in numerous cities around the United States, and her family even spent some time during her childhood in Switzerland. She realized when she was young that she was interested in Veterinary Medicine.After earning her undergraduate degree in Biology from Cornell University, she spent some time gaining animal experience before earning her DVM from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. Afterwards, she worked in small animal practice in Pennsylvania, and after two years purchased a practice with her Veterinarian husband, Dr. Randy Weis.Looking to provide improved care for her patients, she started her holistic journey first through nutrition, then Homeopathy, completing the Pitcairn Institute of Veterinary Homeopathy Professional Course in 2016.Dr. Weis has been a member of the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy Board of Directors since 2018 and has continued her education by studying human homeopathy at the Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy as well as the Prometheus Homeopathic Institute.Recognizing the need to train more Veterinary Homeopaths, she and Dr. Lisa Melling founded the Veterinary Homeopathy Institute, offering in-person, hybrid, and online education opportunities. Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Laura Weis as we discuss her childhood, education, clinical practice, and evolution in nutritional therapy and Homeopathy.

Dr. Jacqui Snell was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. Veterinary Medicine was a career aspiration from childhood. She earned her veterinary degree from Massey University in 1988. Afterwards, she worked in a small animal practice in Wellington before spending a year doing locum work in London England.After returning to New Zealand, she worked at Taradale Veterinary Hospital in Hawkes Bay for 21 years, spending 16 years as an owner of the practice. She started her holistic practice, Veterinary Holistic Healthcare, in 2018, after earning a Western Herbal Certification. She completed a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine through CIVT in 2019.She worked part time in a holistic practice as well as a companion animal practice. She also worked part time for the Raw Essentials company, providing nutritional advice to pet parents who were transitioning their pets with health issues onto a raw food diet.Currently, she focuses completely on her holistic practice, seeing patients in person and via telemedicine.In addition to her clinical practice, she has lectured at the New Zealand Veterinary Association conferences and is the current newsletter editor for the Complementary Branch of the NZVA.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Jacqui Snell as we discuss her education, various clinical roles, and her current holistic practice.

Dr. Lisa Melling was raised in Chicago and Northern Illinois. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian, gaining experience working at a horse stable and having a number of childhood pets.She earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Iowa State University in 1999, and her DVM from Tuskegee University in 2004. After graduation, she entered small animal practice in Michigan. In response to a large commercial pet food recall in 2007, she began prescribing fresh food nutrition and started her journey into Homeopathy. She was certified by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy in 2011 and was certified in Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy by the Healing Oasis in 2019.She left traditional small animal practice in 2007 and started a house call practice in the Ann Arbor Michigan area emphasizing fresh food nutrition and natural healing. She has since relocated the practice to a brick and mortar location in Northern Michigan.In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Melling has been heavily involved in education of new Veterinary Homeopaths. She was a faculty member for the Pitcairn Institute of Veterinary Homeopathy from 2011-2022, and since then is a Co-Founder and Instructor for the Veterinary Homeopathy Institute. She has also lectured and written extensively about Veterinary Homeopathy.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Lisa Melling as we discuss her education, clinical practice, transition to natural medicine, and her teaching career.

Sophie Tieu is a third year veterinary student at the Ontario Veterinary College. She has been interested in veterinary medicine since she was youngShe did her undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph, majoring in Animal Biology. Before entering veterinary college, she participated in research projects involving canine nutrition, Vitamin D metabolism, and swine physiology. This work has yielded four publications.Since becoming a veterinary student, Sophie has worked as a Research Animal Technician on the Veterinary campus.Please enjoy this conversation with Sophie Tieu as we discuss her education, preparation for her veterinary education, her life as a student during the pandemic, and her activities volunteering in veterinary clinics in the Galapagos and a wildlife sanctuary in Peru during the summer of 2024.

Dr. Elizabeth Cutright was born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian.She did both her undergraduate studies in Animal Science and her DVM at the University of Illinois. She earned her DVM in 2001.After graduation, she worked in small animal practices, becoming introduced to integrative medicine and developing an interest in Nutrition Response Testing as well as advanced dentistry.In 2016, she started her own practice, Healthier Pets Naturally, which focuses on Nutrition Response Testing and Nutrition Consulting.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Cutright as we discuss her education, introduction to holistic medicine, practice history, and her involvement in organized veterinary medicine.

