Dr. Kara Amstutz is a 2000 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. She and her husband, Dwight, founded Hometown Veterinary Hospital & River Canine Rehabilitation in 2002, located in Springfield, Missouri.

After 13 years of general practice and surgery, Dr. Amstutz decided to focus her career on helping pets with pain and mobility issues. She was certified in Canine Rehabilitation through Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI) in 2013. That same year, she earned her Certification in Veterinary Pain Management through the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM). In 2019, she achieved her credential as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS).

Since 2017, her scope of practice has become pain management, sports medicine and rehabilitation for a variety of patient issues. In May 2023, Dr. Amstutz became a board certified specialist in the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation.

In February 2022, Dr. Amstutz became the new CEO for CRI. She is looking forward to maintaining CRI's premier standard of excellence while monitoring what is new in our field to offer the most up to date, science driven, education to our students.

Dr. Amstutz and Dwight also own Canine Arthritis Resources & Education (CARE), an extensive online website dedicated to providing pet owners and veterinary health professionals comprehensive information on caring for pets with osteoarthritis. To learn more, please see www.caninearthritis.org.

Dr. Amstutz is an instructor for several CRI courses including Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation, Clinical Skills, Clinical Applications, and The Business of Canine Rehabilitation.

Dr. Janet Van Dyke is a 1981 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her internship and surgical residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York City in 1984. Practicing orthopedics and sports medicine, Dr. Van Dyke saw many canine patients that could benefit from rehabilitation therapy. In 2002, she founded Canine Rehabilitation Institute to train and certify veterinarians, physical therapists, and veterinary technicians in canine rehabilitation.

Dr. Van Dyke lectures nationally and internationally and consults regularly with state veterinary and physical therapy boards on legislature issues related to veterinary rehabilitation. A long-time board member of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society (VOS), Dr. Van Dyke is currently serving as past president. She has been the chair of the Residency and Credentials Committee and served on the Public Relations committee for the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, and is past president of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV).

Dr. Van Dyke was named an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She is co-editor of the textbook, Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2nd Edition (Wiley, 2018).

Dr. Leilani Alvarez is the Director of Integrative and Rehabilitative Medicine at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. She is a board-certified diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and certified in veterinary acupuncture and canine rehabilitation, and has a master's in Chinese herbal medicine. Dr. Alvarez graduated with high honors from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and completed her internship and residency at the Animal Medical Center. She has been practicing veterinary rehabilitation for over a decade and leads one of only 5 traditional residency programs in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation. In addition to running a busy rehabilitation practice, Dr. Alvarez is a frequent lecturer at national and international meetings, and serves as a mentor and teacher to interns and residents. She is also actively involved in prospective clinical trials and is published in peer-reviewed journals and books. She is also fluent in Spanish. Her research interests include neurologic and geriatric rehabilitation, veterinary orthotics and prosthetics, regenerative therapies and joint supplements. In her spare time, Dr. Alvarez enjoys practicing yoga, gardening, and adventure traveling.

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Dr. Cara Blake earned her DVM degree at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. She completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Angell Animal Medical Center in 2008. She then completed a small animal surgery residency in a joint program with Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and the Angell Animal Medical Center. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2012.

Dr. Blake was certified as a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist by CRI in 2014. She has also completed has completed coursework in veterinary acupuncture at the Chi Institute. She is a board-certified small animal surgeon with Boston Mobile Veterinary Specialists. She previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, a staff surgeon at Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital, and an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Her areas of clinical and research interest include minimally invasive orthopedic surgery, use of regenerative therapies for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, osteoarthritis, clinical outcome assessments for orthopedic patients and pain management. Dr. Blake co-teaches Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation, Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse, and Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation.

Maria Caiozzo entered Roanoke College in 1981 to pursue a degree in psychology. In 2003, she received her Certified Nursing Assistant degree from Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC. She worked at Rex Hospital assisting patients in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Department until moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2003. Maria's Boston Terrier 'Max' suffered a traumatic spinal injury leaving his bilateral pelvic limbs permanently paralyzed. This led to Maria becoming interested in animal rehabilitation so she volunteered at the local veterinary rehabilitation clinic. Maria attended Canine Rehabilitation Institute and received her CCRA (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant) in 2005. She then began assisting Dr. Van Dyke with the CRI classes and the Institute's daily operations. Maria has been a Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation, Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse and Canine Sports Medicine since 2008. Maria founded Balanced Canine Products, providing high quality therapeutic exercise equipment to rehabilitation therapists, clients and dog enthusiasts for 13 years.

Since 2017, Maria has worked as the Client Growth Consultant for Respond Systems, Inc., providing technical support and training to canine and equine clients around the world. Maria resides in Wilmington, North Carolina with her rescue dog, Bruno.

