Dr Doug Thamm

Dr. Thamm is an Assistant Professor of Oncology at the Colorado State University Animal Cancer Center.  He is also a member of the Developmental Therapeutics Section of the University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program at Colorado State University. Dr. Thamm received his Bachelor’s and V.M.D. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.  He completed a Residency in Medical Oncology at the University of Wisconsin, and was a researcher there for 5 additional years.  He is the author of over 45 peer-reviewed publications, 15 book chapters and 90 research abstracts in the field of veterinary oncology and cancer research.  His clinical and research interests include novel targeted therapies for animal and human cancer and ways to integrate these therapies with existing treatment.

Professor Richardson obtained his DVM from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He completed an internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery and a residency in Large Animal Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, where he is currently Charles W. Raker Professor of Equine Surgery and Chief of Large Animal Surgery. He became a Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1985, and has received numerous awards for his academic research, teaching and writing. He has over 40 peer-reviewed publications, and is the principal or co-investigator on eight current funded research projects. Dr Richardson was the primary veterinarian for Barbaro, an American Thoroughbred that decisively won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, but shattered his leg 2 weeks later in the 2006 Preakness Stakes.

Dr Heath qualified from Bristol University Veterinary School in 1988 and spent 4 years in mixed general practice before setting up a behaviour medicine referral practice in 1992. She is an Honorary Lecturer in small animal behavioural medicine at Liverpool University. Sarah is immediate Past President of the European Society for Veterinary Clinical Ethology and in 2002 became a Founding Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine – Companion Animals, serving as President from 2002 until 2008. She is a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist under the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour accreditation scheme and is a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors. Her research interests include canine and feline obesity, age-related behavioural disorders and the interplay between behaviour and physical illness in dogs and cats. She lectures extensively in the UK and abroad on behavioural topics.

Dr Shaw received her veterinary degree from Michigan State University in 1994 and her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, in 2004. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Veterinary Communication and the Director of the Argus Institute at Colorado State University, and is a recognised expert in veterinarian-client-patient interactions. Dr Shaw implements the communication curriculum at Colorado State University, focusing on clinical interviewing skills to enhance professional performance through partnership with colleagues and clients. Dr Shaw is called upon internationally and nationally to conduct skills-based communication workshops at veterinary conferences and symposia. She consults with veterinary practices to enhance teamwork, continuity of care and client service.

Dr Robertson began his professional career as a veterinarian in clinical practice and subsequently trained as a lawyer*. He has combined his experience and training to become an internationally recognised legal specialist in the area of animal’s and the law, teaching the subject of Animal Law at law schools and veterinary schools in England and New Zealand, as well as serving as a VetScholar (online learning) tutor. In addition to his activities as a law lecturer and public speaker, Ian is the Director of International Animal Law  (www.animal-law.biz) and a prosecutor for the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.  *Registered Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.

Frazer Allan is the new head of the Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences at Massey University having replaced Professor Grant Guilford in July 2009. Prior to that, he was Director of the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for 5 years. He is actively involved in the veterinary profession having been a board member of the New Zealand Veterinary Association since 2006 and he sits on the board’s finance and risk committee.

Frazer is a Massey veterinary graduate (1988). He worked for a short time in companion animal practice prior to returning to Massey at the end of 1990 to undertake a residency in companion animal medicine. During his residency, he undertook an MVSc programme and co-developed BIPS®, a radiographic aid for companion animal GI studies.

After his residency, Frazer undertook a PhD investigating the effects of dietary lipids on thrombosis and lipoprotein cholesterol profiles using pigs as a model for human coronary artery disease. He lectured in companion animal medicine in the latter part of the 1990s before returning to private practice for three years at the end of 2000.

Frazer has a keen interest in the future of the veterinary profession and role that veterinary education will play in setting the course for the profession.

He has three children; Sophie (13), Fergus (11) and Phoebe (9). He is a keen sportsman, still playing club cricket, mid-week tennis and road cycling.

Dr Catanzaro has been a prolific author, writer, speaker and leader in the veterinary profession for over two decades. He has authored over 300 periodical and proceeding articles, and speaks 10 to 15 times a year at national and international veterinary meetings. He has consulted with over 2000 practices, and has 15 management/leadership texts to his credit, three of which are in hospital design.

In 2007, Dr Tom Cat relocated to Brisbane, where his company Veterinary Consulting
International® provides veterinary practices with on-site leadership training, team building, and management assistance. The Australian and New Zealand practices that have engaged him for a Partners in Progress consultation have experienced a 16 to 68 percent immediate increase in practice growth. Dr Tom Cat was recently selected as the Clinical Director for the new Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Adelaide, at Roseworthy, due to open it’s doors winter of 2010.

Alan Guthrie is Director of the Equine Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa. He obtained his BVSc, BVSc(Hons) and MMedVet degrees from the University of Pretoria and completed his PhD at Louisiana State University in the USA.

Dr Guthrie’s main research interests are in equine infectious diseases and equine sports medicine. He has played an active role in coordinating South Africa’s efforts to facilitate rationalisation of veterinary issues surrounding international trade in South African horses. He has served as a member of the International Movement of Horses Committee of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities since 2001 and served on the World Organisation of Animal Health’s (OIE’s) Ad Hoc Working Groups for Equine influenza and African Horse Sickness. Alan has been made an Honorary Life Member of the Thoroughbred Breeder’s Association of South Africa due to his efforts to facilitate International Trade in South African horses.