Dr. Debby Burnett was raised in Greeley, Colorado. She was interested in Veterinary Medicine, but a high school teacher told her that she wasn't good enough in science to pursue it. She started University in Journalism, then switched to Kinesiology and later earned a Master's Degree in Physical Therapy in 1995.As a Pediatric Physical Therapist, she rekindled her interest in Veterinary Medicine when working with her patients using hippotherapy. She earned her DVM from Texas A&M in 2003. Afterwards, she did an Equine Reproduction Internship, then transitioned to mixed animal practice in Wyoming while still working as a physical therapist part time.After completing the CSU Acupuncture course in 2006, she starting using it in mixed animal practice in Wyoming and Colorado. Looking for a change from traditional practice, she completed the chiropractic training program at ACES in 2024 and has established her own practice, Burnett Animal Chiropractic in Gunnison, Colorado.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Debby Burnett as we discuss her education, practice life, holistic education, and the evolution of her clinical practice.

Dr. Cindy Maro was raised on a farm in Northeast Ohio. She earned her veterinary degree from Ohio State University in 1987, ten years after her brother Rob.After graduation, she joined her brother's mixed animal practice in Northeast Ohio, then started her own small animal practice in Western Pennsylvania, the first companion animal Integrative practice in the region. Since then, she has started a total of six practices in the Western Pennsylvania region and has enthusiastically promoted integrative medicine to her colleagues as well as the public.She holds certifications in numerous areas including acupuncture, chiropractic, rehabilitation, NAET, and Medical QiGong.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Cindy Maro as we discuss her education, practice history, and involvement in various facets of veterinary medicine.

Dr. Katie Woodley was raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame, and earned her Veterinary Degree in 2010 from Massey University in New Zealand.After working in small animal practice in New Zealand, she moved back to Colorado Springs to work in small animal practice there. She had some exposure to holistic medicine in veterinary school, but a health challenge with her husband and her own curiosity started her journey into integrative medicine.She was certified in acupuncture by OneHealth and has earned a Graduate Diploma in Chinese Veterinary Herbal Medicine from CIVT. She has additional training in Veterinary Natural Nutrition and Chinese Food Therapy.She started her mobile holistic practice in Ft. Collins, Colorado in 2018 and during the pandemic expanded her practice online to share her knowledge with both pet parents and veterinarians.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Katie Woodley as we discuss her education, practice history, and expansion into online education as well as her participation on the AHVMA's Board of Directors.

Dr. Tracy Duffner was born in Michigan and raised in Northern Ohio. She earned her undergraduate degree from Otterbein University and her DVM from Ohio State in 2006.After graduation, she moved to South Carolina and worked in small animal primary care practices, then transitioned to emergency medicine and back to primary care.Looking for a change, she was certified in acupuncture by Chi University in 2019, in animal chiropractic by the AVCA in 2021, and is currently completing coursework in veterinary homeopathy. She started a mobile holistic practice in 2019, partnered in a brick and mortar integrative practice for a few years, and now has returned to mobile exclusive holistic practice.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Tracy Duffner as we discuss her education, practice experience, and her role as an AHVMA Board Member.

Dr. Bill Ormston returns to the podcast, having been a guest on Episode 59. In this episode Bill and I discuss some of the factors that have influenced the acceptance and growth of the Animal Chiropractic profession. Starting with a working definition of Chiropractic, we discuss the historical barriers to natural medicine education in the United States, and finish with our thoughts on the ideal legal landscape for the practice of Animal Chiropractic in the United States.Please enjoy this second conversation with Dr. Bill Ormston.

Dr. Bart Iaia was raised in Florida. He did his undergraduate education at the University of Vermont in Animal Science, and earned his DVM from Tufts University in 1992. After some time in small animal practice on the East Coast, he moved to Seattle Washington and worked in a number of small animal practices and in industry prior to purchasing an integrative practice in the area.His holistic education began with the study of Lomi Lomi, a Hawaiian healing art. He has since been certified in Acupuncture by Chi University in 2009, and then by IVAS in 2019. He has also studied Chinese Herbal Medicine at A Time To Heal in Vermont. He earned his Fellow status from the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture in 2022.He currently does relief work and serves as the Medical Director at PetZen, an Integrative practice in Gig Harbor, Washington. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Bart Iaia as we discuss his education, career path, holistic education, and thoughts on the future of Integrative Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Greg Todd was raised in Florida. He was interested in veterinary medicine from a young age, and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Florida in 1983, and his DVM from the University of Florida in 1988.His holistic education began with an apprenticeship with Acupuncturist Dr. Patrick Sullivan, who provided study materials and the opportunity for Greg to observe the treatment of human patients. He was certified in Acupuncture by IVAS in 1996 and by Chi University in 2008. Since then, he has additional certifications from Chi University in Tui-Na, Food Therapy, and Chinese Herbal Medicine. In 2023 he became a Fellow of the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine.Dr. Todd works in the same small animal practice in Florida that he started in as a student. In addition to his clinical duties, he has lectured and written extensively and currently serves the profession as President of the American Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Greg Todd as we discuss his childhood, veterinary education, holistic practice, and his service in organized veterinary medicine.