Dr. Julie Churchill graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University in 1988 and did her small animal internship in medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia. She completed a residency/PhD program in small animal internal medicine and clinical nutrition at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993/96, where she is currently serving as Assistant Clinical Professor in Companion Animal Nutrition. Dr. Churchill’s interests include obesity prevention and weight loss management, critical care nutrition, the nutritional management of kidney diseases, and the role of nutrition in integrative medicine. She teaches Nutrition in Canine Rehabilitation.

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Judy Coates is a 1986 graduate of Boston University's master's program in physical therapy. In her human practice, she specialized in orthopedic and sports physical therapy with particular interest in manual therapy and biomechanics. As an associate professor of physical therapy at Boston University, Judy taught Evaluation of Orthopedic and Sports Conditions, Treatment of Orthopedic and Sports Conditions and Joint Mobilization of the Spine and Peripheral Joints. She conducted research at the National Institutes of Health, investigating the biomechanics of gait.

In 2006 Judy completed her certification at Canine Rehabilitation Institute. She founded her rehabilitation practice, Coates Canine Physical Therapy, in 2007. Judy now serves as an emeritus instructor for CRI. She is also a contributing author to the textbook Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2nd Edition (Wiley, 2018).

Wendy Davies began her career in the animal field as a zookeeper after completing a dual program between the State University of New York at Oswego and Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. She graduated in 1994 with a BS in Zoology and an AS in Zoo Animal Technology.

After spending a couple of years working at small animal general veterinary practices, Wendy moved to the University of Florida Veterinary Teaching Hospital to take a position as an anesthesia technician. In 2007 she moved to the orthopedic surgery department where she became interested in rehabilitation. Wendy received her CCRVN (formerly named CCRA) from Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2009. She and Dr. Kristin Kirkby Shaw, another CRI faculty member, developed the rehabilitation service at the university.

Wendy is currently serving as the Vice President of the Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians. She is an instructor for Aquatic Therapy in Canine Rehabilitation.

Dr. Michael Davis grew up outside of Houston, Texas, and from an early age has had an interest in exercise physiology, particularly in animals. He earned his veterinary degree in 1988 from Texas A&M University and practiced in various areas throughout Texas for 4 years before moving to the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Virginia to become board certified in veterinary internal medicine. He earned a PhD in physiology from Johns Hopkins University in 1999 and has been employed as a research physiologist and clinical expert in exercise physiology at Oklahoma State University since 1998, where he was named to the John Oxley Endowed Chair in Equine Sports Medicine. Dr. Davis is a member of the inaugural class of board-certified specialists in the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2012 and recently completed a term as vice-president/president-elect/president/past-president of that organization.

Dr. Davis's work includes the first studies to prospectively prove that exercise while breathing subfreezing air can produce inflammatory airway disease in horses. These studies have helped explain the higher prevalence of airway disease in horses competing during winter months and may also help explain the tendency for respiratory viral diseases to occur during colder weather. He has also led the investigative team that identified a practical and effective strategy for preventing exercise-induced gastric ulcers in exercising dogs — a body of work that eliminated the most common cause of death in racing Alaskan sled dogs. Dr. Davis's current work stems from efforts to improve the performance, longevity, and resilience of military working dogs and includes metabolic studies to determine how to prevent fatigue in endurance athletes by manipulation of fat and carbohydrate uptake by the muscle, management of electrolyte demands, and heat acclimatization. Dr. Davis has been recognized as the Sigma Xi Young Investigator at OSU in 2004 and the Oscar Schalm Endowed Lecturer at the University of California-Davis in 2005, and twice has been awarded the Pfizer/Zoetis Award for Research Excellence in 2005 and 2016, and the Regents Distinguished Research Award from Oklahoma State University in 2008. He received the first ACVIM Hero in Medicine award in 2009 for his work benefiting animal athletes. Dr. Davis teaches Exercise Physiology of the Working Canine.

Dr. Felix Duerr earned his veterinary degree in Hannover, Germany. He completed his surgical residency/master's program at Colorado State University in 2007. Dr. Duerr is board-certified with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR). He worked in private practice for four years prior to joining Colorado State University in 2011. Dr. Duerr's research focus is clinical studies aimed at improving animal health and quality of life related to musculoskeletal problems with a particular focus on osteoarthritis. His clinical interests include geriatric medicine, sports medicine, rehabilitation, orthotics and prosthetics. Current research projects include the evaluation of new treatment options for arthritis, objective evaluation of orthotics and prosthetics in dogs, and the development of novel gait analysis and other techniques used to objectively measure outcome in clinical trials. Dr. Duerr ico-teaches CRI's Veterinary Orthoses and Prostheses course.

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Dr. Lindsey Fry attended Colorado State University for veterinary school, and during her training she was certified in medical acupuncture and her passion for pain and mobility management was sparked. She pursued a rotating internship at the University of Wisconsin Madison and then returned to Fort Collins, Colorado, to work in general practice. She quickly joined the team at Fort Collins Veterinary Emergency and Rehabilitation hospital and was a founding member of the rehabilitation service there. She completed her rehabilitation training and certification through the University of Tennessee and became a certified veterinary pain practitioner through the International Veterinary Academy for Pain Management (IVAPM) in 2013. She would go on to serve on the board of the IVAPM and subsequently as treasurer.

