Summer Seminar
General Track Speakers
Meredyth Jones, DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA
Dr. Jones received her DVM from Oklahoma State University in 2002. She entered private mixed-animal practice in Brandenburg, Kentucky, later completing a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine-Emphasis Food Animal and received a MS degree in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences at Oklahoma State University. She then taught food animal field services at Kansas State and Texas A&M. She joined the food animal faculty at Oklahoma State in the fall of 2018.
Dr. Jones is presenting "Medical Decision Making and Bias" on Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m.
Taylor Tillery, DVM
Dr. Taylor Tillery is a 2012 OK State DVM Graduate and the Veterinary Academic & Industry Liaison for Merck Animal Health. He is a dedicated veterinary professional with a passion for improving the amazing Veterinary industry. He is a 2X Merck Animal Health Circle of Excellence Award Winner. He leads the US Merck Veterinary Student Ambassador program. He is involved with organized medicine and actively participates with countless US and Global veterinary organizations such as; TVMA, AVMA, NOMV, AAHA, VHMA, NAVTA, FVE, WVA, etc. He is constantly mentoring, thinking, and building partnership opportunities by looking for ways to enhancing veterinary education, promoting well-being, and addressing perceived industry challenges. He is driven by a desire to create better solutions and provide greater value to all veterinary team members. In his spare time he enjoys reading Non-fiction, exercising and playing coed soccer with his wife, spending time with friends and traveling.
Dr. Tillery is presenting "Veterinary Team Wellbeing Research: Creating a Happier, More Energized Veterinary Team" on Thursday, June 13 at 6 p.m.
Companion Animal Speakers
Allison Biddick, DVM, MS, DACVECC
Dr. Biddick graduated from Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012, went through 2 years of private practice internships (rotating, then specialty emergency & critical care) before completing a residency at Auburn University. She became ACVECC certified in 2018. Dr. Biddick worked in private specialty practice for 7 years before returning to academia to pursue her love of teaching. Her veterinary interests include sepsis, mechanical ventilation, and trauma.
Dr. Biddick is presenting "Taking the Headache out of the Small Animal Head Trauma Patient" on Friday, June 14 at 10:15 a.m.
Gianluca Bini, DVM, MRCVS, DACVAA
Dr. Gianluca Bini graduated from the University of Perugia, Italy. He then moved to the United Kingdom, where he completed two internships, one in anesthesia and one rotating, at Dick White Referrals, one of the largest referral centers in Europe. After completing his residency at North Carolina State University, he worked as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at The Ohio State University, and, more recently at Oklahoma State University.
Dr. Bini is presenting "Oral Blocks Made Easy" on Friday, June 14 at 11:15 a.m.
Paul Demars, DVM, DABVP K9/Fe
Dr. Paul Demars received his bachelor's of science in Pathobiology in 1988 from UCONN. He then continued his education at Oklahoma State University where he received his DVM in 1994. Dr. Demars has been a member of the OSU faculty since 1999, where he works in Primary Care Service. Dr. Demars also has his ABVP in canine and feline practice, which he received in 2001.
Dr. Demars is presenting "New Oral Medications for Feline Diabetes" on Friday, June 14 at 8 a.m.
Leandro Fadel, DVM, MSc
Dr. Fadel obtained his degree from the Federal University of Lavras and completed his master's degree in Science at Sao Paulo University, both in Brazil. With a special interest in cardiopulmonary diseases, feline emergencies, and point-of-care ultrasound, he has actively been involved in these areas since 2010. Dr. Fadel is an Assistant Professor of Small Animal Emergency Medicine in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Oklahoma State University.
Dr. Fadel is presenting "Advanced Life Support" on Friday, June 14 at 1 p.m.
Alexandra Ford, DVM, Diplomate ACVP
Dr. Ford is an ACVP board-certified anatomic pathologist, clinical assistant professor at Oklahoma State University, and Co-director of the OCRID Immunopathology Core. Sher earned her DVM at Louisiana State University and completed an anatomic pathology residency at Kansas State University. Dr. Ford's diagnostic and research interests include infectious disease, diseases of the alimentary tract, and diseases affecting exotic animal species. As an educator, Dr. Ford frequently incorporates case-based medicine and problem-based learning into her lectures.
Dr. Ford is presenting "Cancer, Contagion, or Cruelty? A Collection of Small Animal Forensic Cases" on Friday, June 14 at 2 p.m.
Shane Lyon, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM)
Dr. Shane Lyon graduated from Oklahoma State University with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. He then completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Veterinary Specialists of South Florida before pursuing a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Kansas State University.
Dr. Lyon is presenting "Managing Tracheal Collapse" on Friday, June 14 at 3:15 p.m, and "Veterinary Graduates of Today: A Generational Perspective" at 4:15 p.m.