Dr. Shantel Julius was born on a ranch in Northeastern South Dakota. She wanted to work in veterinary medicine from a young age.During her undergraduate education at North Dakota State University, she worked in a veterinary diagnostic laboratory and was part of the McNair Scholars Program, performing research involving selenium and its effect on growth and cellular proliferation. She earned her degree in Veterinary Technology before attending the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and earning her DVM in 2011.After graduation, she worked in small animal general and emergency practice. Following the tragic death of one of her own dogs after taking a prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, she began her training in integrative medicine. She is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, and is also certified in acupuncture, spinal manipulation, Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-Na, Food Therapy, and End-of-Life care. Dr. Julius also completed a Master of Science in TCVM program.Since 2018, she has left general practice and has her own mobile integrative practice in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.In addition to her clinical practice, she is the President-Elect of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Shantel Julius as we discuss her education, holistic training, and her Masters thesis research.

Dr. Theresa SaLee was born in Upstate New York and raised in Illinois. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Illinois in 1999. Afterwards, she went into small animal practices in Southern Wisconsin and began her holistic education by taking the IVAS acupuncture course.She has since earned certifications in Rehabilitation Therapy and Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy. She has studied Chinese Herbal Medicine with Drs. Mona Boudreaux and Steve Marsden, and recently earned a Graduate Diploma from CIVT in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine. After her time in Wisconsin, she worked for a few years in a large specialty practice in the Chicago area before joining and then purchasing her current Integrative practice, The Whole Pet, in Bartlett, Illinois. Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Theresa SaLee as we discuss her education, work history, practice experience, and her positions as a Board Member and President-Elect of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Karin Olsen was raised in Brooklyn, New York. She began riding horses at a young age, and a health issue with her horse while she was studying Economics and Spanish at Middlebury College in Vermont sparked an interest in a career in veterinary medicine.She earned her veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003. During that time, she was exposed to acupuncture because of a demonstration by Dr. Allen Schoen at her school. After graduation, she worked in a few small animal practices before deciding to take the Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians course. She was certified in 2015.After hearing Dr. Linda Boggie lecture at a conference, she enrolled in the IVAS acupuncture course and was certified in 2018. She has also studied Canine Rehabilitation at Chi University. In 2023 she became a Fellow of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture.She opened her own house call practice, Healing Hands Veterinary Acupuncture and Integrative Services, in 2019.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Karin Olsen as we discuss her childhood, education, holistic education, and her life as a solo mobile holistic practitioner.

Dr. Caroline Pattie was born in San Francisco and raised in Arlington, VA. She always knew that she wanted to be a Veterinarian, and earned her veterinary degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008.After graduation, she joined a small animal practice in Virginia and after a year, the practice owner suggested that she follow her interest in acupuncture and she attended Chi University and earned her acupuncture certification. She stayed in the practice for 15 years, witnessing the practice grow into a 24 hour care center.At the end of the pandemic, she left the practice and is working with Dr. Jordan Kocen at the Veterinary Holistic Center in Northern Virginia, as well as doing locum work in area practices.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Caroline Pattie as we discuss her education, practice history, holistic training, and her service on the AHVMA Board.

Dr. Marlene Siegel was born in Cuba and raised in Florida. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian. During her undergraduate years, she worked as an emergency medical technician and was the first female Paramedic in the State of Florida.She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Florida in 1985. Afterwards, she went to work in a five doctor small animal and exotic practice, then worked in emergency practice and did small animal locum work prior to establishing her own practice, Pasco Veterinary Medical Center, in Lutz, Florida in 1987.Her introduction to holistic medicine came in trying to heal her own injured horse in 2004. She has since studied chiropractic, nutrition, Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, ozone therapy, and a host of other natural healing modalities, culminating in becoming a Certified Natural Health Professional in 2012.In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Siegel has written and lectured extensively. She also offers online instruction for pet owners, office staff, veterinary nurses, and veterinarians.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Marlene Siegel as we discuss her education, practice experience, introduction to holistic medicine, and her approach to holistic clinical cases.