In 2018 Dr. Fry founded Red Sage Integrative Veterinary Partners with Dr. Jessica Rychel in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she focuses on an integrative approach to pain and mobility management in a wide variety of patients. Red Sage has grown to be a 7-doctor practice offering regenerative medicine, rehabilitation, palliative care, internal medicine, sports medicine, and pain management. She has published on acupuncture, iliopsoas injury in agility dogs, palliative care, and continues to have a special interest in pain management in complex cases and a multimodal approach to keeping pets active and mobile. She is board certified with the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation after completing her residency in 2022. She enjoys teaching and lecturing with a variety of organizations and continues to pursue research in pain management, sports medicine and rehabilitation. As a practice owner she is also committed to creating a sustainable and fulfilling practice environment for veterinary professionals. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her husband and two adventurous daughters and a full menagerie of pets including a corgi, a cattle dog mix, a feisty tuxedo cat, guinea pigs, and chicken. Dr. Lindsey Fry co-teaches Internal Medicine and Pain Management for the Advanced Rehabilitation Therapist: How to Manage your Complex Patients.

Georgette Goorchenko is a southern Californian native who runs a mobile ultrasound practice in San Diego, Great & Small Veterinary Imaging. She is diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists. Dr. Goorchenko graduated from UC Davis, completed a rotating equine internship at Pioneer Equine Hospital, and then completed the two-year large animal ultrasound fellowship at UC Davis from 2012-2014. Transferring her equine musculoskeletal ultrasound training, she developed an interest in small animal musculoskeletal imaging during her imaging residency at CSU, Fort Collins. As a consultant with a few specialty hospitals and supporting local veterinarians, she offers abdominal and musculoskeletal ultrasounds to pets and the occasional wild animal. Dr. Goorchenko has taught numerous courses on small animal abdominal ultrasound and equine musculoskeletal ultrasound. In addition, she is a part time teleradiologist for VetCT. Dr. Goorchenko is faculty for CRI's Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound course. In her limited spare time, she enjoys being a mom to a 1-year-old, traveling, and photography.

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Dr. Hillary is a 2010 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She did her neurology residency training at Colorado State University and the VNC in Phoenix, Arizona. She spent three years as a clinical assistant professor in neurology and neurosurgery at Washington State University and is currently in private practice at WestVet in Boise, Idaho. Dr. Greatting's teaching interests include clinically applicable neuroanatomy and neurolocalization. Her clinical areas of interest include neuromuscular disease, lumbosacral disease, central nervous system tumors, immune-mediated encephalitis, rehabilitation of neurosurgical patients, and rehabilitation of chronic neurological conditions. Dr. Greatting teaches Canine Neurology and Neuro Rehabilitation.

Dr. Juliette Hart is the Medical Director and Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist at Animal Emergency and Specialty Center in Parker, Colorado. She is a board-certified diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and certified in veterinary acupuncture (small animal and equine) and canine rehabilitation. She is also on the Specialty Advisory Board for NVA-Compassion First hospitals, supporting the growth of the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation teams throughout their network. Dr. Hart received her DVM and completed a combined residency and master's program at Colorado State University, with a rigorous small animal rotating internship in West Lost Angeles, California in between. In addition to her current responsibilities, Dr. Hart is a frequent lecturer for the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation specialty. Her research interests include both neurologic and geriatric rehabilitation, veterinary orthoses/prostheses, and regenerative medicine therapies. Dr. Hart's current work responsibilities are split between the East Coast and Colorado, but San Francisco, California will always be home. Go Giants! Dr. Hart is faculty in CRI's Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound course.

Dr. Martin Kaufmann graduated in 1998 and began his career in the human field of orthotics, prosthetics, and adaptive wheelchair seating. In 2004, he received his Pedorthotist practitioner degree from Temple University Podiatric Department, an undergrad business administration degree, a master's degree in clinical counseling, and a PhD in education and leadership.

Martin enjoyed a rewarding 12-year career designing, fabricating, fitting, and modifying custom orthotics, prosthetics, and custom wheelchair seating solutions, working with several companies including Tamarack Habilitations Technologies Inc., Shriners Hospital, and Winkley's Orthopedics. In 2004, he founded OrthoPets Center for Animal Pain Management and Mobility Solutions, the first full-time veterinary orthotics and prosthetics fabrication company in the world.

Martin has lectured at veterinary universities and consults with thousands of veterinarians and canine rehabilitation therapists worldwide. His specific area of interest is the research and development necessary to advance the emerging field of Veterinary Orthoses and Prostheses (V-OP). He is a contributing author to the textbook Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2nd Edition (Wiley, 2018) among numerous published journal articles. Martin co-teaches CRI's Veterinary Orthoses and Prostheses course.