Julianne McCready, DVM, DVSc, DACZM
Dr. McCready earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her DVM from Tufts University. After graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey, followed by an avian and exotics specialty internship at Red Bank. Then, she completed an American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM) residency at Ontario Veterinary College. She also treated zoological species during rotations at the Toronto Zoo. She completed a concurrent Doctor of Veterinary Science degree, and her research focused on pneumoperitoneum in guinea pigs to establish parameters for laparoscopic surgery in this species. Following her residency, she became Clinical Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University in the Zoological Medicine service, which treats zoological companion animals, wildlife, and zoological species. She became a diplomate of ACZM in 2023.
Dr. McReady is presenting "Avian Emergency and Critical Care" on Friday, June 14 at 9 a.m.
Equine and Large Animal Speakers
Rebecca Abanto, MVZ
Dr. Rebecca Abanto graduated from the Universidad Cientifica del Sur in 2017 in Peru. After a few years in practice, she decided to specialize and moved to the US. She performed an equine internship in 2021 at Pioneer Equine Hospital, California. In 2022, she joined Oklahoma State University and accomplished a Rotation Large animal rotation internship, managing horses and farm animals. Currently, she is finishing her first year ACVIM residency, specializing in large animal internal medicine.
Dr. Abanto is presenting "Malabsorption Syndrome for the Summer in Horses" on Friday, June 14 at 10:15 a.m.
Myriam Jimenez, DVM, MS, PhD
Dr. Jimenez is originally from Mexico and received her DVM from National Autonomous University of Mexico and then worked as a dairy veterinarian before going to the University of Florida for a residency/MS program in Food Animal Reproduction and Medicine. She then did her PhD with beef cows. She spent two years at Virginia Tech as a clinical faculty before coming to OSU.
Dr. Jimenez is presenting "Small Ruminant Dermatology" on Friday, June 14 at 3:15 p.m.
Shari Kennedy, DVM, DACVIM-LAIM
Dr. Kennedy graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017, stayed at KSU CVM for a Food Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship which was she completed in 2018. She completed a Large Animal Internal Medicine Residency at Auburn University CVM in 2021. Dr. Kennedy then began a PhD also at Auburn in Biomedical Sciences studying BVDV in heterologous species in 2019 and hopes to defend dissertation in fall of 2024.
Dr. Kennedy is presenting "BVDV in Heterologous Species" on Friday, June 14 at 4:15 p.m.
Megan Righi, DVM
Dr. Righi received her BS in Dairy Science from Iowa State University in 2014 and her DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College (University of Guelph) in 2019. After graduation, she completed a private practice equine internship at Steinbeck Peninsula Equine Clinics. She then went on to practice at an ambulatory equine/large animal practice in Southern California as an associate for about 9 months before coming to OSU for a food animal internship. She is now about to complete her first year as a Large Animal ACVIM resident with an emphasis in food animal species here at Oklahoma State University.
Dr. Righi is presenting "Colic in the Bovine" on Friday, June 14 at 2 p.m.
Brittnee Sayler, DVM
Dr. Brittnee Sayler graduated from St. George's University and completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University. She completed a 1.5-year long rotating medicine and surgery internship at Park Equine Hospital, a 1.5-year surger internship, a 6-month fellowship and a 1-year surgery fellowship at Hagyard. She then completed a 1-year medicine and surgery rotating internship at Oklahoma State University which then led to a Large Animal Medicine Resident (Equine). In her free time she likes to run and bake cakes.
Dr. Sayler is presenting "Heat Stress in Horses" on Friday, June 14 at 11:15 a.m.
Mike Schoonover, DVM, MS, DACVS-LA, DACVSMR
Dr. Mike J. Schoonover is a Professor of Equine Surgery and Sports Medicine at Oklahoma State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Schoonover is a 2000 OSU CVM graduate. He completed an internship in equine field services at the Ohio State University before returning to his alma mater to complete his residency in equine surgery. Dr. Schoonover then spent 8 years in private equine practice in central Oklahoma before returning to "Orange Country" in 2012 as a faculty member. He is board certified in large animal surgery and equine sports medicine/rehabilitation. He was the 2008 OVMA equine practitioner of the year and received the 2022 Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence. His clinical practice focuses on sports medicine and surgery of western performance horses. His research interests are in objective lameness evaluation modalities, regional limb perfusion techniques and bovine sports medicine.
Dr. Schoonover is presenting "Equine Lameness Examination" on Friday, June 14 at 8 a.m. and "Equine IV Regional Limb Perfusion" at 9 a.m.
Kelsey Walker, DVM, MS, CVA, DACVIM-LAIM
Kelsey Walker is an Associate Professor in Large Animal Emergency Services for Oklahoma State University. Dr. Walker is a 2017 graduate of Oklahoma State University, a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Large Animal Internal Medicine), a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, and is trained in animal chiropractic.
Dr. Walker is presenting "Introduction to Honey Bee Medicine" on Friday, June 14 at 1 p.m.