Dr. Shauna Cantwell was raised in the Canadian Prairie Provinces. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1989. After graduation, she worked in mixed and small animal practice before returning to the University of Saskatchewan to complete a Residency and Master's Degree in Anesthesiology and earn her Board Certification in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.She then served as a faculty member on the Anesthesia Service at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine for ten years, working not only in the clinic, but being funded for research and publishing in the areas of basic science, anesthesia, and acupuncture. In addition to teaching veterinary students, interns, and residents, she has lectured extensively in the areas of anesthesia and acupuncture.Her holistic training includes acupuncture from Chi University, Veterinary Spinal Manipulation from the Healing Oasis, Veterinary Postural Rehabilitation, and Medical Qigong.In 2007, she left academics to start her own practice, Medicine Wheel Veterinary Services in Ocala, Florida, where she serves both equine and small animal patients and provides anesthesia consultation.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Shauna Cantwell as we discuss her education, work history, and the change from academia to solo holistic practice.

Dr. Sasan Haghighat was born in Germany and raised in Iran. After earning his veterinary degree, he moved to Canada and worked at an SPCA in Newmarket, Ontario and then an emergency practice in Toronto.After working for a short period in general practice, he began working at the Holistic Veterinary Clinic in Newmarket. He was certified in Acupuncture by Chi University, and trained in Postural Rehabilitation with Dr. Judith Shoemaker. He also has training in rehabilitation and Matrix Repatterning.He earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Bio-Regulatory Medicine from Bio-Medic.Dr. Haghighat took over the practice in 2010 and has grown the practice exponentially since then.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Sasan Haghighat as we discuss his childhood, education, holistic interests, and how he manages patients using Nutrition, Acupuncture, and Bio-Regulatory medicine.

Dr. Aish Ryan always knew that she wanted to be a Veterinarian. She earned her Veterinary Degree with honors from the University of Melbourne in 2003. She then worked in small animal clinics in Melbourne and London prior to starting her practice, Vets at Home, in 2010. The practice began as a full service mobile practice, but as her interests evolved, it transitioned to be limited to integrative medicine.Dr. Ryan earned a Graduate Diploma in Animal Biomechanical Medicine and is also certified in Veterinary Acupuncture and Animal Nutrition. She also has advanced training in Balance Method Acupuncture, Food Therapy, and Chinese Herbal Medicine.In addition to her clinical practice, she serves as an Anatomy Demonstrator for the University of Melbourne Veterinary School.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Aish Ryan as we discuss her education, work experience, holistic training, and her new position at CIVT.

Dr. Monica Chapman was raised in Bethesda, Maryland. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian, and she received guidance about medical education from her father, a US Army surgeon.She studied biology as an undergraduate, and earned her veterinary degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. After graduation, she worked in small animal practice for ten years, then transitioned to shelter medicine for fifteen years.At the end of her time in shelter medicine, she took a course in Western Herbal Medicine from the Green Comfort School of Herbal Medicine, followed by an Internship in Western Herbal Medicine. She enrolled at CIVT afterwards and earned her Graduate Diploma in Western Herbal Medicine in 2017.Monica has been a member of the CIVT faculty since then, teaching in the Western Herbal Medicine section. She also joined the Small Animal Practice at Piedmont Equine in The Plains, Virginia, where she practices Integrative Medicine.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Monica Chapman as we discuss her education, work history, earning her certification in veterinary acupuncture after over 30 years in practice, and her licensed hemp growing operation that provides raw material for her side business, Mojo Medicinals.

Dr. Lorena Lloret Nadal was raised in Spain. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Murcia in Spain in 2002.While still a student, she was fortunate to see acupuncture used successfully in small animal practice. After graduation, she was certified in acupuncture by the Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists in 2003. Afterwards, she started a TCVM practice for horses and small animals in the UK.While visiting Thailand in 2005, she met Dr. Xie from Chi University. She was certified in acupuncture by Chi University in 2006 and was an Intern at the University of Florida in Integrative Medicine in 2006 as well. She completed additional certifications in Chinese Herbal Medicine, Food Therapy, and Tui Na from Chi University at that time.After her time in Florida, she returned to Spain to start a TCVM practice, culminating in becoming the Chief of Service in Integrative Medicine at the Veterinary College in Madrid. In 2022, she relocated to Ireland to continue TCVM work for both small animals and horses.In addition to her clinical practice, she has been very active in teaching, writing, and lecturing on various TCVM topics all over the world.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Lorena Lloret Nadal as we discuss her education, clinical practice, and involvement with the establishment of Chi University in Europe.