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Amber Kenney is a 1997 graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center master's program in physical therapy. She completed her certification in canine rehabilitation at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI) in 2014, and started her mobile canine rehabilitation service the following year. In 2016, she sold her human practice so she could spend more time working with her canine patients. Amber's skills and experience have made her an integral part of the teaching teams for Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation, Clinical Skills, and Advanced Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. She was a co-creator of the Clinical Applications course and is a lead instructor. Amber lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband and three rescue dogs.

Dr. Amy Kramer graduated with a master's degree in physical therapy from Loma Linda University in 2000 where she was class president and honored with the Research Award for her study of "The Influence of the Protonics Knee Brace on Pelvic Position." She then completed her doctorate degree in physical therapy in 2004 from Western University of Health Sciences and was given the Leadership and Service Award.

After her own dog's cruciate injury and subsequent TPLO surgeries, she started looking into doing rehabilitation on pets since treating her own dog was so successful. She completed her certificate in canine rehabilitation with CRI in 2005. She was the brainchild behind the first physical therapist- and veterinarian-owned rehabilitation specialty practice in Southern California that opened in 2007. Due to her success in 2010, the South Bay's Women of Distinction organization named her "Business Woman of the Year."

In 2016 she opened Beach Animal Rehabilitation Center (BARC) in Southern California. She has been a mentor for CRI students hosting them for their internships, and she offers consulting services for those that need help with the business side of canine rehabilitation. She was a presenter at the Purina Sports Medicine Symposium in 2016, and she is a contributing author to the textbook Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2nd Edition (Wiley 2018). Amy is faculty in CRI's The Business of Canine Rehabilitation course.

Dr. Stephanie Kube graduated from Colorado State University with her DVM in 2000. She went on to complete a small animal rotating internship at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital in 2001 and a neurosurgery internship at the University of Georgia in 2002. She did her neurology/neurosurgery residency at UC Davis and became a Diplomate of ACVIM (Neurology) in 2005. Dr. Kube served as the head of the neurology/neurosurgery service and the rehabilitation/pain management service at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts. In 2014, she opened her own practice, Veterinary Neurology and Pain Management Center of New England, located in Walpole, Massachusetts. Dr. Kube is a certified veterinary pain practitioner and incorporates pain management into her daily practice.

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Dr. Lisa Lancaster received her DVM from Michigan State University and has been practicing veterinary acupuncture since 2007. She currently runs a mobile mixed animal practice in Denver, Colorado, with an emphasis on acupuncture and chiropractic. In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Lancaster conducts research on the equine foot. She also teaches and lectures on veterinary acupuncture and multimodal treatment approaches to equine foot pain. Dr. Lancaster is a member of the teaching team for CRI's acupuncture certification program.

Dr. Michael Lappin is a 1981 graduate of the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his residency in small animal medicine and a Ph.D. in Parasitology at the University of Georgia, and was board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1987. Dr. Lappin is currently Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University. His areas of interest include infectious and immune-mediated diseases and feline zoonoses. He is on the editorial board of Feline Medicine and Surgery and Compendium for Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian and is the editor of the textbook Feline Internal Medicine Secrets.

Dr. Annette Litster graduated as a veterinarian in 1982 and was later awarded a PhD for her research on Feline Heartworm Disease and a Master's degree in Clinical Epidemiology. She is a boarded specialist in Feline Medicine and worked in small animal general practice and specialist feline practice for 17 years. Dr. Litster was a tenured Associate Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at Purdue University before she joined Zoetis as a full-time employee in January 2014. She is a Senior Veterinary Specialist with focus areas in small animal infectious diseases, feline medicine and shelter medicine.

Dr. Litster has published over 60 peer-reviewed research papers, and numerous book chapters. She is the Editor in Chief of The Veterinary Journal, a member of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Editorial Board and is a member of the AAFP Cat Friendly Practice Council and the Morris Animal Foundation Scientific Board. Dr. Litster is a popular speaker at major national meetings and has spoken at the AAFP Conference, VMX, Western Veterinary Conference, AAHA, the national AVMA meeting, the ACVIM Forum, the ISCAID Symposium and many major regional AVMA and continuing education meetings. Her primary areas of interest are small animal infectious diseases, clinical epidemiology and animal welfare. Dr. Litster co-teaches Feline Rehabiliitation and Pain Management.

Dr. Sarah Love earned her veterinary degree in 2000 from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She competed a rotating internship and returned to Minnesota for a residency in small animal internal medicine. She is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Small Animal Internal Medicine and became board certified in 2016 by the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She has worked in private specialty practice, at University of Alaska teaching veterinary professional and undergraduate students and in physiology and metabolism research. She owns her mobile practice, Sport Dog Specialty Medicine in Colorado, combining canine sports medicine and rehabilitation with small animal internal medicine. Her clinical and research interests include field medicine, conditioning of canine athletes, musculoskeletal ultrasound and use of regenerative therapies in musculoskeletal injuries. Dr. Love co-teaches Internal Medicine and Pain Management for the Advanced Rehabilitation Therapist: How to Manage your Complex Patients.

Francisco Maia was born in Brazil and moved to the United States in 2005. He received a bachelor's of science in exercise science from Indiana University in 2009, and a doctorate in physical therapy from The University of Pittsburgh in 2012. Francisco decided to combine his knowledge of physical therapy with his passion for animals, and was certified as a CCRT by CRI in 2015. Francisco has a hybrid practice, TheK9PT, that provides house calls in Chicago and the nearby suburbs as well as services in his clinic in the north side of Chicago. Francisco also currently serves as president of the Animal Physical Therapy Special Interest Group (APT-SIG) of the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, American Physical Therapy Association. He joined CRI in 2016 as a teaching assistant for Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation. He also co-teaches The Business of Canine Rehabilitation course.

Francisco's other talents include using social media in the field of canine rehabilitation to encourage business growth and increase referrals. He is responsible for CRI's social media, digital marketing, and online learning operations. Francisco lives in Chicago with his wife and two dogs - Ringo and Lt. Dan.

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Ellen Martens received her master's degree in physical therapy in Belgium in 2002. She worked with human patients for seven years while she trained in manual therapy, animal physiotherapy (the Netherlands) and animal osteopathy. Ellen worked with both humans and animals until she founded Het Waterhof Animal Rehabilitation Center in 2009. Since then she has worked full-time with animals.

Ellen is the founder and president of the Belgian Association for Certified Animal Physical Therapy and has been the physical therapist for the Belgian agility team since 2008. She teaches canine rehabilitation at the University of Ghent and lectures nationally and internationally. Ellen completed her certification at Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2009. Ellen is an instructor for Clinical Skills (previously named Canine Rehabilitation Therapist), Advanced Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, and Aquatic Therapy in Canine Rehabilitation.

Dr. McCauley is a 1992 graduate of the Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine. After spending six years in general private practice, she began to study and conduct research in the field of veterinary rehabilitation. Laurie was the Medical Director of TOPS Veterinary Rehabilitation in Illinois, the first rehabilitation-only practice for 18 years. Dr. McCauley helped design the first underwater treadmill and carpal brace for dogs, and continues to work with companies to create innovative rehabilitative equipment. She is a contributing author to Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy, Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians, and Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. In 2007, Dr. McCauley and Dr. Chris Zink released Building the Canine Athlete, a therapeutic exercise DVD for canine rehabilitation therapists. She received the 2011 Iams AARV Award for Excellence in the Field of Rehabilitation and the 2015 AHVMA COE Holistic Practitioner of the Year Award. Dr. McCauley is currently running Red Tail Rehab in North Carolina.

Dr. Carolina Medina received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from St. George's University in 2005. During 2005-2006, she became certified in veterinary acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-na massage and Food Therapy by the Chi University. In 2010, she became certified in canine rehabilitation therapy through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, and in 2013 she became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Medina held the position of Clinical Assistant Professor and Chief of Integrative Medicine at the University of Florida from 2008-2013. In 2006, she was one of the founders of both the American Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, as well as the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and has been an Associate Editor since its inception. She served on the Board of Directors for the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management from 2011-2015, as well as for the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians from 2012-2017. She currently serves on the Board of St. George's University Florida Chapter Alumni Association as the Treasurer. In 2019, Dr. Medina became a certified veterinary pain practitioner through the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. Dr. Medina lectures nationally and internationally about pain management, osteoarthritis, acupuncture, rehabilitation and sports medicine. Dr. Medina currently works at Coral Springs Animal Hospital in Florida focusing on pain management, acupuncture, rehabilitation and sports medicine.

Dr. Medina co-leads the webinar, Practical Application of Shock Wave Therapy in Canine Rehabilitation.

Dr. Patrice Mich is a small animal pain management and mobility specialist. Her career focuses on regaining and maintaining functional independence and performance for canine athletes of all ages and abilities. In Colorado, where Dr. Mich calls home, almost all dogs are athletes, amateurs and professionals. She is a graduate of Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine. During 14 years as a generalist, she completed advanced training in veterinary acupuncture and achieved diplomate status by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), canine/feline practice.

Inspired by her own dog, Griffin, Dr. Mich left practice to pursue her interest in pain management, completing a residency in anesthesiology and a 2-year fellowship in integrative pain medicine post residency. In 2008 she received a master's degree in clinical science with a focus on clinical assessment, neurophysiology and management of acute and chronic pain. She became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA) in 2009. Dr. Mich was certified as a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) in 2011. In 2015 she became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR).

Dr. Mich's interests include sporting injuries in the canine athlete, the impact of limb dysfunction/loss on biomechanics, mobility, and long-term comfort; veterinary orthotics and prosthetics (V-OP); clinical assessment and treatment of chronic pain; and non-surgical approaches to Achilles mechanism injuries. She is a contributing author for a number of textbooks as well as author of numerous articles. Dr. Mich speaks nationally and internationally and enjoys teaching as a faculty member of the Canine Rehabilitation Institute and affiliate faculty member at Colorado State University. With lessons learned from working in private general practice, academia and a large private specialty practice, Dr. Mich is deeply committed to focusing on and advocating for healthy work/life balance with a mobile specialty practice in the Denver metro area; she travels to veterinary clinics in her converted shuttle bus clinic and V-OP lab.