Dr. Susan Howell was previous guest on Episode 51 from December of 2021. At the time of the interview, she operated Thrive Holistic Veterinary Care as a brick and mortar practice in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area.Since that time, she opted to close her brick and mortar practice and her work has evolved into doing Telehealth consultations in combination with seeing clinical patients two days a week in other doctor's offices.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Susan Howell as we trace her evolution from a traditional brick and mortar practice to a hybrid model

Cassidy Kelly was raised in the Chicago, Illinois area. Her interest in veterinary medicine was sparked during a biology class in high school.She earned earned her undergraduate degree in Animal Science from Ohio State, and is now a first year veterinary student at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.Cassidy has spent significant time interning at the Royal Treatment Veterinary Center and is the CIVT University Liaison for Research and Student Outreach.Please enjoy this conversation with Cassidy Kelly as we discuss her undergraduate education, introduction to Integrative Veterinary Medicine, and her experiences as a first year veterinary student.

Dr. Susan Recker was raised in Ames, Iowa. She earned her veterinary degree from Iowa State University in 1997, then practiced small animal medicine in a few offices in Wisconsin and Illinois.Looking for more ways to help with her clinical cases, she earned her certification in Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy from the Healing Oasis Wellness Center. She also developed an interest in clinical nutrition.In 2014, she designed an accredited Veterinary Technician training program for Gateway Technical College in Wisconsin. She was involved in everything from the design and implementation of the educational program as well as having input on the planning of the physical facility.After relocating to Arizona, she met Steve Brown and intensified her study of nutrition. She is currently on the staff of the Animal Diet Formulator and loves to help people get the most out of the ADF software.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Susan Recker as we discuss her childhood, education, practice experience, and current position with ADF.

Isabella Pulido was raised in Southern California and grew up with a menagerie of pets. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian. To that end, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science with a minor in Spanish from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She was accepted into the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where she completed her first semester in the Fall of 2023.Please enjoy this first installment of interviews with Student Members of CIVT as Izzy and I discuss her childhood, undergraduate education, veterinary school application process, introduction to CIVT and Integrative Medicine, and future career goals.Be sure and stay current with Izzy's journey by following her blog, Dogtor-in-training.com.

Dr. Kate Millhouse was raised in various areas of Australia. She had a variety of pets growing up and began riding horses at a young age as well, stirring her interest in veterinary medicine.She earned her veterinary degree from Murdoch University in 1998. Afterwards, she spent time in mixed animal practice in Australia and following that, did locum work in the United Kingdom for two years.While in the UK, she began her integrative medicine journey by taking a short course in acupuncture and starting a three year course in Veterinary Homeopathy through the Homeopathic Professional Teaching Group.Upon her return to Australia, she took the IVAS acupuncture course, received training in Chinese Herbal Medicine at the Sydney Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and completed the Food Therapy course from Chi University.In 2005, she founded her practice, Holistic Paws, where she offers acupuncture, Chinese Herbal medicine, Homeopathy, and Nutrition to her small animal patients.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Kate Millhouse as we discuss her education, practice experience, holistic training, and the practicalities of a solo doctor holistic practice.

Dr. Jamie Lines was raised on a farm in Victoria, Australia. He earned his Veterinary Science degree from the University of Melbourne in 1994.His first job was in an dairy oriented practice for two years, followed by some locum work in Australia and the UK. He returned to Australia where he and his wife purchased a dairy farm while he continued to work for local veterinary practices.He then made a career shift and trained as a mortgage broker, earning a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment. He founded a financial planning business on the Gold Coast, which dissolved during the financial crisis a few years later.He found his way back to veterinary medicine, doing locum work and also traveling in Southeast Asia with his family.He and his wife founded a veterinary clinic in Alice Springs, Australia while completing the CIVT course in TCVM and the Introductory Western Herbal course. His latest professional activity has been offering integrative therapies from two small animal clinics on Australia's East Coast.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Jamie Lines as we discuss his childhood, education, career path, and the building blocks that each phase of one's career can provide over time.

Dr. Colleen Smith was previously a guest on Episode 26. She is the owner of the Integrative Practice, Chattanooga Holistic Animal Institute, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.In this episode Dr. Smith and I discuss her decision to utilize some space in her clinic for sales of retail food and supplements. We dive into the thought behind the decision, how it has changed the workload in the practice, how she managed staffing, and her inventory decisions.Please enjoy this episode as we explore Dr. Colleen Smith's decision to open the store, Chai Life Pet Nutrition Market, and how a retail operation can provide an income stream for an integrative veterinary practice.