Dr. Mich teaches Clinical Applications, Current Techniques in Canine Pain Management and co-teaches Clinical Skills.

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Dr. Solange Mikail graduated from UNESP Botucatu (Brazil) in 1996, received a master's of science degree in veterinary medicine in 2005 from University of Sao Paulo, and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2018.

Dr. Mikail's passion for orthopedics and biomechanics goes beyond species; she owns a rehabilitation center, Vet Physio Institute, in Brazil that attends to both dogs and horses. She was the coordinator of the Equine Physiotherapy service at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and she developed an innovative treatment for correcting angular deviation in foals using kinesiology taping. She is the author of the book Kinesiology Taping For Dogs, where she developed innovative cuts. She works as an international VetkinTape instructor teaching courses in both species and speaks about kinesiology taping in national and international conferences.

Dr. Mikail teaches Myofascial Techniques for the Rehabilitation Therapist.

Dr. Pam Muhonen graduated from Colorado State University Veterinary School in 1989. She is the owner of Timberwind Veterinary Services, which is a mixed animal practice providing acupuncture,spinal manipulation, rehabilitation, and evidence-based integrative medicine to patients in the Northern Front Range of Colorado.

Dr. Muhonen has developed and taught veterinary acupuncture curricula since 2000 focusing on neuroanatomic approaches to treatment. She is a trained Saddle Fit Evaluator and has a particular interest in the biomechanics of the equine spine. Dr. Muhonen is a member of the teaching team for CRI's acupuncture certification program.

Dr. Susan Neary received her DVM from Oregon and Washington State University Schools of Veterinary Medicine. She owned and operated two veterinary hospitals in the Seattle area for a dozen years before pursuing master's degrees in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MOAM), and Pain Research, Education and Policy (MS-PREP). Dr. Neary is committed to bridging Eastern and Western medicine, using an integrative approach to complex problems of pain management. She is a member of the teaching team for CRI's acupuncture certification program.

Angie Pace graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a master's degree in physical therapy in 2001. She later earned her doctorate degree in physical therapy and manual therapy certification from the University of St. Augustine in 2011. She completed her certification in canine rehabilitation at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2018 and immediately started working as part of a rehabilitation team at a veterinary specialty hospital in Reno, Nevada. Angie assists with the Clinical Skills and Clinical Applications modules.

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Dr. Ross Palmer's career has been equally divided between academic and private practice. Ross is currently a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Colorado State University. He has been an invited speaker at conferences throughout the world. He was voted VMX Speaker of the Year in 2019. He's authored more than 50 scientific publications. He has served as a board member of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society (VOS), World Veterinary Orthopaedic Congress (WVOC), the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) and the Veterinary Surgery Journal, and he is the current VOS President.

His clinical passions include development of the "Tell Me Where it Hurts" canine lameness examination that encompasses gentle techniques to gain patient trust and to detect subtle ways that pets communicate physical discomfort to those that they trust. Dr. Palmer's clinical activities surround restoration of pet life quality through fracture management, angular limb deformity correction, minimally invasive surgical techniques and comprehensive nutritional and rehabilitative care for long-term joint health. His research is primarily directed toward human and animal knee injury, cartilage repair, bone healing and orthopedic fixation and he has collaborated with numerous universities, medical centers and human healthcare companies as well as the NIH, NASA and US Department of Defense. He has mentored numerous recipients of the Best Clinical Research Award and the Mark Bloomberg Resident Research Award from the VOS. He was named an "Honored Mentor" by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. Palmer co-teaches Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation.

Gwen Pettit is a life coach who specializes in stress management and how to simplify life for veterinarians and those who work in the veterinary field. Gwen's focus with coaching is to support positive change in individuals, promote self care and build skills that improve resilience in challenging times. Her background is working in healthcare for over 40 years as a physical therapist, manager and hospital CEO. Gwen turned to life coaching 10 years ago because there was an obvious void as busy healthcare professionals were losing energy and joy for their chosen profession. Gwen earned a Master's in Organizational Development with Fielding Graduate University and completed an Evidence Based Coaching program. She is certified as a Professional Level Coach with the International Coaching Federation. Gwen has an MS in Health Science Education from University of Indianapolis, 1992; BS in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University, 1978; BA in Psychology from West Virginia University, 1977. Gwen balances her life with yoga, meditation, backpacking and hiking in the mountains of Colorado. Gwen co-teaches Compassion Fatigue in Veterinary Practice.

Dr. Elizabeth Rawson is a 2002 graduate of Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine. She did her rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center of New York from 2002 to 2003 and her surgical internship at Veterinary Specialists of South Florida from 2004 to 2007. She has a master's of science from the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine and was board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2008.

Dr. Rawson has been with the Coral Springs Animal Hospital in Coral Springs, Florida, since 2007 where she does soft tissue, orthopedic and neuro surgery. Her special interests include minimally invasive surgery and regenerative medicine.

Dr. Rawson was certified by CRI as a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist in 2010.

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Dr. Kristin Kirkby Shaw is a small animal surgeon and rehabilitation specialist whose career has focused on bridging the gap between these two disciplines, with specific emphasis on management of osteoarthritis and chronic pain. Kristin received her DVM, MS and PhD, and completed a small animal surgical residency at the University of Florida. As a surgical resident, Kristin recognized the need for rehabilitation for her patients and took graduate courses in rehabilitation science, exercise science and therapeutic modalities. She attended Northeast Seminars / UT Canine Rehabilitation courses in 2007 followed by the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2008, where she became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. In 2009 she became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and in 2013 she became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Following her surgical residency, Kristin remained at UF as faculty in surgery and founded the University of Florida Small Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness Center (now part of the UF Small Animal Integrative Medicine Service). In 2010 Kristin moved to Seattle where she worked as a surgeon and rehabilitation specialist in referral practice for 9 years.

Kristin has been an instructor for CRI since 2011 and is past-president of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians. In 2010 she was awarded the Outstanding Young Alumni Award by the University of Florida and in 2018 she was the recipient of the John J. Sherman Award for Excellence in Veterinary Rehabilitation. She is a frequent invited speaker at national and international veterinary conferences and has authored numerous journal articles and textbook chapters related to veterinary surgery and rehabilitation. In 2019 Kristin founded CARE (www.caninearthritis.org), a website dedicated to providing practical, evidence-based resources and tools for her clients and veterinary colleagues caring for dogs with osteoarthritis. In 2021 she joined Zoetis as the company's pain / OA / surgery / rehabilitation specialist (and handed over ownership of CARE to Kara and Dwight Amstutz in order to ensure the website remains unbiased).

Kristin currently lives in Davidson, North Carolina, with her husband (an occupational therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist) and their pride and joy, Arrow. In her rare spare time she enjoys international travel, running, hiking, weight lifting and yoga. She is also a contributing author to the textbook Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2nd Edition (Wiley, 2018). Kristin teaches The Multimodal Approach to the Geriatric Canine Patient and co-teaches Feline Rehabilitation and Pain Management.

Laura Southworth is the head veterinary technician in the rehabilitation department at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She received her BS in Biology in 2000. In 2010, Laura discovered canine rehabilitation when her agility dog, Ellie, had a strained muscle which no one else was able to diagnose. After 6 months of rehabilitation, Ellie was performing better than ever, and Laura was sold on canine rehabilitation! She received her CVT in 2014 from Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology and immediately pursued her dream of being part of a rehabilitation team by taking her current position at CSU. Laura became certified in canine rehabilitation in 2017. Her goals for this career include providing compassionate and loving care while treating and respecting each patient as an individual. She is also interested in furthering her knowledge of operant conditioning and gentle handling. Laura's prior jobs include handling for an Iditarod musher for three seasons and working at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center caring for 185 large cats, including tigers, lions, leopards and mountain lions. Laura co-teaches Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse.

Dr. Joe Spoo is a 2001 graduate of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is currently a resident in the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and practices full-time with a focus on the canine athlete. He recently remodeled his practice at Best Care Pet Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and added a canine rehabilitation facility — the only one in the region.

Dr. Spoo has passion for the canine athlete. In addition to his practice responsibilities he has an active consulting business serving sporting dog owners and the sporting dog industry. He also manages a website (www.gundogdoc.com), a comprehensive resource for all things gundog related. Dr. Spoo is active in the sporting dog world and hunts and competes with the three canine athletes in his life. Dr. Spoo was certified by CRI as a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist in 2012.

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Dr. H. Steven Steinberg is a 1973 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He interned at The Henry Bergh Animal Hospital in New York City and did his residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Steinberg completed his board certification in neurology with the American College of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. He was an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania for five years and an instructor in comparative medicine at Johns Hopkins for two years. Dr. Steinberg was a pioneer in the treatment of small animal brain tumors and is internationally recognized for his work on small animal peripheral nerve disease. He created The Veterinary Cancer Registry — the largest Internet site containing worldwide case material.

Dr. Steinberg built and managed one of the largest and earliest referral-only specialty hospitals in the country. After Veterinary Centers of America (VCA) bought the hospital, he began working in strategic planning and budget management for the nationwide giant. Dr. Steinberg oversaw the modernization and physical additions to several VCA hospitals including a $1.5 million renovation to their largest referral practice.

Suzie Stoke, MSPT, CCRT, graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa with a BS in Kinesiology from UCLA and received her master's degree with distinction in Physical Therapy from Boston University in 1987. She received her sports medicine training from the Kerlan and Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles, California. She has an extensive background in rehabilitation including more than 30 years as a human physical therapist, specializing in manual therapy, sports medicine, balance dysfunctions and vestibular disorders. In 2011, she founded Exercise For Balance LLC, focusing on enhancing mobility, fall prevention and quality of life for senior clients.