Dr. Nichola Spooner was raised on a beef cattle property in Queensland, Australia, knowing from an early age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian. After graduating from the University of Queensland with first class honors in 2001, she worked in a mixed animal practice for two years before completing a small animal rotating internship at Queensland Veterinary Specialists and Pet Emergency in 2004. She obtained her membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Critical Care in 2005. After leaving the Emergency practice, she worked in both mixed and small animal private practice.Her son's health challenge led her to integrative medicine. In 2018 she completed Graduate Diplomas in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine and Veterinary Acupuncture with CIVT.She also earned her Certificate IV in Training and Education and has worked in the field of education for both veterinarians and veterinary nurses for 14 years. Currently, she works part-time in general practice offering integrative medicine consultations for small animal patients and serves as the Registered Training Organization Manager for CIVT.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Nic Spooner as we discuss her childhood, practice experience, training in integrative medicine, and her suggestions for people interested in learning more about integrative medicine.

Hello Everyone,Welcome to our 100th episode! I want to take a minute and recognize those that have been so instrumental in getting us this far. First, I'd like to thank the Directors at CIVT for their continued support. Drs. Barbara Royal, Natasha Lilly, Nichola Spooner, and Mr Robert Kelly. Thank you to all of the guests who have so graciously given up your time in your busy schedules to tell us your stories; I have learned so much from all of you. Finally, I'd like to thank the listeners of the podcast for your support and positive feedback. It is really wonderful to know that you're enjoying these stories as much as I do.Along the way, we've heard a wide variety of origin stories, practice histories, and ways of making a living as an Integrative Veterinarian. Learning about how you all practice your craft has been inspirational. I'm as excited about the next one hundred interviews as I was for the first one.So for this episode, something a little different. This is a conversation between Dr. Barbara Fougere and I, who in a moment of weakness originally approved this little experiment.As most of you know, talking with Barbara is always a pleasure and I was happy to have the opportunity.Thank you all again for your support. Cheers!

Dr. Julie Wentzel was raised in Annapolis, Maryland. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry and Wildlife from Virginia Tech in 1998. After a few years of assisting in veterinary clinics and working on farms, she decided to enter veterinary training and earned her DVM degree from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004.After graduation, she completed an internship in Emergency Medicine in Maryland, remaining on the clinic staff at that facility for seven more years. She continued to work in Emergency Medicine as well as a Rehabilitation and Pain Management Veterinarian in association with a surgery specialty practice.She was certified by IVAS in acupuncture in 2013 and as a Veterinary Pain Practitioner and Canine Rehabilitation Therapist in 2014. She started an apprenticeship in Western Herbal Medicine in 2018.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Julie Wentzel as we discuss her childhood, education, work in a specialty rehabilitation practice, and her current position in an integrative medicine practice in Leesburg, Virginia.

Dr. Rachel Klickman was raised in Oregon with a menagerie of animals. She served two years in the United States Army and then moved to Maryland where she worked as a veterinary assistant in an emergency clinic. She became a credentialed veterinary technician and then earned her DVM from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007.After graduation, she did an internship in an Emergency Clinic, then worked in other small animal practices before staring her integrative medicine journey. She was certified by IVAS in acupuncture in 2015 and completed an apprenticeship in Western Herbal Medicine in 2017. She then worked in a hospice and palliative care practice, and earned her certification in Hospice and Palliative Care. After six years in the Hospice Practice, she joined Healing Paws, an Integrative Medicine practice in Maryland.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Rachel Klickman as we discuss her childhood, education, beginnings in Veterinary Medicine, and how important mentorship was to her professional journey.

Dr. Grant Hebel was raised in Overland Park, Kansas. His interest in veterinary medicine started at ten years of age, when his family dog became ill with parvovirus. He earned his DVM degree from Kansas State University in 1995. After graduation, he entered small animal private practice for a few years before enlisting as a Veterinarian in the United States Army. He served for eight years, three years in active duty, and five years in the reserves. He was deployed to the Middle East in 2003. After leaving the military, he worked for a food science company doing nutritional analysis and bacteriological testing. Afterwards he worked for the Fremont Fire and Rescue as well as the Omaha Fire and Rescue Service as a paramedic for 7 years. He was also the co-founder of a brewery at that time as well. In 2012, he and his wife, Dr. Jennifer Hebel, founded Five Elements Veterinary Alternatives in Omaha, Nebraska. They offer acupuncture, chiropractic, rehabilitation, sound and vibrational therapy, nutritional and herbal therapy, and others. Grant received animal chiropractic training at Options for Animals and acupuncture training at Chi University. Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Grant Hebel as we discuss his education, time in the military, establishing a holistic practice, and his activities outside the office.

Dr. Ann Scearce was raised in Orange County, California. She had an interest in veterinary medicine when she was young, but changed her mind and studied International Relations and German at the University of California, Davis, with a mind toward a career in the State Department.During a year of study abroad, she changed her mind and decided to apply to veterinary school. She earned her DVM from the University of California, Davis in 1999. Afterwards, she joined a mixed animal practice in Central California, with an emphasis on dairy medicine. After five years in that practice, she worked in a few small animal practices before settling at her current practice, where she has been for the last 17 years.Looking for additional tools to help her hospice patients, she became certified in acupuncture by IVAS in 2015. She is also certified in Chinese Herbal Medicine by Chi University, and completed David Winston's two year program in Western Herbal Medicine. She has additional training in both Western Herbal Medicine and Integrative Oncology.Currently, she continues to work in small animal practice and teaches with Dr. Laurie Dohmen at Purple Moon Herbs and Studies.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Ann Scearce as we discuss her education, practice progression, holistic training, and her thoughts on the future of integrative medicine.

Dr. Elaine Cebuliak was born in California, raised in Hawaii, and then moved to Australia as a teenager. She grew up in a holistic household, as her father was trained as a Chiropractor.She earned her veterinary degree and a Diploma in Education from the University of Queensland in 1981. After graduation, she moved to New Zealand and did locum work before moving back to Queensland and established two mixed animal practices in the Gladstone area. After moving to Brisbane in 1996, she did locum work before establishing her practice, "Animal Wellness" in 2010. She continues to be actively performing referral work and teaching.She has an intense interest in Dentistry and earned a Membership by Examination in 2000. She is certified in acupuncture by IVAS, and has training in Shiatsu, Tui Na, aromatherapy, advanced remedial massage, Chinese and Western Herbal Medicine, and is a Qualified Naturopath.Dr. Cebuliak lectures extensively both nationally and internationally and has been involved in providing volunteer veterinary care in Bali, the Cook Islands, and Northern India with the Vets Beyond Borders organization. She has also served in numerous roles in organized veterinary medicine in Australia.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Elaine Cebuliak as we discuss her childhood, education, and extensive career history.

Dr. Laurie Dohmen was born in Kentucky and spent the bulk of her childhood in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. She rode horses from an early age and always wanted to be a veterinarian. She did her undergraduate work in Biochemistry and Greek Studies at Mount Holyoke College, and earned her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. After graduation, she started a mobile mixed animal practice in Delaware.Soon after starting her practice, Dr. Dohmen received training in Acupuncture, Food Therapy, Bach Flower Essences, and Herbal Medicine. She has studied with Dr. Steve Marsden, Dr. Huisheng Xie, Registered Herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, and many others. She earned her Masters of Therapeutic Herbalism from Maryland University of Integrative Health in 2014, and was accepted as a Registered Herbalist through the American Herbalist Guild in 2020.In 2013, Dr. Dohmen down-sized her clinical practice and is now a full-time continuing educator and lectures regularly on Veterinary Herbal Medicine, and other holistic topics. In 2017 she partnered with Dr. Kris August to start the only hands-on veterinary herbal medicine course for western veterinary herbal medicine in the United States. She is published frequently in journals such as the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and the Integrative Veterinary Care Journal.Dr. Dohmen is the Past President of the Veterinary Botanical Medical Association and is a member of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and American Veterinary Medical Association. She serves on the Editorial Board of the AHVMA Journal. Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Laurie Dohmen as we discuss her education, clinical practice, teaching career, and her Delaware farm and teaching center in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Dr. Vicky Simon was raised in Somerset, UK and knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a Veterinarian. She earned her veterinary degree from the Royal College in London in 2012, and immediately afterwards started a two year course in Western Veterinary Herbalism.She took a position in an Integrative small animal practice in the Yorkshire region of the UK and then one in another similar practice in West Sussex UK. She earned her MF Hom degree in 2019.In 2020, she opened her own holistic practice, Holistic Vet Vicky. She offers her patients nutritional consultations, Western Herbal Medicine, and Homeopathy. She primarily treats dogs and cats, but also works with horses and other smaller animals. She also enjoys conducting educational seminars for animal owners.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Vicky Simon as we discuss her education, early practice experience, starting a practice during the Coronavirus pandemic, and building her practice through client referrals and social media.

Dr. Sarah Brett was raised in Perth, Australia and earned her veterinary degree from Murdoch University in 1986. After graduation, she spent time in a mixed animal practice in South West Western Australia. Afterwards, she moved north to Dongara for 3.5 years to work in a mixed practice and spent time working as a barmaid, sheep roustabout, and freight deliverer. She then took a three month locum position in Kununurra, a northern border town in the Kimberley, and hasn't left in the last 33 years! The practice is mixed but mostly small animal. They also have a satellite practice 100 km away. Dr. Brett has had a long-standing interest in wildlife medicine and does this as well. After learning the value of holistic medicine first-hand after some injuries, she uses homeopathy, Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, Tui Na, and nutritional supplements in her patients. She has lectured about the use of holistic medicine in treating wildlife at conferences around Australia. Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Sarah Brett as we talk about her education, practice life, and her life outside of practice on a property with 800 Mango trees and a wonderful stone home. We also discuss her love of live music and belly dancing.