Suzie earned her certification in Canine Rehabilitation at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI) in 2013. She developed the rehabilitation department and is the primary rehabilitation therapist at Colorado Canine Orthopedics and Rehab, the premier veterinary orthopedic surgery center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Suzie has been a teaching assistant with CRI for several years in the U.S. and internationally, working in Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation, Clinical Skills, Canine Sports Medicine, Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse and Advanced Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. Suzie is principal faculty for CRI's Canine Therapeutic Exercise course.

Dr. Kim Vanderholm received her DVM from Kansas State University. She is currently the managing partner of Franktown Animal Clinic, a general small animal practice with a strong emphasis on pain management and acupuncture. Dr. Vanderholm was certified in acupuncture in 1999 and has been an acupuncture instructor for the past 20 years. She is currently a member of the AAVA Conference and Program Committee. Dr. Vanderholm is a member of the teaching team for CRI's acupuncture certification program.

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Dr. Jennifer Vitucci is a 2007 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she moved to St. Louis, Missouri and purchased a general practice with her husband in 2009. Through her general practice, she saw a need for rehabilitation for her patients, including geriatric and overweight patients, as well as for post-operative orthopedic patients. Dr. Vitucci began her canine rehabilitation therapist training through CRI in 2019 and was awarded her certification in 2021. In mid-2021, she moved with her husband and son to the panhandle of Florida and is currently the small animal business manager at PulseVet Shock Wave. Dr. Vitucci spends much of her time educating veterinarians on shock wave technology and how it can benefit their patients. Dr. Vitucci co-leads the webinar, Practical Application of Shock Wave Therapy in Canine Rehabilitation.

Dr. Theresa Wendland is a board-certified diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (small animal). She obtained her DVM from Colorado State University. Following graduation, she stayed at CSU for her rotating and sports medicine specialty internship with a focus in orthotics and prosthetics and then remained at CSU to complete her residency. Throughout her time at CSU, Dr. Wendland pursued a special interest in veterinary orthotics and prosthetics through research and publication on the subject. She has also performed research in novel gait analysis and integrative therapies for osteoarthritis pain management. Her other areas of interest, outside of her research, include rehabilitation and cross-training of the canine athlete, canine nutrition, and work-up of challenging or hard-to-diagnose lamenesses. Currently, Dr. Wendland heads the Sports Medicine and Rehab service at Colorado Veterinary Specialty Group in the south Denver Metro area and also works as locum faculty at Colorado State University with the Orthopedic Medicine and Mobility service. Dr. Wendland co-teaches CRI's Veterinary Orthoses and Prostheses course.

Mamie graduated in 1988 from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor's degree in physical therapy. Her background in human physical therapy was in outpatient orthopedics and sports medicine with a manual therapy emphasis. Since receiving her certification as a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist in 2011, she has practiced exclusively with animals. In 2013, she started her own mobile canine rehabilitation practice, Dog Rehab Works, LLC, based in Aurora, Colorado. Mamie assists with both Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation and Clinical Skills (previously named Canine Rehabilitation Therapist). She teaches the therapist portion of the Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse course.

Dr. Bonnie Wright was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She accomplished her DVM at Colorado State University and a residency in Anesthesia and Critical Patient Care at the University of California, Davis. She is board certified in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. She has earned certificates in Medical Acupuncture, Veterinary Pain Practitioner, Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner and advanced training in interventional canine musculo-skeletal imaging. She works clinically (Colorado Canine Orthopedics) and teaches extensively (internationally) in the areas of anesthesia, pain medicine, medical acupuncture and rehabilitation. She is a member of the Global Pain Council, and active in the ACVAA and IVAPM. One life partner, two adult sons, a horse and a family of dogs keep Dr. Wright busy. Her future plans include an off-grid homestead and farm on the northern grasslands of Hawai'i. Dr. Wright teaches Introduction to Veterinary Medical Acupuncture and other courses in CRI's Certified Veterinary Acupuncture Therapist program.

Chris Zink obtained her DVM and PhD from the Ontario Veterinary College. She is a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where she teaches pathology and conducts AIDS research. She also has a consultation business in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation, and is the author of several books on canine health including Peak Performance: Coaching the Canine Athlete, Canine Nutrition for Dummies, Jumping A to Z, and The Agility Advantage.

In 2007, Dr. Zink and Dr. Laurie McCauley released Building the Canine Athlete, a therapeutic exercise DVD for canine rehabilitation therapists.

Dr. Zink also is co-editor of the textbook, Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2nd Edition (Wiley, 2018).

Dr. Zink lectures nationally and internationally on the topic of canine sports medicine. She was named 2009 Outstanding Woman Veterinarian by the Association for Women Veterinarian Foundation and her book, The Agility Advantage, was voted Best Dog Publication of 2008. Dr. Zink teaches Canine Sports Medicine and Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Research.

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