Dr. Judy Jasek was raised outside of Chicago, Illinois. She earned a degree in Zoology from Colorado State University in 1984, and her DVM from CSU in 1988. After graduation, she went into mixed animal practice in Idaho. She then transitioned to small animal practice in Salt Lake City, Utah and then moved to Denver, Colorado in 2001. She purchased an allopathic practice near Denver in 2003, added holistic therapies to the practice, and sold the practice in 2015. After selling her practice she opened a home-based holistic practice. She recently limited her practice to telemedicine, and she and her husband have relocated to Tennessee. Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Judy Jasek as we discuss her education, early practice life, adding holistic modalities to her treatments, and her recent conversion to a telemedicine only practice.

Dr. Holly Mash grew up in both urban and rural areas in England. She discovered a love for animals at an early age and set a goal to be a veterinarian. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Bristol in 2001. While in veterinary school, she spent time on a farm in Norway and an externship at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Equine Center. After graduation, she worked in both mixed and small animal practices for a few years, before deciding to go to Australia and New Zealand for a year to take a break from practice. At the same time, her interest was kindled in holistic medicine because of successful treatment of a resistant corneal ulcer in her parent's dog. While in Australia, she spent time at Dr. Barbara Fougere's practice and was convinced to take the IVAS acupuncture course during her year away from practice. When she returned to England, she started a referral acupuncture practice, which continues to this day. Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Holly Mash as we discuss her education, holistic training, visiting King Charles III organic dairy farm and a leading pet food brand, and her two books, The Holistic Dog and the Holistic Cat.

Dr. Emily Mangan was raised on a small farm outside of Eugene, Oregon. She developed a love for animals at an early age and was able to spend time in veterinary clinics as a young teenager. She was accepted into an Honors program at Oregon State University that prepared her for entry into the College of Veterinary Medicine there, where she earned her veterinary degree. While a student, she got exposure to acupuncture through a faculty member who treated patients in the University clinic. After graduation, Emily completed a one year Internship in Equine Medicine and Surgery at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center before doing an Internship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. During her Internship, she was able to complete a number of certifications at Chi University, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, Tui-Na, Food Therapy, and Rehabilitation.After completing her Internship, Emily moved back to Oregon and established a mobile practice, Wisewood Integrative Medicine. Her time is spent between growing her practice, lecturing, and scientific writing.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Emily Mangan as we discuss her childhood, university experience, Internships, clinical practice, teaching, and her upcoming webinar for CIVT.

Dr. Nicole Rous was raised in Melbourne, Australia. She decided at an early age that she wanted to make veterinary medicine her life's work. She earned a degree with Honours in Animal Science with a co-major in Vision Science from the University of Melbourne in 2003. Her Honours Thesis work led to the publication of a paper in Veterinary Ophthalmology in 2007.She then earned her Veterinary Degree, with Honours, from the University of Sydney in 2008. After graduation, she and her husband moved to the UK where she worked in a two doctor small animal practice near Norwich. In 2009 they moved back to Australia and she joined the Monash Veterinary Clinic, where she completed her Membership in small animal reproduction and was the co-author of a paper published in the journal Theriogenology.In 2017, Dr. Rous joined Mont Albert Veterinary Surgery in Melbourne, and she and her husband purchased the clinic in August of 2021.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Nicole Rous as we discuss her education, practice evolution, and the entrepreneurial spirit which led her to become a practice owner and start a holistic veterinary business, which is the subject of an upcoming CIVT webinar.

In this episode I check back in with Eric Grey, licensed acupuncturist, who was a guest on episode 35. Eric and his wife and business partner, Licensed Massage Therapist Amanda Barp, own Watershed Wellness Astoria. In episode 35, Eric and I discussed the history of their business and his intention to limit his practice to herbal medicine. In this episode, he and I return to that decision, talk about the changes that have occurred at the practice, and how his recent commitment to Buddhism has given him the space to resume practicing both acupuncture and herbal medicine. We also discuss how they have managed transitioning patients between providers in the practice. Please enjoy this episode with Eric Grey as we examine how stress affects our professional practice and the importance of self-care in maintaining our health. Notes: Great Vow Zen Monastery